Qatar vs Switzerland: World Cup 2026 Group B Preview โ June 13, 2026
Qatar face Switzerland in World Cup 2026 Group B at Levi's Stadium on June 13 (3 PM ET / 19:00 UTC). Julen Lopetegui's Qatar โ built around Akram Afif โ face Murat Yakin's Switzerland who come in as clear group favourites with Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo. This is the second Group B match โ Canada and Bosnia drew 1-1 on June 12 in the same group.
FIFA World Cup 2026 โ Group B ยท June 13, 2026
๐ Venue
Levi's Stadium
Santa Clara, California
โฐ Kickoff
3 PM ET
19:00 UTC / 8 PM BST
๐บ TV
Fox / Telemundo
BBC/ITV (UK)
World Cup 2026 Group B โ After Canada 1-1 Bosnia
Group B already has its first result: Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12, with Cyle Larin equalising in the 78th minute after Jovo Lukiฤ had put Bosnia ahead. That means whoever wins Qatar vs Switzerland today immediately goes top of Group B. Switzerland winning would give them 3 points and a commanding position with two games remaining.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland (vs Qatar today) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ๐จ๐ฆ Canada (1-1 vs Bosnia (June 12)) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| ๐ง๐ฆ Bosnia (1-1 vs Canada (June 12)) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| ๐ถ๐ฆ Qatar (vs Switzerland today) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Switzerland Team News โ Xhaka and Embolo Lead the Favourites
Switzerland arrive as the strongest team in Group B โ a squad packed with players from Europe's top leagues who have recent experience of high-stakes knockout football. At Euro 2024, they eliminated Italy (2-0 in the round of 16) before losing to England on penalties in the quarter-finals. Coach Murat Yakin's system is built around midfield control and versatility.
Switzerland Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
GK: Yann Sommer (Inter Milan)
RB: Silvan Widmer ยท CB: Manuel Akanji ยท CB: Fabian Schรคr ยท LB: Ricardo Rodriguez
CM: Granit Xhaka ยท CM: Remo Freuler
RW: Dan Ndoye ยท AM: Ruben Vargas ยท LW: Xherdan Shaqiri
ST: Breel Embolo
Qatar Team News โ Lopetegui's Rebuilt Side Around Akram Afif
Qatar's 2022 World Cup โ where they became the first host nation to be eliminated in the group stage (3 group games, 0 points, 1 goal scored, 7 conceded) โ was a disaster. Four years later, Julen Lopetegui has been tasked with rebuilding the squad and giving it a coherent tactical identity. Qatar qualified for 2026 through the intercontinental playoff route, beating the UAE. Their attacking play is now built around Akram Afif, who scored 14 goals in 21 Qatar Stars League matches in 2024-25.
Qatar Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)
GK: Meshaal Barsham
RB: Pedro Miguel ยท CB: Tarek Salman ยท CB: Bassam Al-Rawi ยท LB: Homam Ahmed
CM: Karim Boudiaf ยท CM: Abdulaziz Hatem ยท CM: Ismail Mohamad
RW: Mohammed Muntari ยท ST: Hassan Al-Haydos ยท LW: Akram Afif
Qatar's lineup is subject to Lopetegui's tactical setup โ he may use a more defensive 4-4-2 low block to deny Switzerland space.
Akram Afif โ Qatar's Key Man
Akram Afif (born August 18, 1996, in Doha) is Qatar's most technically gifted player. The Al Sadd winger won the FIFA Arab Player of the Year and is the focal point of Qatar's attack. He topped the Gulf and Qatar Stars League scoring charts in 2024-25 with 14 goals in 21 matches. Against a disciplined Swiss defence, Afif will need to find pockets of space between the lines โ Lopetegui's tactical system with Sevilla was built on pressing high and counter-attacking with pace on the flanks, a style that suits Afif perfectly.
Qatar vs Switzerland Prediction โ Can Lopetegui Spring a Surprise?
Switzerland are a well-organised, experienced international team with Champions League-level players in key positions. Akanji (Man City), Xhaka (Sunderland, 6 PL assists), and Embolo (8 Ligue 1 goals) give them quality throughout. They are strong favourites and should be โ Qatar's squad, while improved under Lopetegui, primarily plays in the Qatar Stars League where the quality gap vs Europe's top leagues is significant.
However, Lopetegui is one of the smartest tacticians in world football. His Sevilla won three consecutive Europa Leagues with a low-block, disciplined approach. If Qatar can keep Switzerland goalless for 60 minutes, the crowd pressure in a neutral stadium could favour the underdog. The Swiss also tend to start slowly in tournaments โ they drew their opening Euro 2024 group game.
Prediction: Switzerland 2-0 Qatar
Switzerland to win comfortably. Xhaka to control the tempo. Embolo to score at least once. Qatar likely to defend deep and hit on the counter โ Afif gets one good chance but Yann Sommer is too good to be beaten in a normal attacking move. If Qatar score first, it becomes interesting, but Qatar's quality gap in defence is exposed by Embolo and Ndoye's forward runs.
How to Watch Qatar vs Switzerland โ Full Broadcast Guide
| Country | Channel (Free) | Stream | Kickoff (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐บ๐ธ USA | Fox (English) | Fox Sports App / Fubo | 3:00 PM ET |
| ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland | SRF1 / RTS / RSI | Play SRF / Play RTS | 9:00 PM CEST |
| ๐ฌ๐ง UK | BBC One or ITV1 | BBC iPlayer / ITVX (free) | 8:00 PM BST |
| ๐ซ๐ท France | TF1 / M6 | TF1+ | 9:00 PM CEST |
| ๐ฉ๐ช Germany | ARD / ZDF | ARD Mediathek | 9:00 PM CEST |
| ๐ถ๐ฆ Qatar | beIN Sports MENA | beIN Connect | 10:00 PM GST |
| ๐ Elsewhere | FIFA+ (select regions) | VPN โ UK (BBC/ITV free) | Varies |
Swiss fans overseas: Use a VPN to access SRF/RTS from anywhere โ
FAQ โ Qatar vs Switzerland, World Cup 2026
What time does Qatar vs Switzerland kick off on June 13, 2026?
Qatar vs Switzerland kicks off at 3 PM ET (19:00 UTC / 8 PM CET / 8 PM BST) on Saturday June 13, 2026. The match is played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This is the second Group B match of the 2026 World Cup โ Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina drew 1-1 in the first Group B game on June 12.
What channel is Qatar vs Switzerland on in the UK?
Qatar vs Switzerland is broadcast on ITV1 or BBC One (shared rights) free-to-air in the UK. You can also stream it via ITVX or BBC iPlayer. Kickoff is 8 PM BST on June 13. Both ITV and BBC hold UK broadcast rights for the 2026 World Cup.
What channel is Qatar vs Switzerland on in the USA?
Qatar vs Switzerland is available on Fox (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) in the USA. You can stream it via the Fox Sports app, Fubo TV, or Sling TV. Kickoff is 3 PM ET on June 13 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Which group are Qatar and Switzerland in at World Cup 2026?
Qatar and Switzerland are in Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup โ alongside Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia in the first Group B game on June 12. Switzerland are the group favourites. Qatar qualified via the CONCACAF-Asia playoff route and are managed by Julen Lopetegui.
Who is Qatar's coach at World Cup 2026?
Qatar's coach at World Cup 2026 is Julen Lopetegui, the experienced Spanish manager who previously managed Real Madrid, Sevilla (Europa League winner), and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. Lopetegui was appointed by Qatar in 2025 to rebuild the team after the 2022 World Cup, where Qatar became the first host nation to be eliminated in the group stage.
Who is Switzerland's coach at World Cup 2026?
Switzerland's coach at World Cup 2026 is Murat Yakin. He has managed the Swiss national team since 2021, guiding them to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup and the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 (eliminated on penalties by England). Switzerland are unbeaten in competitive fixtures since late 2024 and go into the tournament as strong Group B favourites.
What is Switzerland's predicted lineup vs Qatar at World Cup 2026?
Switzerland's expected starting XI (4-2-3-1): GK: Yann Sommer; RB: Silvan Widmer, CB: Manuel Akanji, CB: Fabian Schรคr, LB: Ricardo Rodriguez; CM: Granit Xhaka, CM: Remo Freuler; RW: Dan Ndoye, AM: Ruben Vargas, LW: Xherdan Shaqiri; ST: Breel Embolo. Switzerland have strong options in every position with Premier League and Champions League regulars throughout.
Is Qatar in Group B at World Cup 2026?
Yes โ Qatar are in Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Qatar qualified for the 2026 tournament through the intercontinental playoff route, defeating the UAE to secure their spot. Qatar were the 2022 hosts but were eliminated in the group stage. Manager Julen Lopetegui has rebuilt the team with a focus on tactical organisation and the creativity of Akram Afif.
Derniere mise a jour :
Sources: ESPN, Al Jazeera Sports, CBS Sports, RotoWire, Squawka, Forebet, FIFA.com. Squad and lineup information confirmed via pre-tournament sources.
Match preview accurate as of June 13, 2026. Kickoff 19:00 UTC / 3 PM ET.