Qatar vs Switzerland.

Match preview

Switzerland begin their Group B campaign as heavy favourites against Qatar in what should be one of the more one-sided opening fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though the Swiss will be wary of underestimating a Qatari side that continues to develop as a genuine footballing nation under experienced manager Carlos Queiroz. Switzerland arrive ranked in the world's top 20 and are making their 13th overall World Cup appearance - their sixth consecutive - having qualified in dominant fashion by going unbeaten through their UEFA group, conceding just two goals across six matches. The Nati are built around the experienced spine of captain Granit Xhaka, who remains the metronome through whom everything flows, and Manchester City's Manuel Akanji, who provides composure and quality at the heart of the defence. Murat Yakin's side reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, knocking out Italy along the way, and they bring exactly the kind of tournament pedigree and defensive solidity that makes them one of the hardest teams to beat in this competition. For Qatar, this is their first World Cup as a non-host nation following their difficult debut on home soil in 2022 where they failed to win a single match, and their preparation ahead of this tournament has been far from ideal, with key friendlies cancelled and a poor showing at the Arab Cup. Akram Afif remains their most dangerous creative threat and Almoez Ali provides a focal point up front, but Qatar will need to significantly outperform their recent form to threaten a Swiss outfit that rarely loses points against teams of this level. Switzerland should claim a comfortable victory, though the margin may flatter how hard Qatar work defensively for large periods. Bet Right