World Cup 2026: Group B Preview

We are just 10 days away from the best sporting event on the planet, the World Cup! Here at Metro Philadelphia and Philly Sports Network, we are taking a deep dive into the 48 teams that make up the field, continuing now with a preview of the teams from Group B. This Group sees a host nation ready to punch above its weight, two middleweights from Europe hoping for a long run, and the host from the last World Cup in 2022.

North America 2026: Group B Preview

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar make up Group B. Each has something to prove in a group that is mostly overlooked or passed over because there is no “giant” team here. Could a team from Group B go on a run to the Cup?

Canada will look to bring pride to their nation and reap the rewards of being one of the three co-hosts of the tournament.  Bosnia and Herzegovina are hoping for a good showing after returning to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years. Qatar will be hoping not to be one of the worst in the tournament, like they were when they hosted four years ago, and the mighty Swiss are ready to show if they are for real or not.

The FIFA World Cup is displayed during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Nathan Phillips Square.

Kevin Sousa

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina are back in the World Cup tournament after a 12-year absence. After an unlucky go in their UEFA qualifying group, losing just once but still needing playoff wins to qualify, they willed their way to North America with wins over Wales and Italy. Beating out the famous Italian team ended a 12-year drought and surprised the world. Can they do it again in Group B?

Sergej Barbarez is the man in charge of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He’s a former captain of this country, but never played in a major tournament. Barbarez was brought in in 2024, and over the last two years, he has tried to instill a culture of belief, a team collective that fights for every blade of grass. This started out on rocky footing, as Bosnia and Herzegovina lost the first eight matches under Barbarez. However, they persevered and are ready to take on the World’s biggest stage.

A mixture of young talent mixed with grizzled veterans makes this side one to watch at this World Cup. Veteran striker and captain Eden Dzeko will lead the team on the pitch. The 40-year-old Dzeko is tied for the third-oldest player at the tournament; this is his last ride, and he will rely on the youth and speed of players like Esmir Bajraktarevic. Bajraktarevic may be a name you’re familiar with if you watched MLS. He was a breakthrough star for the New England Revolution before moving to PSV in the Netherlands. This 21-year-old scored the winning PK to send his nation to the World Cup, and he’s ready to show that aura in the biggest tournament in the world.

Bosnia and Herzegovina are likely fighting for a second or third-place finish in this group. Being with one of the hosts, Canada, and Switzerland being the outright favorite, means this team will be an underdog. I think that’s just how Bosnia and Herzegovina likes it; don’t be surprised if they turn heads in North America in 2026.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Edin Dzeko celebrates scoring their first goal with Kerim Alajbegovic and Dzenis Burnic

Hannah McKay

Canada

Canada is a team on the rise in World Football and has been for the past few years. Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, they took the top spot in CONCACAF qualifying and were flying high. They were brought back down to earth quickly at Qatar 2022, landing in a Group of Death with Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco. They took no points, and now have had four years to prepare for a World Cup on their home soil.

Jesse Marsch is at the helm now. The American manager will look to take a Canadian side with raw talent and apply his Red Bull style of frantic football to it. Marsch prides himself on being a manager who can develop young players and get the best out of them. Canada has the seventh-youngest team at this tournament, with an average age of 26.23 years. Let’s see if Marsch can get this team full of youth and recent World Cup experience to show out for their home fans.

There are so many players that could be standouts for Canada if they have good showings, but three players who have the most on their shoulders are Moise Bombito, Jonathan David, and Alphonso Davies. Bombito has been hailed as Canada's best defender, but he’s been injured for much of 2026; could his lack of fitness be a concern?  David and Davies have been the best players for Canada for almost half a decade; both play for big clubs, Juventus and Bayern Munich. If the Canadian’s want to make it out of the group, both will have to produce goals and assists.

Canada has home-field advantage playing one group game in Toronto and two in Vancouver. Their raw talent, with a home crowd lifting them when they need an extra burst of energy, may just be enough to push this team to a top-two finish and a first-ever appearance in the knockout rounds!

March 31, 2026.Tunisia's Rayan Elloumi in action with Canada's Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty

Cole Burston

Qatar

Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup, which was their first time ever making it, and they had the worst debut possible. The 2022 hosts were the worst team in the tournament, finishing 32nd out of 32 teams and with a -6 goal difference. They did turn things around and qualified for the 2026 tournament outright from the Asian Football Confederation. No one is expecting them to be World beaters at this tournament, but their objective is simple: don’t finish 48th out of 48 nations.

Head Coach Julen Lopetegui took over as head coach of the Qatar team in 2025. He has a pedigree as a former Real Madrid coach and loves to play a possession-based style. This has proved a difficult style for teams Lopetegui has coached that aren’t at Real Madrid, and he will likely need to adapt a bit in Qatar if he wants the chance not to finish last in Group B.

Two players to watch for Qatar at North America 2026 are Boualem Khoukhi and Akram Afif. Khoukhi will be the anchor of a defense that needs to be stout; his 122 caps will be relied on heavily. Speaking of being relied on heavily, Afif has been hailed as the best player on this team. He will need to be the creative spark for Qatar on the left wing, whether that be scoring goals or creating them for others.

Qatar is projected to finish last in Group B, but if they can get any rallying draws or last-minute winning goals from Group B play, they could make it to one of the eight third-place spots that make the knockouts in this expanded World Cup.

Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui celebrates with Hassan Al Haydos after qualifying for the FIFA World Cup

Ibraheem Al Omari

Switzerland

Switzerland comes into Group B play as the out-and-out favorite to win the group. Once a side that was inconsistent in World Football has now made 12 straight major tournament appearances since 2012. They cruised through their UEFA qualifying group to avoid the playoffs, and now have a point to prove at North America 2026.

Murat Yakin is the longest tenured coach in Group B. He took charge of Switzerland in 2021. He has been heralded for his easygoing manner, which makes him very popular among players and fans. On the field, his teams play in a very organized 4-2-3-1 formation. Can Yakin’s organization and the players' skills be enough to win the group?

Ricardo Rodriguez is playing in his fourth World Cup for Switzerland. The left back will be an important figure in the organization of Switzerland. Breel Embolo is the man up top for the Swiss. He’s been dubbed the “golden boy” for the side; if he’s scoring, then Switzerland will do well. Granit Xhaka is the long-time captain of Switzerland. His leadership from central midfield will help this team tick, but will that be enough to top the group?

This is the best team in Group B, and while that is a nice sentiment, that doesn’t mean this will be a cake-walk for Switzerland. They should finish at the top, but will they be able to play above their competition rather than down to their level?

Switzerland's Granit Xhaka applauds fans after the match

Stefan Wermuth

Group B kicks off on June 12 & 13

While this is not a Group with big-name nations, Group B has the potential for closely contested games, conflicting styles, young players ready to step onto the scene, and veteran players on their last chance to be World Champions. That’s what the World Cup is all about; it’s unpredictable chaos, and Group B has a high potential for that chaos!

If I had a crystal ball and could predict the future, I think Switzerland would top this group, Canada would finish second, and Bosnia and Herzegovina would finish among the top eight third-place teams. Three teams from Group B make the knockouts; otherwise, this Group goes chalk, with many closely contested matches where the favorites come out on top.

Matchday 1: 

Matchday 2: 

Matchday 3: 

For more reading on the World Cup, check out our other previews:

Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D

Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H

Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L