Qatar opens World Cup bid against in-form Switzerland

Qatar start their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Switzerland on Saturday in a Group B match that could quickly shape the race for knockout places. Al Jazeera reported that the game will be played at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium at 12pm local time, or 19:00 GMT.

The match gives Qatar a chance to answer one of the lingering questions from the 2022 World Cup, when the host nation lost all three group games and scored once, according to Al Jazeera. Switzerland arrive with stronger recent credentials, having gone unbeaten in competitive matches since late 2024, Al Jazeera reported.

Group B began Friday with Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina drawing 1-1, according to Al Jazeera. That result leaves Qatar and Switzerland with an opening to move top of the group with a win in San Francisco.

Qatar look for a reset

Al Jazeera described Qatar as the Asian champions and noted that the team followed its disappointing 2022 tournament by winning the 2023 Asian Cup. Qatar also qualified for the 2026 World Cup through qualification for the first time, sealing its place with a 2-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates in October 2025, according to Al Jazeera.

Julen Lopetegui, the former Spain and Real Madrid manager, took charge of Qatar in May 2025, Al Jazeera reported. He told reporters Friday that qualification had been the team’s goal when he arrived and said the squad “made history” by reaching the tournament.

“Now we don’t want to stop,” Lopetegui said, according to Al Jazeera. “We know the kind of opponents we face. We know that we are at the World Cup, but we want to follow our dream.”

Al Jazeera reported that Qatar’s preparations were disrupted when friendlies against Serbia and Argentina were postponed because of the US-Israel war on Iran. Qatar have played only two matches this year, losing 1-0 to Ireland and drawing 0-0 with El Salvador in their latest warm-up, according to Al Jazeera.

Switzerland aim beyond the last 16

Switzerland are appearing at a sixth straight World Cup, a run Al Jazeera said only France, Spain, England, Portugal and Germany can match among European teams. The Swiss have exited in the round of 16 in five of their past six World Cup appearances and last reached the quarterfinals in 1954, according to Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera reported that Switzerland reached this tournament unbeaten in qualifying and conceded two goals. Captain Granit Xhaka said Friday that the team felt ready for its opener.

“We just want to bring our ‘A’ game tomorrow,” Xhaka said, according to Al Jazeera. “We will want to perform for Switzerland, for our families. Tomorrow we will take the first big step.”

Switzerland have kept much of the squad that played at the last World Cup, Al Jazeera reported. The group includes Dan Ndoye and Johan Manzambi in attack, with Xhaka, Manuel Akanji and Ricardo Rodriguez providing experience.

Team news and expected lineups

Al Jazeera reported that both teams enter the match without injury concerns. Lopetegui is expected to use an attacking trio of Edmilson Junior, Akram Afif and Yusuf Abdurisag in a 4-3-3 system, while Switzerland coach Murat Yakin must decide among several forward options, including Breel Embolo and Zeki Amdouni.

• Qatar predicted XI, according to Al Jazeera: Mahmud Abunada; Ayoub Al-Oui, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Homam Ahmed; Issa Laye, Ahmed Fathi, Jassim Gaber; Yusuf Abdurisag, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior.
• Switzerland predicted XI, according to Al Jazeera: Gregor Kobel; Silvan Widmer, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez; Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler; Ruben Vargas, Fabian Rieder, Dan Ndoye; Zeki Amdouni.

Qatar and Switzerland have met once before, Al Jazeera reported. Qatar won that 2018 friendly 1-0 in Lugano through an 88th-minute goal from Akram Afif.

Under the expanded 2026 format, Al Jazeera reported, the top two teams in each of the 12 groups and the eight best third-place teams advance to the new round of 32. That structure gives Saturday’s opener added value, especially after the other two teams in the group split points.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.