2026 FIFA World Cup Group B: Schedule, Standings and Prediction
Group B is one of the most compelling groups at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Canada open their home tournament against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto. Switzerland and Qatar complete the four-team group.
This is Canada’s first ever World Cup on home soil. The top two teams advance automatically to the Round of 32. The third-place team can also advance as one of the eight best third-place finishers across all 12 groups.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group B Teams
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Rank (Apr 2026) | WC Appearances | Pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (Host) | CONCACAF | #30 | 3rd | 1 |
| Switzerland | UEFA | #19 | 6th consecutive | 2 |
| Qatar | AFC | #55 | 2nd | 3 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | UEFA | #65 | 2nd | 4 |
Group B Match Schedule 2026
All times are Eastern Time (ET). FOX and FS1 broadcast in English. Telemundo and Universo cover Spanish. All matches stream on Peacock.
Matchday 1 (Friday, June 12)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto |
Matchday 1 (Saturday, June 13)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Qatar vs Switzerland | 3:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
Matchday 2 (Thursday, June 18)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Canada vs Qatar | 6:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
Matchday 3 (Wednesday, June 24)
Note: both matches kick off simultaneously
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland vs Canada | 3:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar | 3:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
Canada must win the June 12 opener against Bosnia to set up a genuine push for the knockout stage. The June 24 match between Switzerland and Canada at BC Place will almost certainly decide who tops the group.
Group B Standings
Standings update after June 12, 2026.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada (H) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Qatar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Qualification rules:
- Top 2 teams advance automatically to the Round of 32
- Best 8 third-place teams across all 12 groups also advance
- 4 points almost guarantees third-place advancement; 3 points can work with strong goal difference
Tiebreaker order: Goal difference > Goals scored > Head-to-head points > Head-to-head goal difference > Head-to-head goals scored > Fair play score > FIFA ranking
Venue Guide: Where Group B Matches are Played
| Match | Stadium | City | Capacity | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada vs Bosnia | BMO Field | Toronto | 44,315 | Canada’s home opener |
| Qatar vs Switzerland | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara | 68,500 | Largest Matchday 1 venue |
| Switzerland vs Bosnia | SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles | 70,240 | Indoor, climate controlled |
| Canada vs Qatar | BC Place | Vancouver | 54,500 | Must-win on home soil |
| Switzerland vs Canada | BC Place | Vancouver | 54,500 | Group winner decided here |
| Bosnia vs Qatar | Lumen Field | Seattle | 68,740 | Both teams need points |
Canada play two of three group matches in Vancouver and one in Toronto, never leaving Canadian soil. If Canada win the group, their Round of 32 match also stays at BC Place in Vancouver on July 2.
How to Watch Group B Matches
| Country | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| USA | FOX, FS1 | Peacock, FOX Sports App |
| UK | ITV, BBC | ITVX, BBC iPlayer |
| Canada | CTV, TSN | CTV.ca |
| Australia | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| Mexico | Televisa, TV Azteca | ViX |
In the US, FOX holds English broadcast rights for all 104 matches. FOX carries the biggest games and FS1 takes the later kickoffs. Every match streams on Peacock in Spanish through Telemundo.
Group B Team Analysis and Preview
Canada (Host Nation)
Manager: Jesse Marsch (appointed 2024)
Canada walk into this tournament with everything to prove. They played two World Cups and never won a single match. In 1986 they lost to France (1-0), Hungary (2-0) and the Soviet Union (2-0) without scoring once. In Qatar 2022 they lost to Belgium, Croatia and Morocco. Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first ever World Cup goal against Croatia that year. Six matches. Zero wins. The home tournament is their chance to finally change that.
Recent form: Canada finished 2025 with a 7W-4L-3D record. Jesse Marsch led them to a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa America. A quarter-final Gold Cup exit to Guatemala in 2025 was a setback. Squad fitness is a concern heading in, with Alphonso Davies returning from an ACL injury and Alistair Johnston also managing fitness issues.
Key players:
- Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich): Captain and one of the best left-backs in the world when fit. His return from an ACL injury is the most important fitness question for Canada’s entire tournament
- Jonathan David (Juventus): Canada’s all-time top scorer. Marsch called him the best forward he has ever coached. Had a slow start at Juventus but remains the primary goal threat
- Stephen Eustaquio (Porto): The midfield engine and one of the most consistent performers in the squad
- Ismael Kone (Sassuolo): Dynamic young midfielder who forms a solid partnership with Eustaquio
- Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal): Versatile wide player who can play multiple positions across the attack
Strengths: Canada play all three group matches on home soil. The crowds in Toronto and Vancouver will be electric. The squad has matured significantly since 2022 with many players now at top European clubs.
Weaknesses: Canada have never won a World Cup match in six attempts. Goal-scoring remains a problem. Two goals across six World Cup games is a brutal stat. Davies and Johnston arriving after injury concerns means they may not be at full sharpness.
World Cup record: 3 appearances (1986, 2022, 2026). Never advanced past the group stage.
Switzerland
Manager: Murat Yakin (since August 2021)
Switzerland arrive as the highest-ranked team in Group B and the clear group favorites. They topped UEFA qualifying Group B unbeaten with 14 points from 6 games, conceding only 2 goals. They have reached the Round of 16 in their last three consecutive World Cups and know exactly how to navigate group stage football.
Recent form: Switzerland beat Germany 4-1 at home in March 2026 in an impressive pre-tournament friendly. Their qualifying campaign was one of their most dominant in years.
Key players:
- Granit Xhaka (Sunderland): Captain and Switzerland’s record appearance holder with 143 caps. Joined Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen in July 2025. Won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Leverkusen in 2023-24. Tactically the most intelligent central midfielder in the squad
- Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan): Elite center-back with 77 international caps. Won the Premier League and Champions League with Manchester City before moving to Inter
- Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund): First-choice goalkeeper who helped Dortmund reach the 2024 Champions League final
- Breel Embolo (AS Monaco): Main striker and primary goal threat. Scored twice at the 2022 World Cup. Still only 29
- Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest): Energetic wide attacker with pace and directness
Note: Xherdan Shaqiri retired after Euro 2024. Yann Sommer also retired from international duty. Switzerland have built well beyond both.
Strengths: Most organized and tactically disciplined team in the group. Very hard to score against. Consistent tournament performers.
Weaknesses: Have not won a group since 2006. Attack can struggle against deep defenses.
World Cup record: 6 consecutive appearances. Best finish: quarter-finals (1934, 1938, 1954). Modern era: Round of 16 exits in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Qatar
Manager: Julen Lopetegui
Qatar hosted 2022 and became the worst performing host nation in World Cup history. Three losses, zero points, one goal scored. This time they earned their place through normal AFC qualifying by topping their group. That is genuine progress even if 2022 memories hurt.
Recent form: Qatar enter on a four-game losing streak. Planned friendlies against Serbia and Argentina were cancelled. They face Ireland in Dublin on May 28 as final preparation.
Key players:
- Akram Afif (Al-Sadd): Primary creative outlet and best attacker. Named 2019 Asian Footballer of the Year
- Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail): Striker who scored nine goals at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup to win the Golden Boot
- Meshaal Barsham (Al-Sadd): First-choice goalkeeper
Strengths: Won the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 and 2023. Afif and Almoez Ali are a genuine attacking combination.
Weaknesses: Every player from the Qatar Stars League with no European-based names. A four-game losing streak heading into June is a serious concern.
World Cup record: 2 appearances (2022 as hosts, 2026). In 2022: 0W 0D 3L, 1 goal scored, 7 conceded.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Manager: Sergej Barbarez (appointed April 2024, former Bosnia captain)
Bosnia are back at the World Cup after eliminating four-time world champions Italy on penalties on March 31, 2026. They beat Wales 1-1 aet (won 4-2 on pens) in the semi-final on March 26 and then beat Italy 1-1 aet (won 4-1 on pens) in the final. Alessandro Bastoni’s first-half red card helped Bosnia in the Italy match but results are results.
Key players:
- Edin Dzeko (Schalke): Age 40 and still scoring in the 2. Bundesliga. Bosnia’s greatest ever player and all-time top scorer. Scored six goals in his last eight international appearances. Became the oldest goalscorer in 2. Bundesliga history this season
- Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart): Most dangerous attacker after Dzeko
- Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby): Young central midfielder with technical quality
- Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta): Experienced left-back
- Amar Dedic (Benfica): Right-back with Champions League experience
- Nikola Vasilj (St. Pauli): Goalkeeper who was excellent in both playoff shootouts
Strengths: Real momentum from beating Italy. Dzeko’s leadership and experience. Several players from top European clubs. Nothing to lose as the lowest-ranked team in the group.
Weaknesses: Dzeko is 40. Over-reliance on a player that age carries obvious risk. Barbarez is inexperienced at this level. Squad depth beyond the first eleven is thin.
World Cup record: 2 appearances (2014, 2026). In 2014 they lost to Argentina 2-1 and Nigeria 1-0 before beating Iran 3-1 in their final group match, finishing third and eliminated.
Head-to-Head Records
| Matchup | Record | Last Result | World Cup H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada vs Switzerland | Switzerland dominant | Switzerland won | 0 |
| Canada vs Qatar | Canada 1W | 2-0 Canada (2022 qualifying) | 0 |
| Switzerland vs Qatar | Switzerland 1W | 3-0 Switzerland (2022 WC) | 1 match, Switzerland won |
| Bosnia vs Qatar | Never met | First ever June 24 | 0 |
Switzerland beat Qatar 3-0 in the 2022 World Cup, their only previous meeting. Bosnia and Qatar have never played each other before, making June 24 a historic first encounter.
Why Group B is Interesting
- Canada play their first ever home World Cup with a real chance to win their first ever tournament match after six attempts
- Bosnia eliminated four-time world champions Italy — one of the biggest results in recent European qualifying history
- Switzerland are chasing their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954
- Italy missing a third consecutive World Cup reshapes the group dramatically in Canada’s favor
2026 World Cup Group B Predictions
- Matchday 1: Canada 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina. Switzerland 3-0 Qatar.
- Matchday 2: Canada 3-1 Qatar. Switzerland 1-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Matchday 3: Switzerland 1-1 Canada. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 Qatar.
Final Predicted Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 | Advance |
| 2 | Canada | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 | Advance |
| 3 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Qatar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0 | Eliminated |
Switzerland wins the group on goal difference over Canada. Both advance. Bosnia finish third with 3 points but likely miss out on third-place advancement. Qatar go home with zero points for the second consecutive World Cup.
Third-place points guide:
- 4 points: almost guaranteed advance
- 3 points: possible with a strong goal difference
- 1-2 points: very unlikely to advance
Group B Road to the Round of 32
| Finish | Next Match | Date | Venue | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Round of 32 | July 2 | BC Place, Vancouver | Best 3rd place from Groups E, F, G, I or J |
| 2nd | Round of 32 | June 28 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | Group A runner-up |
Canada as group winner stay at BC Place in Vancouver. Switzerland as runner-up travel to Los Angeles on June 28.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group B FAQs
What teams are in World Cup Group B?
Group B includes Canada (host), Switzerland, Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia confirmed their spot on March 31, 2026 by beating Italy on penalties in the UEFA Playoff Path A final.
When does Group B play?
Group B runs from June 12 to June 24, 2026. Canada open against Bosnia at 3:00 PM ET on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto.
Who is favored to win Group B?
Switzerland enter as favorites at -110 on FanDuel. Canada and Bosnia sit almost equal at +260 and +270. Qatar are extreme outsiders at +3500.
How many teams advance from Group B?
The top two teams advance automatically. The third-place team can also advance as one of the eight best third-place finishers across all 12 groups.
Where can I watch Group B matches?
FOX broadcasts matches in English and Telemundo in Spanish. Streaming is available on Peacock and the FOX Sports app. International viewers should check the broadcast table above for their region.
Has Canada ever won a World Cup match?
Not yet. Six matches across 1986 and 2022 with zero wins. Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first ever World Cup goal against Croatia in 2022.
What happened to Qatar at the 2022 World Cup?
Qatar became the worst performing host nation in World Cup history. Three losses, zero points, one goal scored, seven conceded.
When was Bosnia and Herzegovina last at the World Cup?
Bosnia last appeared at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They lost to Argentina and Nigeria before beating Iran, finishing third in their group and eliminated.
Who did Bosnia beat to qualify for 2026?
Bosnia beat Wales 1-1 aet (won 4-2 on pens) on March 26, 2026, then beat Italy 1-1 aet (won 4-1 on pens) on March 31, 2026.
Group B delivers everything a football fan could want from an opening week. Canada carry the weight of a nation determined to win their first ever World Cup match on home soil. Switzerland arrive as clear favorites built on discipline and tournament experience.
Bosnia bring the momentum of eliminating Italy and have nothing to lose. Qatar want to prove 2022 was not their true level. The Group B schedule runs from June 12 to June 24 and the final standings stay uncertain until both Matchday 3 matches kick off simultaneously at 3:00 PM ET on June 24.
