Qatar- 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts – get their 2026 campaign started against Switzerland, who have progressed to the last 16 in the last three editions.
Qatar were World Cup debutants when they hosted the competition four years ago, but failed to make it past the group phase after losing all three games. The form book suggests that a similar fate might await them here, given that an underwhelming 0-0 draw with El Salvador in their final friendly before the tournament saw their winless run stretch to six games, a run that’s seen them score just two goals.
Manager Julen Lopetegui will try and mastermind an improvement, but Qatar have tasted success in just two of their last 15 meetings with European nations and are on an 11-match sequence without victory in full internationals played outside their homeland .
Switzerland extended their strong run to one defeat in 14 matches by drawing 1-1 with Australia earlier this month. Murat Yakin’s men were one of only two European countries who came through qualifying for this tournament without trailing at any point, and as the highest-ranked side in Group B, will be confident of repeating that feat during the finals.
The Red Crosses last lost their opening game at a World Cup in 1966, while they have not been beaten by a team currently ranked lower than Qatar since November 2022.
The one previous meeting between these two nations came in 2018, with Qatar winning a friendly 1-0.
