As World Cup 2026 dey approach, all eyes don turn to Group B wey get Qatar, Switzerland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and host Canada. The first match for the group na between Qatar and Switzerland for San Francisco Bay Area Stadium for Santa Clara, California.
Qatar, wey host di 2022 World Cup but finish last for dia group with zero points, don qualify for di first time through normal route. Under coach Julen Lopetegui, dem top dia qualifying group ahead of United Arab Emirates. Striker Almoez Ali score 12 goals for qualification, more than any other player for Asia, only Norway‘s Erling Haaland score more overall. Akram Afif provide 11 assists, plus four goals.
But Qatar don struggle for 2026, no score for over 373 minutes of play. Dia last goal come for December 2025 Arab Cup against Syria. Dem lose 1-0 to Republic of Ireland and draw 0-0 with El Salvador for pre-World Cup friendlies. Three planned friendlies against Serbia, Argentina, and Sudan were cancelled.
Switzerland, wey rank 19th for FIFA World Rankings, top dia UEFA qualifying group unbeaten, winning four of six games. Dem never go behind for any match. Striker Breel Embolo be one of only five players wey score multiple goals for both 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. Switzerland dey unbeaten for dia last six World Cup openers, since 1966.
But Switzerland don also struggle for 2026, with 4-3 defeat to Germany, draws with Norway and Australia, and 4-1 win over Jordan. Dan Ndoye score for three of those matches. Coach Murat Yakin get plenty attacking options, including Embolo and Young Boys duo Joël Monteiro and Christian Fassnacht.
Di two teams don meet only once before, for November 2018 friendly wey Qatar win 1-0 for Lugano, Switzerland. Akram Afif score di winner for 86th minute. Nine players from that Qatar team dey for 2026 squad, including Afif. Switzerland get seven survivors, including captain Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler.
According to Opta supercomputer, Switzerland be di favourite to win dis match. But Qatar coach Lopetegui say dem no dey go just to show face: “We don accept who we be, but we go push ourselves to di limit. We no want fear or stage fright to stop us.”
Lopetegui, wey bin nearly coach Spain for 2018 World Cup until dem sack am, say coaching Qatar be tougher challenge. “When teams see Qatar for dia group, dem probably dey happy. But we go work even harder.” He talk say di gap between European leagues and Qatar league, plus long stretches without competitive matches, make di challenge hard but motivating.
Di match go be historic for Qatar, as di first time dem reach World Cup through qualification. Both teams go hope to start dia campaign with three points for tough group.
