Qatar vs Switzerland: World Cup group match – preview, team news, lineups
After a disappointing home World Cup in 2022, Asian Cup champions Qatar are looking for better showing in North America. Who: Qatar vs Switzerland What
After a disappointing home World Cup in 2022, Asian Cup champions Qatar are looking for better showing in North America. Who: Qatar vs Switzerland What: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match Where: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US When: Saturday, 12pm local time (19:00 GMT) How to follow: Keep up with all updates on Al Jazeera Sport Asian champions Qatar begin their World Cup campaign on Saturday, looking to banish the memories of their dismal home tournament in 2022 when they lost all three group games. The Middle East nation faces a tough opening Group B match in San Francisco, taking on a Switzerland side that are unbeaten in competitive matches since late 2024. With Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina drawing 1-1 in their opener on Friday, both Qatar and Switzerland will be eyeing the chance to take control of the group with a victory on the US West Coast. Qatar target their first World Cup points Qatar return to the world stage four years after their home World Cup went sour. They lost all three matches in 2022 and scored a solitary goal, in an unprecedented low for a tournament host. Since that disappointing tournament, Qatar have enjoyed success, winning the 2023 Asian Cup to defend their title in that competition. They also qualified for this World Cup under their own steam, securing their spot in North America with a 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates in October 2025.
Their qualification campaign was revitalised after former Spain and Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui took charge in May 2025. “When we arrived here one year ago, more or less, our goal was [qualification]. Our dream was that. Inshallah, we achieved it. With the help of this group. They made history,” Lopetegui told reporters on Friday. “Now we don’t want to stop. We know the kind of opponents we face. We know that we are at the World Cup, but we want to follow our dream. “In the same way, [we’re] thinking that no one gives us presents here. Now we want to be able to be as competitive as possible, starting with the first match tomorrow.” Switzerland hope for their best-ever World Cup Switzerland are making their sixth consecutive World Cup appearance, a feat matched only in Europe by France, Spain, England, Portugal and Germany. But the Swiss have little to show for it, with round-of-16 exits in five of their past six appearances, and their last quarterfinal back in 1954. The European nation is hoping for more in this World Cup and the team comes into the tournament in a confident mood, after going unbeaten in qualification, conceding just two goals. “We just want to bring our ‘A’ game tomorrow. We will want to perform for Switzerland, for our families. Tomorrow we will take the first big step. This is going to be the best World Cup,” captain Granit Xhaka said on Friday.
The BriefWire