The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is hosting the opening World Cup 2026 Group B match between Qatar and Switzerland. The game marks a significant moment for both teams, with Qatar aiming to secure their first-ever World Cup points and Switzerland hoping to advance further than their previous tournament performances.
The atmosphere at the stadium has been noted for its subdued energy, with visible empty seats in sections captured by cameras. Despite this, moments of excitement emerged, particularly when Qatar went on the attack. Early in the match, Switzerland had a strong chance when Dan Ndoye received a pass from Michel Aebischer, forcing a save from Mahmud Abunada.
For Qatar, this tournament follows their role as hosts in 2022, where they did not secure any points. Their qualification for this World Cup was achieved with a 2-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates, following a 0-0 draw with Oman. Coach Julen Lopetegui, who took charge in May 2025, expressed the team’s determination to be competitive. Lopetegui highlighted the challenge of their group opponents, acknowledging that Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered stronger teams.
Switzerland enters the tournament with confidence, having qualified comfortably by topping their group ahead of Kosovo, Slovenia, and Sweden. They won four games and drew two during qualification, conceding only two goals. The team features a blend of experienced players like Granit Xhaka, Manuel Akanji, and Ricardo Rodriguez, alongside younger talents such as Dan Ndoye and Johan Manzambi.
The Swiss team has made six consecutive World Cup appearances, though they have typically exited in the round of 16. Their last quarter-final appearance was in 1954. Captain Granit Xhaka conveyed the team’s readiness and ambition for their best World Cup performance. The squad has largely remained consistent since the last World Cup, with no reported injury concerns for their opening match.
Qatar also reported a fully fit squad for the encounter. Their predicted starting lineup includes Mahmud Abunada in goal, with a defensive line of Ayoub Al-Oui, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, and Homam Ahmed. The midfield is expected to feature Issa Laye, Ahmed Fathi, and Jassim Gaber, supporting an attacking trio of Yusuf Abdurisag, Akram Afif, and Edmilson Junior.
Switzerland’s anticipated starting XI includes Gregor Kobel as goalkeeper, with defenders Silvan Widmer, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, and Ricardo Rodriguez. The midfield is likely to be composed of Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler, while Ruben Vargas, Fabian Rieder, and Dan Ndoye are expected to support striker Zeki Amdouni.
During the match, a penalty was awarded to Switzerland after Mahmoud Abunada of Qatar committed a foul, for which he received a booking. Breel Embolo was seen celebrating with teammates after scoring a penalty. Later, Qatar’s Pedro was involved in a collision with a teammate. A drinks break occurred during the first quarter of the match.
The World Cup 2026 group stage format includes 12 groups, with the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advancing to the round of 32. This new phase has been introduced for the first time in the tournament’s history. In Group B, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina previously drew 1-1 in their opening game.
The two nations have met once before in an international friendly in 2018, where Qatar secured a 1-0 victory over Switzerland. The winning goal was scored by Akram Afif in the 88th minute. Qatar’s preparations for this World Cup included a 0-0 draw with El Salvador and a 1-0 loss to Ireland in warm-up matches. Switzerland concluded their warm-up games with a 1-1 draw against Australia.
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Source: theguardian.com
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