FIFA World Cup 2026 · Final Draw
GROUP B
5 December 2025 · Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
Canada
Pot 1 · Co-host
Switzerland
Pot 2
Qatar
Pot 3
Bosnia & Herz.
Pot 4
Group B.
The balanced group.
On the fifth of December twenty twenty-five, at the Kennedy Center in Washington D C, the balls came out.
Canada.
Switzerland.
Qatar.
And Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Four teams.
Three confederations.
No easy night for anyone.
Group B · By the Numbers
Four teams. One path forward.
Switzerland
FIFA #19
€322M squad · Yakin
Canada
FIFA #30
€129M · Marsch · Co-host
Qatar
FIFA #55
€18M · Lopetegui
Bosnia & Herz.
FIFA #65
€93M · Barbarez
Here they are by the numbers.
Switzerland.
FIFA ranked nineteenth.
Murat Yakin in charge.
Squad value three hundred and twenty-two million euros.
Canada.
Ranked thirtieth.
Co-host.
Jesse Marsch on the touchline.
Squad value one hundred and twenty-nine million.
Qatar.
Ranked fifty-fifth.
Julen Lopetegui, the Spaniard, now leading them.
Squad value eighteen million.
And Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ranked sixty-fifth.
Sergej Barbarez rebuilding the dragons.
Squad value ninety-three million.
Group B · Team Profile
Canada
FIFA #30
Co-host · Pot 1
CANADA
High-press 4-2-3-1. Pace on the wings, Jonathan David up top. First American ever to coach Canada takes the hosts into their own tournament.
€129M
Squad Value
0W-0D-3L
2022 Record
2
Home Games
Head Coach
Jesse Marsch
⚠ Davies · Johnston · Bombito injured (March window)
Let's start with the hosts.
Canada.
FIFA ranked thirtieth.
Jesse Marsch, the first American ever to coach Canada, on the touchline.
Squad value around one hundred and twenty-nine million euros.
Two group games on home soil.
Toronto.
Then Vancouver.
A high press, a vertical four-two-three-one, pace on the wings, Jonathan David up top.
The strength is obvious.
The weakness is uglier.
Canada have never won a World Cup match.
Zero wins, zero draws, three losses in twenty twenty-two.
An injury crisis has stalked the build-up.
Davies.
Johnston.
Bombito.
All missed the March window.
They must end that zero at home.
CANADA · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Canadians to watch
1/4
CANADA · #19 · LEFT BACK
Alphonso Davies
25
Age
Bayern
Club
58
Caps
15
Goals
★ ACL tear March 2025 vs USA. Returned, scored for Bayern vs Stuttgart April 2026. Canada's left side transforms if he's fit.
Alphonso Davies.
The captain.
Twenty-five years old.
Bayern Munich.
Fifty-eight caps, fifteen goals.
Tore his A C L in March twenty twenty-five against the U S A. Came back.
Tore a muscle fibre and hamstring.
As of April twenty twenty-six, he is looking stronger each game.
If he is fit, Canada's left side transforms.
CANADA · #20 · STRIKER
Jonathan David
26
Age
Juventus
Club
75
Caps
39
Goals
★ Canada's all-time top scorer. 97 goals in 202 games at Lille before a free transfer to Juventus. Team's ceiling is his form.
Jonathan David.
The number nine.
Twenty-six years old.
Juventus in Serie A on a free from Lille last summer.
Seventy-five caps.
Thirty-nine goals.
Canada's all-time top scorer.
Ninety-seven goals in two hundred and two games for Lille before he left.
This team's ceiling is his form.
CANADA · #11 · RIGHT WING
Tajon Buchanan
27
Age
Villarreal
Club
58
Caps
8
Goals
★ Hat-trick vs Girona in August 2025. Six La Liga goals by March. The Buchanan-Davies width duo is Canada's main attacking threat.
Tajon Buchanan.
The right winger.
Twenty-seven years old.
Villarreal in La Liga.
Fifty-eight caps, eight goals.
Scored a hat-trick against Girona in August twenty twenty-five.
Six La Liga goals by March.
The Buchanan-Davies width combination is Canada's main attacking threat.
CANADA · #7 · MIDFIELD
Stephen Eustáquio
28
Age
LAFC (loan)
Club
54
Caps
150+
Porto apps
★ On loan at LAFC from FC Porto since February. 150+ appearances across UCL, Europa, Primeira Liga. Highest-level club pedigree in the squad.
Stephen Eustáquio.
The midfielder.
Twenty-eight years old.
On loan at L A F C from F C Porto since February.
Fifty-four caps.
Over one hundred and fifty Porto appearances across the Champions League, the Europa, and Primeira Liga.
He ties this team's defence to David and Buchanan.
The highest-level club pedigree in the squad.
Group B · Team Profile
Switzerland
FIFA #19
Highest Ranked · Pot 2
SWITZERLAND
17× Qatar's squad value. Unbeaten in UEFA qualifying ahead of Italy. Yakin's contract runs through Euro 2028.
€322M
Squad Value
6
Consecutive WCs
UNBEATEN
UEFA Qualifying
Head Coach
Murat Yakin
⚠ 3 straight R16 exits · no world-class #9
Now.
Switzerland.
Ranked nineteenth.
The highest ranked team in Group B. Murat Yakin, in charge since August twenty twenty-one, contract extended through Euro twenty twenty-eight.
Squad value around three hundred and twenty-two million euros.
Seventeen times what Qatar's squad is worth.
Switzerland qualified as UEFA Group B winners in November.
Unbeaten.
Ahead of Italy.
Six consecutive World Cups.
The weakness is familiar.
Three straight Round of Sixteen exits.
No world-class number nine.
They go deep.
They do not win.
SWITZERLAND · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Swiss to watch
1/4
SWITZERLAND · #10 · CAPTAIN
Granit Xhaka
33
Age
Sunderland
Club
144
Caps · record
£17M
Jul 2025 fee
★ All-time caps record holder for Switzerland. Bundesliga winner with Leverkusen in his debut season. Lose him, the team loses its identity.
Granit Xhaka.
The captain.
Thirty-three years old.
Sunderland in the Premier League, signed in July twenty twenty-five for a reported seventeen million pounds.
One hundred and forty-four caps.
Switzerland's all-time record cap holder.
Won the Bundesliga with Leverkusen in his debut season.
He is the metronome.
Lose him, Switzerland lose their identity.
SWITZERLAND · #5 · DEFENCE
Manuel Akanji
30
Age
Inter (loan)
Club
79
Caps
93%
Pass %
★ Two Premier League titles with Man City before joining Inter on loan with obligation to buy. Anchors this back line against Džeko and David.
Manuel Akanji.
The centre-back.
Thirty years old.
On loan at Inter Milan from Manchester City with an obligation to buy.
Seventy-nine caps.
Two Premier League titles with City.
Ninety-three percent pass completion this season in Serie A.
He anchors this back line against physical strikers like Džeko and David.
SWITZERLAND · #11 · RIGHT WING
Dan Ndoye
24
Age
Notts Forest
Club
5-yr
Deal Jul 2025
Coppa
Italia Winner
★ Scored on Premier League debut vs Brentford. Decisive goal in Bologna's first Coppa Italia in 51 years. Yakin's counter-attack outlet.
Dan Ndoye.
The right winger.
Twenty-four years old.
Nottingham Forest, signed for a five-year deal in July twenty twenty-five.
Scored on his debut against Brentford.
Scored the decisive goal in Bologna's Coppa Italia final against A C Milan.
Bologna's first Coppa Italia in fifty-one years.
He is Yakin's counter-attack outlet.
SWITZERLAND · GK
Gregor Kobel
28
Age
Dortmund
Club
~20
Caps
7
Clean sheets
★ First-choice since Sommer's retirement. UCL finalist with Dortmund in 2024. Chelsea, Bayern, and Newcastle all circling.
Gregor Kobel.
The goalkeeper.
Twenty-eight years old.
Borussia Dortmund.
Around twenty caps.
First choice since Yann Sommer's international retirement.
Fourteen Bundesliga matches this season.
Seven clean sheets.
Champions League finalist with Dortmund in twenty twenty-four.
Chelsea, Bayern, and Newcastle are all circling.
Group B · Team Profile
Qatar
FIFA #55
First WC on Merit · Pot 3
QATAR
Lopetegui appointed 1 May 2025: ex-Spain, Real Madrid, Sevilla. Back-to-back Asian Cup champions. First WC qualification on merit.
€18.3M
Squad Value
2×
AFC Asian Cup (2019, 2023)
0 pts
2022 WC (as hosts)
Head Coach
Julen Lopetegui
⚠ Zero players in a top European league
Now to the Gulf.
Qatar.
Ranked fifty-fifth.
Julen Lopetegui, the Spaniard, appointed on the first of May twenty twenty-five.
Ex-Spain, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolves, West Ham.
Squad value just eighteen point three million euros.
The lowest in Group B by a distance.
This is the first time Qatar have qualified for a World Cup on merit.
In twenty twenty-two, as hosts, they lost all three games, scored one goal, and became the first host ever to finish with zero points.
The strength is the continental record.
Back-to-back A F C Asian Cup champions.
Twenty nineteen and twenty twenty-three.
The weakness is the gap.
Not a single player in a top European league.
An entire squad from the Qatar Stars League.
QATAR · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Qataris to watch
1/4
QATAR · #11 · LEFT WING
Akram Afif
29
Age
Al Sadd
Club
132
Caps
41
Goals
★ 2023 Asian Cup top scorer — 8 goals in 7 games, including 3 penalties in the final vs Jordan. Two-time Asian Footballer of the Year. Qatar's attack runs through him.
Akram Afif.
The left winger.
Twenty-nine years old.
Al Sadd.
One hundred and thirty-two caps.
Forty-one goals.
Top scorer of the twenty twenty-three Asian Cup with eight goals in seven games.
A hat-trick of penalties in the final against Jordan.
Asian Footballer of the Year twice.
Twenty nineteen and twenty twenty-three.
Qatar's entire attack runs through him.
QATAR · #19 · STRIKER
Almoez Ali
28
Age
Al-Duhail
Club
~125
Caps
60
Goals · record
★ 9 goals at the 2019 Asian Cup — a tournament record. Only player ever to score at Asian Cup, Copa América AND Gold Cup.
Almoez Ali.
The striker.
Twenty-eight years old.
Al-Duhail.
Around one hundred and twenty-five caps.
Sixty goals.
Qatar's all-time top scorer.
Nine goals at the twenty nineteen Asian Cup.
A tournament record.
The only footballer to have scored in the Asian Cup, the Copa América, and the Gold Cup.
His opening goal in the twenty nineteen Asian Cup final was a bicycle kick.
That was the moment he broke the tournament scoring record.
QATAR · #10 · CAPTAIN
Hassan Al-Haydos
34
Age
Al Sadd
Club
184
Caps · record
17 yrs
As talisman
★ Qatar's most-capped player ever. Retired March 2024, came out of retirement June 2025 when the federation called. The anchor of this dressing room.
Hassan Al-Haydos.
The captain.
Thirty-four years old.
Al Sadd.
One hundred and eighty-four caps.
Qatar's most-capped player ever.
Retired from international football in March twenty twenty-four, then came out of retirement in June twenty twenty-five when the federation called.
Seventeen years as Qatar's talisman.
The anchor of this dressing room.
QATAR · #13 · TARGET MAN
Mohammed Muntari
32
Age
Al-Gharafa
Club
65
Caps · 16 goals
1.94m
Height
★ Ghana-born, naturalised. Scored Qatar's only 2022 World Cup goal — 78th minute vs Senegal. Plan B in the air.
Mohammed Muntari.
The target man.
Thirty-two years old.
Al-Gharafa.
Six foot four.
Sixty-five caps, sixteen goals.
Ghana-born, naturalised.
Scored Qatar's only goal at the twenty twenty-two World Cup.
Seventy-eighth minute.
Against Senegal.
He is Qatar's Plan B in the air.
Group B · Team Profile
Bosnia & Herzegovina
FIFA #65
The Dragons · Pot 4
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Path A play-off upset of the century: drew Italy 1-1, won 4-1 on penalties. Barbarez was Bosnia captain himself — now head coach since April 2024.
€93M
Squad Value
BEAT ITALY
Play-off · 31 Mar 2026
4-1 on pens
vs Wales · Zenica
Head Coach
Sergej Barbarez
⚠ Džeko is 40 · Pjanic retired in December
And finally.
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ranked sixty-fifth.
Sergej Barbarez, himself a former Bosnia captain, in charge since April twenty twenty-four.
Squad value around ninety-three million euros.
Lowest in the group.
Bosnia qualified through the play-off Path A.
They drew Wales one-all, won on penalties.
Then drew Italy one-all on the thirty-first of March twenty twenty-six, and knocked out four-time world champions Italy on penalties.
The largest upset in UEFA play-off history.
Italy's third consecutive failure to qualify for a World Cup.
The strength is that momentum.
The weakness is Džeko's age.
Forty years old.
And Miralem Pjanic retired in December.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Bosnians to watch
1/4
BOSNIA · #9 · CAPTAIN
Edin Džeko
40
Age
Schalke 04
Club · 2.Bundesliga
148
Caps · record
73
Goals · record
★ Bosnia all-time records for caps AND goals. UEFA's oldest WC-qualifying goalscorer (vs San Marino, June 2025). Champions League finalist with Inter 2023.
Edin Džeko.
The captain.
Forty years old.
Schalke 04 in the second Bundesliga.
One hundred and forty-eight caps.
Seventy-three goals.
Bosnia's all-time records in both.
Became UEFA's oldest ever World Cup qualifying goalscorer against San Marino last June.
Scored the equaliser against Wales that led to the shootout win.
Former Manchester City, Roma, Inter.
Champions League finalist with Inter in twenty twenty-three.
BOSNIA · STRIKER
Ermedin Demirović
25
Age
VfB Stuttgart
Club
30+
Caps
9 in 18
Bundesliga
★ 9 Bundesliga goals in 18 matches this season — one of the in-form strikers in Germany. Presses, runs, creates the space Džeko cannot cover any more.
Ermedin Demirović.
The striker.
Twenty-five years old.
V f B Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.
Over thirty caps.
Nine Bundesliga goals in eighteen matches this season.
One of the in-form strikers in Germany.
He presses, he runs, he creates the space that Džeko cannot cover any more.
BOSNIA · GK
Nikola Vasilj
30
Age
FC St. Pauli
Club
23
Caps
2/2
Play-off pens saved
★ Saved the DECISIVE penalties in both the Wales shootout AND the Italy shootout. Single reason Bosnia are here. Contract expires June 2026.
Nikola Vasilj.
The goalkeeper.
Thirty years old.
F C Sankt Pauli in the Bundesliga.
Twenty-three caps.
Saved the decisive penalties in both the Wales shootout and the Italy shootout.
Both.
He is the single reason Bosnia are at this World Cup.
His contract expires in June twenty twenty-six.
BOSNIA · #8 · DM
Benjamin Tahirović
22
Age
Brøndby
Club · Denmark
26
Caps
Roma→Ajax→BIF
Path
★ Roma academy → 5-year Ajax deal at 20 → Brøndby in February 2025. The engine Barbarez is rebuilding the midfield around.
Benjamin Tahirović.
The defensive midfielder.
Twenty-two years old.
Brøndby in Denmark, signed in February twenty twenty-five.
Came through Roma's academy.
Signed a five-year deal with Ajax at twenty.
Twenty-six caps.
The engine Barbarez is rebuilding the midfield around.
Group B · Schedule
6 GAMES. 4 TEAMS.
One path forward.
CAN
SUI
QAT
BIH
Now the matches.
GROUP B · SCHEDULE
All 6 Group B matches
1/6
MATCHDAY 1 · 12 JUN
Canada vs Bosnia
12 Jun 2026 · 15:00 local
Canada
VS
Bosnia
BMO Field · Toronto · 45,736 seats
CO-HOSTS OPEN
★ Marsch's high press against a veteran Bosnia back line with Džeko up top.
Match one.
The twelfth of June.
Canada versus Bosnia and Herzegovina.
B M O Field in Toronto.
Forty-five thousand seats.
Fifteen hundred local kickoff.
The co-hosts open at home.
Marsch's press against a veteran Bosnia back line with Džeko up top.
MATCHDAY 1 · 13 JUN
Qatar vs Switzerland
13 Jun 2026 · 12:00 local
Qatar
VS
Switzerland
Levi's Stadium · Santa Clara CA · ~69,000 seats
49ers HOME
★ Yakin's controlled build-up against Lopetegui's compact low block.
Match two.
The thirteenth of June.
Qatar versus Switzerland.
Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Around sixty-nine thousand seats.
Home of the San Francisco Forty-Niners.
Twelve noon local kickoff.
Yakin's control against Lopetegui's compact block.
MATCHDAY 2 · 18 JUN
Switzerland vs Bosnia
18 Jun 2026 · 12:00 local
Switzerland
VS
Bosnia
SoFi Stadium · Inglewood CA · 70,000 seats
PIVOTAL MATCH
★ Fully enclosed translucent roof. Largest venue in Group B. The hinge of the group.
Match three.
The eighteenth of June.
Switzerland versus Bosnia and Herzegovina.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Seventy thousand seats.
A fully enclosed translucent roof.
The largest Group B venue.
Twelve noon local.
This is the pivotal match of the group.
MATCHDAY 2 · 18 JUN
Canada vs Qatar
18 Jun 2026 · 15:00 local
Canada
VS
Qatar
BC Place · Vancouver · 54,500 seats
CANADA HOME #2
★ Retractable roof. Afif against Canada's pace is the duel.
Match four.
The eighteenth of June.
Canada versus Qatar.
B C Place in Vancouver.
Fifty-four thousand five hundred seats.
Retractable roof.
Fifteen hundred local kickoff.
Canada's second home game.
Afif against Canada's pace.
MATCHDAY 3 · 24 JUN
Switzerland vs Canada
24 Jun 2026 · 12:00 local
Switzerland
VS
Canada
BC Place · Vancouver · 54,500 seats
DECISIVE FOR CO-HOSTS
★ Xhaka vs Eustáquio in midfield. Canada's decisive match at home.
Match five.
The twenty-fourth of June.
Switzerland versus Canada.
B C Place in Vancouver, again.
Twelve noon local.
The decisive match for the co-hosts is on Canadian soil.
Xhaka against Eustáquio in midfield.
MATCHDAY 3 · 24 JUN
Bosnia vs Qatar
24 Jun 2026 · 12:00 local
Bosnia
VS
Qatar
Lumen Field · Seattle · ~69,000 seats
DEAD RUBBER OR DECIDER
★ Natural grass laid for the tournament. North end open to downtown Seattle. Depends on what's already happened.
Match six.
The twenty-fourth of June.
Bosnia and Herzegovina versus Qatar.
Lumen Field in Seattle.
Sixty-nine thousand seats.
Home of the Seahawks and the Sounders.
Twelve noon local.
Natural grass laid specifically for this World Cup.
The dead rubber, or the decider.
Depends on what has already happened.
Now.
The verdict.
Predicted Standings · Bookmakers
The verdict from Vegas.
| Team | Win Group | Proj. Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Switzerland | ~53% | 7 | FAVOURITE |
| 2Canada | ~30% | 5 | HOST EDGE |
| 3Bosnia & Herz. | ~24% | 4 | MOMENTUM |
| 4Qatar | <5% | 1 | LONGSHOT |
Sources: BetMGM + RotoWire · April 2026
THE HINGE · Switzerland vs Bosnia · SoFi · 18 Jun
Mark The Dates
MATCHDAY 1
12
JUN
CAN vs BIH
Toronto
Toronto
MATCHDAY 1
13
JUN
QAT vs SUI
Santa Clara
Santa Clara
MATCHDAY 2
18
JUN
SUI vs BIH · SoFi
CAN vs QAT · Vancouver
CAN vs QAT · Vancouver
FINAL MATCHDAY
24
JUN
SUI vs CAN · Vancouver
BIH vs QAT · Seattle
BIH vs QAT · Seattle
SUI
CAN
BIH
QAT
Follow AI Football for every group · every player · every story
Mark the dates.
The twelfth of June.
Canada versus Bosnia in Toronto.
The thirteenth of June.
Qatar versus Switzerland in Santa Clara.
The eighteenth of June.
Two games.
Switzerland versus Bosnia at SoFi, and Canada versus Qatar in Vancouver.
The twenty-fourth of June.
The final matchday.
Switzerland versus Canada in Vancouver.
Bosnia versus Qatar in Seattle.
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