World Cup 2026: Qatar faces Switzerland in opening match

Qatar and Switzerland kick off their 2026 World Cup campaigns on Saturday in the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The match, part of Group B, features a Swiss team with a strong World Cup pedigree against a Qatari squad managed by former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui.

Switzerland enters the tournament as a favorite, having qualified by finishing first in their European group without suffering any defeats. This marks their sixth consecutive World Cup appearance, a feat matched only by a few European nations. Their preparation included a commanding 4-1 victory over Jordan and a 1-1 draw with Australia.

Qatar, on the other hand, is considered one of the tournament's underdogs. They qualified by leading their group in the Asian Football Confederation qualifiers. Their recent friendly matches yielded a 1-0 loss to Ireland and a goalless draw with El Salvador. This is Qatar's second consecutive World Cup appearance, having hosted the previous edition.

Despite Qatar's underdog status, they have a history with Switzerland, having won their last encounter 1-0 in a 2018 friendly. However, betting odds heavily favor the Swiss, with a win for Qatar priced at 17.0. Granit Xhaka, a veteran for Switzerland, expressed confidence, stating, "We want to perform for Switzerland, for our families. We will take the first big step. This is going to be the best World Cup. We are prepared and ready."

“

We want to perform for Switzerland, for our families. We will take the first big step. This is going to be the best World Cup. We are prepared and ready. We are prepared physically, we are prepared mentally.