Qatar begins World Cup campaign against Switzerland

11/06/2026

SAN FRANCISCO, June 11: Soccer fans across the Arab world are set for Qatar’s opening match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as it faces Switzerland at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco in Group B.

Qatar will be targeting a strong start to its campaign, aiming for maximum points or at least a positive result to build momentum ahead of the decisive fixtures in the group stage.

This marks Qatar’s first appearance at the World Cup finals via the qualification pathway, a significant milestone in the nation’s history.

The “Al Annabi” will look to draw confidence from its only previous meeting with Switzerland, a friendly played on November 14, 2018, in which Qatar secured a 1-0 win thanks to a late goal from Akram Afif.

Head coach Julen Lopetegui is expected to rely on a balanced squad combining experience and youth, while retaining several key players from the 2022 World Cup campaign.

Qatar’s preparations for the tournament began in mid-May following the conclusion of the domestic and continental club seasons. The team held a local training camp before travelling to Dublin, where they lost 1-0 to Ireland in a friendly. A subsequent camp in Los Angeles included a goalless draw against El Salvador as part of their final buildup to the tournament.

The team’s primary objective is to reach the Round of 32 and make history by advancing beyond the group stage for the first time in its second World Cup appearance. Key players include Akram Afif, two-time Asian Player of the Year, all-time top scorer Almoez Ali, as well as experienced names such as Hassan Al-Haydos, Boualem Khoukhi, Karim Boudiaf, and Lucas Mendes.

In the same group, Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto early Friday. Canada has risen sharply in FIFA rankings in recent years, climbing 23 places from 50th to a career-high 27th.