Qatar v Switzerland prediction, lineups & tips: World Cup 2026 Group B

Julen Lopetegui gets his long-awaited shot at a World Cup on Saturday night, but the circumstances could hardly be less comfortable. Qatar, the first host nation in history to exit a World Cup at the group stage without winning a game, open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in Santa Clara against a Switzerland side that qualified for the tournament without losing a match. Group B also contains Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina, meaning every point from this opener carries real weight for both sides.

Qatar's campaign narrative is impossible to separate from Lopetegui's personal story. Sacked by Spain two days before the 2018 World Cup after agreeing to join Real Madrid without telling the federation, he finally gets his moment on the biggest stage. "I'm very excited to be at a World Cup after what happened some years ago," Lopetegui told ESPN after guiding Qatar to qualification last October. "There was a desire to be able to reach another World Cup, and that was an important factor in my decision to come here."

The problem is that results since qualification have been poor. Qatar have gone six games without a win, and their pre-tournament form is alarming: a 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland and a goalless draw with El Salvador means they have failed to score across their last two friendlies. In total, they have not found the net in 373 minutes of football in 2026. That barren run stretches back to a December 2025 Arab Cup match against Syria.

Swiss coach Murat Yakin, by contrast, arrives with his side in a settled rhythm and a clear identity. "We have a lot of experienced players who play for big clubs and know what's at stake," Yakin told FIFA.com. "We earned our place at the World Cup with our performances in every stage and every match." Switzerland won four and drew two of their six UEFA qualifying games, conceding just twice throughout the campaign, and Yakin's squad contains 17 players who were in the selection at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Switzerland's pre-tournament preparations were not entirely smooth, captain Granit Xhaka raised eyebrows with public criticism of the squad's readiness ahead of their June 6 friendly against Australia, which ended 1-1. Yakin responded with typical composure. "With Granit, things are never boring," he told reporters. "He always wants to win and insists on perfection. I am sure we will be ready." Key forwards Breel Embolo and Ruben Vargas were absent from that warm-up game, which explains some of the attacking bluntness Yakin was quick to flag. Embolo, who scored eight goals and registered three assists for Rennes in Ligue 1 this season, is expected to lead the line on Saturday.

Qatar's only real attacking threat is Akram Afif, who scored 14 goals in 21 Qatar Stars League matches this season and has 39 international goals to his name. Lopetegui will likely ask his side to defend deep and hit Switzerland on the counter through the Al Sadd winger. It is a reasonable plan, but it requires Qatar to stay organised for long periods against a side that controls possession methodically.

Lopetegui is likely to line up in a 4-3-3 that mirrors what Qatar used in their final friendly against El Salvador, with Afif operating from the left of a front three and Almoez Ali through the middle. Yakin will almost certainly deploy his trusted 4-2-3-1, with Xhaka and Freuler providing the double pivot and Embolo leading the line. There is a case for Fabian Rieder or Johan Manzambi to start in the No. 10 role, though Rieder's recent form looks more likely to earn him the nod.

Qatar: Abunada; Al-Oui, Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Ahmed; Laye, Fathi, Gaber; Edmilson Junior, Ali, Afif

Switzerland: Kobel; Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Ndoye, Rieder, Vargas; Embolo

Qatar v Switzerland kicks off at 20:00 BST on Saturday, 13 June 2026. The match is live on ITV1 and available to stream free via ITVX.