Qatar will begin its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 13 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, according to the match schedule published by FIFA. The encounter opens Group B for the Qatar national team, which is also drawn with co-host Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Switzerland arrives as a side with extensive recent World Cup experience.
The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams for the first time, FIFA has announced. This change creates 12 groups of four and expands the number of matches to 104 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. FIFA figures show the top two teams from each group advance automatically with the best third-placed sides also progressing to the knockout rounds.
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin selected a 26-man squad in May built around experienced players including captain Granit Xhaka, the Qatar News Agency reported on May 20. The Swiss team has qualified for the last several World Cups and reached the round of 16 in the 2022 edition, according to FIFA historical records. Switzerland will enter the San Francisco match as one of the more established European sides in the group.
Qatar has selected Santa Barbara in California as its team base for the tournament, a report by Qatar Tribune on May 27 stated. The location provides training facilities near several western venues and supports preparation in the local time zone and climate conditions. Qatar Football Association officials have outlined plans for the squad to focus on tactical alignment ahead of the group phase.
Supporters from Qatar have begun traveling with the official delegation to the United States, updates from the Qatar Football Association indicated in early June. The June 13 match is scheduled for a 12:00pm local time kickoff, aligning with afternoon hours on the west coast and evening in the Middle East. Qatar participated in the 2022 World Cup as hosts and will draw on that experience in its current campaign.
The group phase will see Qatar face Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Switzerland fixture, FIFA match details confirm. Switzerland is expected to provide an early benchmark for the Qatar side in a competitive pool. Both teams have conducted preparations in the weeks leading into the tournament opener.
