Group B preview: Home hopes meet European experience

Group B presents one of the FIFA World Cup's most intriguing and balanced contests, with Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland all harboring realistic ambitions of reaching the knockout stage.

Co-hosts Canada will look to capitalise on home support and a talented generation led by Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan as they chase a first-ever World Cup victory and historic progression beyond the group phase.

Bosnia & Herzegovina blend youth and experience, with veteran captain Edin Dzeko guiding an exciting new generation featuring rising stars Kerim Alajbegovic and Esmir Bajraktarevic.

Qatar arrive determined to erase memories of their disappointing 2022 campaign, buoyed by consecutive Asian Cup titles and the proven attacking partnership of Akram Afif and Almoez Ali.

Switzerland enter as group favorites, combining tournament experience, defensive solidity and the leadership of Granit Xhaka and Manuel Akanji as they seek to finally break their long-standing World Cup round-of-16 curse.

CANADA TARGET WORLD CUP BREAKTHROUGH ON HOME SOIL

Canada return to soccer's biggest stage not yet among the elite but determined to redefine their place in the global game as co-hosts of the World Cup.

The nation's appearance in the 2022 tournament snapped a 36-year absence from the finals and when Alphonso Davies headed Canada in front with their first-ever World Cup goal, albeit in a 4-1 loss to Croatia, it sparked country-wide celebrations.

But despite still looking for their first World Cup win after losing all three matches in 1986 and 2022, a side led by American coach Jesse Marsch -- who steered Canada to the Copa America semi-finals in 2024 -- and boasting internationally recognised talent have their sights set on the knockout rounds.

"We're a team that has grown so much over the past few years under a new coaching staff with Jesse Marsch. I think he's brought this team to a totally different level," said Canada winger Tajon Buchanan, who assisted on the Davies goal with a perfect cross. "On our day, I think we could beat anybody."

Standing between Canada and new World Cup territory is what appears a winnable Group B. Canada open their World Cup on June 12 against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto followed by games in Vancouver against Qatar (June 18) and Switzerland (June 24).

Buchanan, fast and skilful, established himself as Canada’s best player at the 2022 World Cup and his presence on the right flank will be crucial given their lack of depth in the position.

However, the 25-year-old Davies, who was named captain in June 2024, has suffered a number of injury setbacks that have seen him miss a full year of international duty.

The speedy left back suffered an ACL tear with Canada in March 2025. He returned for Bayern Munich that December but tore muscle fibre in his right hamstring in February before a hamstring strain in March kept him out of two Canada friendlies.

The unfortunate Davies then injured his left hamstring in May, dealing a potential blow to Canada's World Cup build-up.

Up front, Canada's all-time men's leading scorer Jonathan David will be counted on to lead the way and the Juventus forward is eager to change how people view his team.

"First, we need to make sure we score. And then to win a match would be momentous for Canada," said David. "After that, the aim is obviously to go as far as possible in the competition.”

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City), Owen Goodman (Crystal Palace), Dayne St Clair (Inter Miami)

Defenders: Moise Bombito (OGC Nice), Derek Cornelius (Olympique de Marseille), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham), Alistair Johnston (Celtic), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire)

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed (Norwich City), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal ), Mathieu Choiniere (LAFC), Stephen Eustaquio (Porto), Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL), Ismael Kone (U.S. Sassuolo Calcio), Liam Millar (Hull City), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC)

Forwards: Jonathan David (Juventus), Promise David (Union Saint-Gilloise), Cyle Larin (Mallorca), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal)

QATAR SEEK TO MOVE BEYOND SHADOW OF 2022 DISAPPOINTMENT

Qatar will arrive at the World Cup seeking to redefine themselves after a disappointing tournament in 2022 when they became the first host nation to lose all three group matches despite heavy investment and lofty expectations.

Since then, the Gulf team have quietly reasserted themselves on the continental stage.

They retained the Asian Cup in 2023 and secured qualification for the World Cup on merit for the first time after automatically qualifying as hosts in 2022.

In North America, they will face Canada, Switzerland and Bosnia & Herzegovina in Group B.

Preparations, however, have been mixed.

Qatar suffered a surprise group-stage exit at the Arab Cup on home soil in December, while planned friendlies against Serbia and world champions Argentina in March were cancelled because of the war on Iran, denying coach Julen Lopetegui a chance to test his side against top-level opposition.

Qatar's squad remains built around a domestically developed core shaped through the Aspire Academy system that underpinned their rise over the past decade.

Many of the squad have progressed through the same development pathway, giving Qatar continuity and cohesion, though questions remain over whether a group drawn largely from the domestic league has the depth and experience required to compete consistently with elite opposition.

Veteran Hassan Al Haydos, Qatar's most-capped player and a central figure in both of their Asian Cup triumphs, came out of international retirement at Lopetegui's request and was in the preliminary World Cup squad, adding leadership and experience.

Much will again depend on the long-established partnership of Akram Afif and Almoez Ali. Afif, the creative force and Asian Player of the Year in 2024, remains Qatar's main source of invention and goals, while Ali — the country's all-time top scorer — continues to offer a cutting edge in major tournaments.

Qatar no longer carry the scrutiny that surrounded the 2022 finals, and the pressure may be lower than it was on home soil, but a favourable group and back-to-back Asian Cup titles have raised fresh expectations that they can translate their continental success to the global stage.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Salah Zakaria, Mahmoud Abunada, Meshaal Barsham

Defenders: Hashmi Hussein, Ayoub Alawi, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Issa Laaye, Lucas Mendes, Sultan Al-Brake, Homam Al-Amin

Midfielders: Mohammed Al-Manai, Jassem Jaber, Karim Boudiaf, Ahmed Fathi, Abdulaziz Hatem, Assim Madibo

Forwards: Tahseen Mohammed, Edmilson Junior, Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Mohammed Muntari, Youssef Abdulrazzaq, Ahmed Alaa, Hassan Al-Haydos, Ahmed Al-Janahi

VETERAN DZEKO THE TALISMAN FOR BOSNIA'S NEW GENERATION

Edin Dzeko was already establishing himself as one of Europe's most lethal strikers before Kerim Alajbegovic was even born, but the cross-generational talents will join forces to fuel Bosnia & Herzegovina's hopes at this year's World Cup.

The 40-year-old Dzeko is one of only two remaining players from Bosnia's debut World Cup appearance in 2014 and will be captain and father figure to a youthful squad who are being tipped to make a big impression at the tournament.

Alajbegovic, 18, meanwhile has emerged as the new poster boy for Bosnian football and after a standout season for Red Bull Salzburg has signed a five-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen.

While different in style -- towering Dzeko, the archetypal target man with a deft touch and Alajbegovic a nimble and creative left winger -- the chemistry between the duo was a factor in Sergej Barbarez's side's qualifying campaign.

It was Alajbegovic's corner which was headed in by Dzeko for Bosnia's equaliser against Wales in the playoff semi-final before Alajbegovic calmly slotted in the decisive penalty in the shoot-out.

Alajbegovic also scored in the penalty shoot-out victory over Italy that secured Bosnia their place in the finals, as did PSV Eindhoven's highly-rated 21-year-old playmaker Esmir Bajraktarevic.

There is genuine excitement about the new wave of Bosnian talent -- but in Dzeko they have an old master whose vast experience will be crucial as Bosnia attempt to qualify from a group containing Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

Only once previously has an outfield player appeared at a World Cup finals past his 40th birthday -- Cameroon striker Roger Milla in the United States in 1994.

Dzeko, Bosnia's all-time leading goalscorer with 73 goals in 148 appearances, is set to add his name to that elite group which by the end of the tournament could also include Croatia's Luka Modric and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

While that will be another notch in the career of a player still banging in the goals for Schalke, Dzeko says leading the country's new brigade is motivation in itself.

"I'm happy that I could help the youngsters go to the World Cup, it's great for them and they have a great future," he said. "Those last two games, against Wales and Italy, it will change their lives for sure. They may not know, but it will.

"If you asked me like 10 years ago if I was still playing at 40, I would have said no. But I am still feeling good and, more importantly, I still feel I can help the team.

"I am happy because I am the captain of this great generation."

Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj (St Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka), Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo)

Defenders: Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Amar Dedic (Benfica), Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep), Nikola Katic (Schalke 04), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo), Stjepan Radeljic (Rijeka), Dennis ⁠Hadzikadunic (Sampdoria), Nidal Celik (Lens)

Midfielders: Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City), Ivan Sunjic (Pafos), Ivan Basic (Astana), Dzenis Burnic (Karlsruher SC), Ermin Mahmic (Slovan Liberec), Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby), Amar Memic (Viktoria Plzen), Armin Gigovic (Young Boys), Kerim Alajbegovic (RB Salzburg), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV Eindhoven)

Forwards: Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart), Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj), Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Haris Tabakovic (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Edin Dzeko (Schalke 04)

RESURGENT SWISS SEEK NEW STORY TO BREAK WORLD CUP HOODOO
After having a stellar Euro 24 run and going unbeaten in qualifying, Switzerland have reason to believe 2026 can be their breakthrough World Cup - if they can banish a hoodoo hanging over them for three decades.

Contesting their sixth successive World Cup, Switzerland's consistency in qualifying is matched only by the predictability of their exits, vexed by the hex of round-of-16 eliminations in five of their past six tournaments.

Their second-round curse set lasting World Cup records in 2006, as the only team eliminated without conceding a goal in open play, and the ignominy of being the only side not to convert a single penalty in a shootout.

But 72 years after their last quarter-final appearance, the Nati approach this World Cup oozing confidence, unbeaten in competitive matches since November 2024 and riding momentum from a standout Euro 2024, where a shootout miss against England denied them an historic semi-final place.

Coach Murat Yakin said that with expectations rising, Switzerland were keen to finally make their mark on the tournament.

"We want to play the best World Cup that a Swiss team has played," he told news portal Nau.ch.

"We want to show why we deserve to be there and write a new story at this World Cup."

OLD STALWARTS AND RISING TALENT

Switzerland are perennial underdogs difficult for any team to beat, with a steadfast rearguard that leaked only two goals in qualifying, among the fewest conceded worldwide.

Drawn favourably in Group B with Qatar, Bosnia and hosts Canada, a Swiss advance should be straightforward, with a squad largely intact since their Euros run.

Captain and playmaker Granit Xhaka contests his fourth World Cup as the fulcrum in an experienced midfield alongside Remo Freuler, with Manuel Akanji the key defensive pillar in his third tournament.

The attack is set to include Breel Embolo and Ruben Vargas, young Premier League talent in Dan Ndoye and Noah Okafor, plus exciting 20-year-old Johan Manzambi from the Bundesliga.

The astute tactics of coach Yakin will be critical for Switzerland to reach the quarter-finals as they did in 1954, in what has proven a Herculean feat to replicate.

They qualified for only two of the next nine tournaments, before their return from the World Cup wilderness in 1994 kicked off the streak of round-of-16 stumbles.

And if 2026 will be Switzerland's breakout World Cup, Yakin is not going to jinx it.

"We're taking it step by step," he said, when asked about a quarter-final berth. "I don't want to think that far yet."

Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Marvin Keller (Young Boys Bern), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient)

Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan), Aurele Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt), Eray Comert (Valencia), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Luca Jaquez (VfB Stuttgart), Miro Muheim (Hamburg), Ricardo Rodriguez (Real Betis), Silvan Widmer (Mainz)

Midfielders: Michel Aebischer (Pisa), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys Bern), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (AC Milan), Johan Manzambi (Freiburg), Fabian Rieder (Augsburg), Djibril Sow, Ruben Vargas (both Sevilla), Granit Xhaka (Sunderland), Denis Zakaria (Monaco)

Forwards: Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Breel Embolo (Stade Rennais), Cedric Itten (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest), Noah Okafor (Leeds United).