2026 FIFA World Cup: Group B Preview

When Canada made the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it was a loud and somewhat unexpected announcement that the golden generation for soccer had arrived for a country more used to playing with sticks on ice. What ended up happening at that World Cup left supporters wondering if they would have been more successful bringing sticks out onto the pitch.

Expectations both inside and outside the country have been high for some time now, but Canada has had opportunities to deliver on them and have so far had little to show for a group that from a talent perspective is the best that this nation has seen.

Now joint hosting the world’s biggest sporting event, the pressure will be even higher on a squad that has seemed to wilt in the presence of it. The group won’t be easy, either, with two solid European teams and a Qatar team that would like to play spoiler after being generally an afterthought four years ago when hosting the tournament itself.

The Teams

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Best Case Scenario

The name may be a mouthful to say, and oddly that reason will at least have something to do with the Bosnians being underrated coming into the tournament. This team finished just two points behind Austria in European qualification to secure an outright spot, however, and beat both Wales and Italy in win-or-stay-home scenarios to finally punch its ticket to the World Cup.

There is more talent spread across the roster than people would expect, with the defense largely playing in Europe’s top leagues and the ageless wonder Edin Džeko still terrorizing opposing backlines at 40 years old. Toughness can push this team through to the knockout rounds, while talent can produce a shock upset once there.

Realistic Expectation

The group stage will be tougher than it looks, with Canada presumably receiving a host bump and Switzerland having the talent and discipline to pick apart the best aspects of this squad.

Fighting for third isn’t writing your ticket home like it has been in prior World Cups, though. And it helps that the Bosnians will face Qatar in a match where it will likely understand what it needs to do to feel good about moving on from the group.

Canada

Best Case Scenario

We’ve been hearing about the golden generation of Canadian soccer for some time, and what better place to finally deliver on the expectations than on the sport’s grandest stage as a co-host?

Like their neighbors to the South, Canada has never before enjoyed such a wealth of talent that during the club calendar represents crests such as Juventus (Jonathan David), Villareal (Tajon Buchanan) and Alphonso Davies (FC Bayern). There is no talent gap in the group, meaning that getting out of the group stage for the first time in history isn’t really the goal. Knockout round advancement is a possibility for this squad.

Realistic Expectation

A lot of questions have lingered around Jesse Marsch, and not truly unfairly. Despite the meteoric rise prior to the 2022 World Cup and clear assortment of talent, Les Rouges haven’t really done anything with their golden group.

If Canada is to avoid coming up short again, it may simply need to get out of its own way. The team that played freely and with intent leading up to the last World Cup seemingly didn’t arrive in Qatar. The ability is there for the team to put together a competent offensive attack, though a hamstring injury to Davies could prove to be a bigger deal than Marsch is letting on. Frankly, this team feels like the least likely of the hosts to not crash and burn and arguably has more to prove than either the United States or Mexico.

Qatar

Best Case Scenario

Julen Lopetegui opted for an amount of experience with his squad, as nearly half of the players on the roster also featured at the 2022 World Cup. There is something to be said for this despite the fact that Qatar was one of two teams in that tournament (fellow Group B mate Canada being the other) that failed to earn a single point in the group stage.

This is a tough group and Qatar is certainly the underdog within it, but a calculated approach in games against the Bosnians and Canadians could have Lopetegui’s group staring down a coveted third place spot.

Realistic Expectation

If talent dictates the trajectory of this group, the Qataris will assume a fate very similar to what was experienced as hosts in 2022.

This may be the most experienced roster in the country’s history, with eight of the top 10 most-capped players being active, but a lack of time to play together recently due to instability in the region feels like it may have left this squad underequipped and underprepared.

Switzerland

Best Case Scenario

This may be the best opportunity that Switzerland has had to move beyond a plateau that has seen the country qualify for the knockout rounds in four of the past five World Cups, but not win a single knockout round match during that time. Often overlooked amongst the European contingent of participants, the Swiss are talented at every level and its frontline is as talented as it has ever been with Breel Emoblo, Rubén Vargas and Noah Okafor. Team captain Granit Xhaka is the elder statesman now but still humming following an excellent campaign with Sunderland in which he was instrumental in the club’s qualification for European qualification next season, and the backline is older but dependable.

Realistic Expectation

Based on the way that Switzerland chooses to play and the aforementioned talent on the roster, there isn’t too much separating the best-case scenario and realistic expectation for this squad.

While not an easy group by any stretch of the imagination, Switzerland feel like the safest bet to at minimum make it through the group. Capable of going toe-to-toe with the best squads in the world, how far the Swiss go may ultimately be determined by a bit of luck (read: performance in penalty shootouts).

Matches to Watch

Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 12 – 3 PM ET)

The Northern host’s home opener is a difficult one against a Bosnian group that took out Italy in the EUFA qualification playoffs. If Canada wants to avoid disappointment similar to 2022, it needs to find a way to get at least a point from this match.

Canada vs. Switzerland (June 24 – 3 PM ET)

The Canadians were hardly dealt any favors in group play, with two solid European squads to contend with in Group B. The Swiss should be considered the favorite to win this group but also play a style that should give Canada a chance to steal one (or two points).

Predictions (Bold Advance to Knockout Stage)

1. Switzerland

2. Canada

3. Bosnia and Herzegovina

4. Qatar