Switzerland enter World Cup 2026 as strong favourites in Group B, facing Qatar and Bosnia & Herzegovina, who are both making only their second tournament appearances, while co-hosts Canada aim to reach the knockout stages for the first time.
The Swiss are the only team in the group to have advanced past the group stage, with quarter-final finishes in 1934, 1938 and 1954. Under manager Murat Yakin, they boast a strong squad and are expected to top the group comfortably.
Canada, co-hosts alongside Mexico and the United States, return for their third World Cup after 1986 and 2022. Manager Jesse Marsch has called his 26-man squad the best ever assembled, but star left-back Alphonso Davies faces a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury sustained in a Champions League match. Canada failed to earn a point in 2022 and will hope to improve on home soil.
Bosnia & Herzegovina ended a 12-year wait to qualify, edging past Wales and Italy in play-offs, both decided on penalties. Veteran striker Edin Džeko, now 40, will feature in his second World Cup, alongside defender Sead Kolašinac, who also played in 2014.
Qatar make their second World Cup appearance after hosting in 2022, where they lost all three group games. With the expanded 48-team tournament allowing eight of 12 third-placed teams to advance, all four sides have realistic hopes of reaching the round of 32.
