2026 FIFA World Cup Group B: Schedule, Standings and Prediction
World Cup Group B is wide open after a dramatic opening round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Co-hosts Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto, while Switzerland were held 1-1 by Qatar at Levi’s Stadium. All four teams sit on a single point heading into Matchday 2.
This is Canada’s first home World Cup, and the draw delivered the nation’s first-ever World Cup point. The top two teams advance automatically to the Round of 32, and the third-placed side can still go through as one of the eight best third-placed finishers across all 12 groups.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group B Teams
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Rank (June 2026) | WC Appearances | Pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (Host) | CONCACAF | #30 | 3rd | 1 |
| Switzerland | UEFA | #19 | 13th | 2 |
| Qatar | AFC | #56 | 2nd | 3 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | UEFA | #64 | 2nd | 4 |
Group B Matchday 1 Results
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia struck first through Jovo Lukic in the 21st minute from a Sead Kolasinac set-piece. Cyle Larin levelled in the second half to hand Canada their first-ever World Cup point in front of a sold-out BMO Field.
Switzerland 1-1 Qatar. Breel Embolo converted a 17th-minute penalty to put the favourites ahead, but Qatar snatched a stoppage-time equaliser (a Miro Muheim own goal) to claim their own first-ever World Cup point. Both openers finishing level left the group perfectly balanced.
Group B Standings
Updated after Matchday 1 (June 13, 2026).
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada (H) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Qatar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
All four teams are level on one point with identical records, so the table is separated only by fair-play and FIFA-ranking tiebreakers. The top two advance automatically to the Round of 32, with the best eight third-placed teams across all 12 groups also progressing. The tiebreaker order is goal difference, then goals scored, then head-to-head results, then fair-play score, then FIFA ranking.
World Cup Group B Match Schedule 2026
All times are Eastern Time (ET). FOX and FS1 broadcast in English, Telemundo and Universo in Spanish, with every match streaming on Peacock.
Matchday 1 (June 12-13) – Full Time
| Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1-1 | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Qatar vs Switzerland | 1-1 | 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 at 3:00 PM ET.
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland vs Canada | 3:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar | 3:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
With every team level, Matchday 2 is decisive. Canada vs Qatar in Vancouver is a major chance for the hosts to claim a first World Cup win, while the June 24 meeting between Switzerland and Canada at BC Place could decide who tops the group.
Group B Venue Guide
| Match | Stadium | City | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada vs Bosnia | BMO Field | Toronto | 44,315 |
| Qatar vs Switzerland | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara | 68,500 |
| Switzerland vs Bosnia | SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles | 70,240 |
| Canada vs Qatar | BC Place | Vancouver | 54,500 |
| Switzerland vs Canada | BC Place | Vancouver | 54,500 |
| Bosnia vs Qatar | Lumen Field | Seattle | 68,740 |
Canada play two of their three group matches in Vancouver and one in Toronto, never leaving home soil. If Canada win the group, their Round of 32 tie also stays at BC Place in Vancouver on July 2.
How to Watch World Cup 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, with the biggest games on FOX and later kickoffs on FS1. Every match also streams on Peacock, with Spanish coverage via Telemundo.
Group B Team Analysis and Preview
Canada (Host Nation)
Manager: Jesse Marsch (appointed 2024)
Canada arrived chasing a first World Cup win in seven attempts, having gone scoreless through 1986 and managed just one goal (Alphonso Davies vs Croatia) in 2022. The 1-1 draw with Bosnia ended one drought, earning a maiden World Cup point on home soil, but the elusive victory could come against Qatar on June 18.
Key players: captain Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), back from an ACL injury; Jonathan David (Juventus), Canada’s all-time top scorer; midfield anchor Stephen Eustaquio (Porto); and wide threats Ismael Kone (Sassuolo) and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal). Playing all three games at home is a real edge; finishing chances remain the question after another low-scoring opener.
Switzerland
Manager: Murat Yakin (since 2021)
Switzerland are the highest-ranked side in the group and pre-tournament favourites, having topped their UEFA qualifying group unbeaten. But they were frustrated by Qatar’s stoppage-time leveller in the opener, a reminder that their attack can stall against deep defences. Reaching the Round of 16 in each of the last three World Cups, they remain the team to beat for top spot.
Key players: captain Granit Xhaka (Sunderland), the squad’s record cap-holder; centre-back Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan); goalkeeper Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund); striker Breel Embolo (AS Monaco), who scored the opener; and winger Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest). With Shaqiri and Sommer retired, this is a refreshed but experienced core.
Qatar
Manager: Julen Lopetegui
After finishing as the worst-performing host in history in 2022 (three losses, zero points), Qatar qualified on merit through AFC this time and immediately made amends: their late equaliser against Switzerland delivered a first-ever World Cup point. Under Lopetegui, the two-time Asian Cup winners (2019, 2023) showed they can frustrate stronger sides.
Key players: Akram Afif (Al-Sadd), the 2019 Asian Footballer of the Year and chief creator; striker Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail), the 2019 Asian Cup top scorer; and goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham (Al-Sadd). A fully home-based squad still lacks European experience and goals.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Manager: Sergej Barbarez (appointed April 2024)
Bosnia reached their second World Cup by beating Wales and then four-time champions Italy, both on penalties, in the UEFA playoffs on March 31, 2026. They carried that momentum into Toronto, leading Canada before settling for a 1-1 draw, a strong start for the group’s lowest-ranked side.
Key players: talisman Edin Dzeko (Schalke), still scoring at 40 and the nation’s all-time leading marksman; forward Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart); right-back Amar Dedic (Benfica); left-back Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), who set up the opening goal; and goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj (St. Pauli), hero of both playoff shootouts. Squad depth is thin, but belief is high.
2026 World Cup Group B Predictions
- Matchday 1 (result): Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina. Switzerland 1-1 Qatar.
- Matchday 2 (prediction): Switzerland 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina. Canada 2-1 Qatar.
- Matchday 3 (prediction): Switzerland 1-1 Canada. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 Qatar.
Final Predicted Standings
| Pos | Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 5 | Advance |
| 2 | Canada | 5 | Advance |
| 3 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4 | Third-place hopeful |
| 4 | Qatar | 1 | Eliminated |
The opening draws make this tighter than expected. Switzerland and Canada are still favoured to advance, but Bosnia’s momentum keeps them firmly in the third-place race, where four points is usually enough to progress and three can work with a healthy goal difference.
Group B Road to the Round of 32
| Finish | Date | Venue | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | July 2 | BC Place, Vancouver | Best 3rd place from Groups E, F, G, I or J |
| Runner-up | June 28 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | Group A runner-up |
The group winner stays at BC Place in Vancouver, while the runner-up travels to Los Angeles on June 28, an extra incentive for Canada to finish top on home soil.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group B FAQs
What teams are in World Cup Group B?
Group B features Canada (co-host), Switzerland, Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia confirmed their place on March 31, 2026 by beating Italy on penalties in the UEFA playoff final.
What were the Group B Matchday 1 results?
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Switzerland 1-1 Qatar. Both openers were draws, leaving all four teams on one point.
When does Group B play?
Group B runs from June 12 to June 24, 2026. Matchday 2 is June 18 and Matchday 3 is June 24, when both final games kick off at the same time (3:00 PM ET).
Who is favourite to win Group B?
Switzerland, the highest-ranked team in the group, though the opening draws left it wide open with Canada, Bosnia and Qatar all level on points.
How many teams advance from Group B?
The top two teams advance automatically. The third-placed team can also advance as one of the eight best third-placed finishers across all 12 groups.
Has Canada ever won a World Cup match?
Not yet. After the June 12 draw with Bosnia, Canada have played seven World Cup matches without a win, but that result earned their first-ever World Cup point.
Where can I watch Group B matches?
In the US, FOX and FS1 show matches in English and Telemundo in Spanish, with streaming on Peacock. International viewers should check the broadcast table above for their region.
When was Bosnia and Herzegovina last at the World Cup?
Bosnia last appeared at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they beat Iran but finished third in their group and were eliminated.
World Cup Group B is set up for a thrilling finish. After two opening draws, Canada, Switzerland, Bosnia and Qatar are all level, and the standings will stay uncertain until both Matchday 3 matches kick off simultaneously on June 24. Switzerland and the host nation remain the favourites to reach the Round of 32, but Bosnia’s momentum means nothing in this group is settled yet.
