Qatar - Switzerland: score, highlights and statistics

Qatar and Switzerland meet in one of the opening fixtures of FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B - a match that carries immediate significance for both sides' hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.

Match Info: Qatar vs Switzerland

The match takes place on Saturday, 13 June 2026, with kick-off at 20:00 BST at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The game is part of Group B of the FIFA World Cup 2026, a group that also includes co-hosts Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Where to Watch Qatar vs Switzerland?

Viewers in the United States have the broadest selection of broadcast options. The match airs on FOX and Telemundo on television, while streaming options include FOX One, Foxsports.com, Fubo TV, Peacock, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo. Audio coverage is also available via Futbol de Primera Radio.

Fans in Australia can follow the match on SBS On Demand, while viewers in New Zealand have access through TVNZ+. Canadian supporters can tune in via TSN+, making North American coverage comprehensive across all three host nations.

Across the rest of the world, Argentina's coverage is split between DIRECTV Sports Argentina on TV and DIRECTV GO online. Brazilian fans can watch on CazéTV, while the match is available in France on 6play and beIN SPORTS CONNECT, in Spain on DAZN España, in Italy on DAZN Italia, and in Mexico via VIX. Polish viewers can watch on TVP 1 and TVP Sport on TV, or stream via sport.tvp.pl and the TVP Sport App.

Qatar vs Switzerland - Match Preview

Qatar and Switzerland open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns with sharply contrasting recent form - Switzerland arrive as Group B's leading contenders, while Qatar face the challenge of proving themselves on football's biggest stage once more.

Switzerland, ranked 17th in the world by FIFA, head into the tournament after a flawless qualifying campaign under coach Murat Yakin. Their squad is built on proven European talent, and their recent tournament record is formidable - they have beaten France, Italy, and Spain in knockout rounds in recent years. Technically well-organised and dangerous in transition, Switzerland begin as strong favourites to progress from this group.

Qatar qualified for the 2026 World Cup as AFC Fourth Round Group winners under coach Julen Lopetegui, making their second consecutive appearance at the tournament after hosting in 2022. After that difficult edition - where they became the first host nation to exit in the group stage - Qatar will be eager to demonstrate meaningful progress. This opening match against Switzerland represents an immediate and unambiguous test of how far they have come.

Head-to-Head: Qatar vs Switzerland

The historical record between these two nations is remarkably brief - they have met only once in their entire history, and that single encounter produced a result that few would have predicted at the time.

Below is the complete head-to-head history between Qatar and Switzerland:

• 14 November 2018 - International Friendly - Switzerland 0:1 Qatar

Qatar - Recent Form

Qatar's recent results raise questions ahead of the World Cup - in their 2 most recent matches with confirmed scores, they were defeated on both occasions without finding the net, conceding 4 goals in total.

On 28 May 2026, Qatar lost 0:1 away to the Republic of Ireland, a result that highlighted their difficulty in attack. Earlier, in December 2025, they suffered a 0:3 defeat against Tunisia - a pointed reminder of the gap between them and stronger opposition. Scheduled friendlies against Sudan, Argentina, and Serbia in the spring of 2026 do not show confirmed results in the available data, making a fully rounded assessment difficult. The available evidence, however, points to a side that must raise their level considerably at the World Cup.

Switzerland - Recent Form

Switzerland arrive at the World Cup in solid form - across their last 5 matches they recorded 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 defeat, scoring 12 goals and conceding 7.

The sharpest statement of intent came on 31 May 2026, when Switzerland beat Jordan 4:1 in their final pre-tournament warm-up. That followed a disciplined 0:0 draw away to Norway, which underlined their defensive organisation. The only blemish in this run was a 3:4 defeat to Germany in March 2026, though scoring 3 goals against the Germans illustrated their attacking quality. Back in November 2025, Switzerland closed out their qualifying campaign with a commanding 4:1 home win over Sweden.

Facts and Statistics

4 key facts about the Qatar vs Switzerland rivalry and this World Cup encounter:

• Qatar and Switzerland have met just 1 time in their entire history - a friendly in November 2018.
• Qatar won that single meeting 1:0 away in Switzerland - the only result on record between these two nations.
• Switzerland are ranked 17th in the FIFA world rankings and are considered the Group B favourites to advance as group winners.
• Qatar became the first host nation in World Cup history to be eliminated in the group stage at the 2022 tournament - they enter 2026 as a regular AFC qualifier for the first time in this cycle.