Qatar is back on the world stage, and this time it is different. For the first time in the country’s football history, Al Adaam have earned their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 through the qualifying rounds, not as a host nation. That distinction matters more than anything else heading into a tournament that kicks off on June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Four years ago, Qatar made history in the wrong way. They became the first host nation to lose all three group stage matches at a World Cup, finished with one goal scored and seven conceded, and left as statistically the worst team in the 32-team tournament. But a lot has changed since then. A double Asian Cup title, a new head coach, and a squad with far more experience now stand between Qatar and that painful memory.
Group B is where the story unfolds. Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the opponents. The FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B schedule is tight, the stakes are real, and for millions of fans watching from Doha, this tournament means something entirely new.
Here is everything you need to know.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qatar Group B Fixtures and Schedule
Qatar’s three group stage matches are spread across North America. All times below are in Qatar Standard Time (AST, UTC+3).
Match 1: Qatar vs Switzerland Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026 Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California Kick-off time (Qatar time): 11:00 PM AST
Match 2: Canada vs Qatar Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2026 Venue: BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia Kick-off time (Qatar time): 3:00 AM AST (June 19)
Match 3: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 Venue: Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington Kick-off time (Qatar time): 11:00 PM AST
These are the three most important nights in Qatar football history. Mark them. Set reminders. The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule runs from June 11 through to the final on July 19 in New York New Jersey Stadium, and every game Qatar plays in between will shape how this chapter is remembered.
Qatar’s Full Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026
Coach Julen Lopetegui has named a squad built on experience from the domestic Qatar Stars League, with almost all players based locally. The one exception is full-back Homam Al-Amin, who is based in Spain on loan from a Qatari club.
Goalkeepers: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, Salah Zakaria
Defenders: Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Sultan Al-Brake, Ayoub Al Alawi, Lucas Mendes, Issa Laaye, Homam Al-Amin, Hashmi Hussein
Midfielders: Karim Boudiaf, Assim Madibo, Abdulaziz Hatem, Ahmed Fathi, Jassem Jaber, Mohammed Al-Manai
Forwards: Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Hassan Al-Haydos, Edmilson Junior, Mohammed Muntari, Tahseen Mohammed, Ahmed Alaa, Youssef Abdulrazzaq, Ahmed Al-Janahi
FIFA ranking: 55 World Cup appearances: 2 (2022 as host, 2026 through qualification) Best World Cup finish: Group stage (2022)
Key Players to Watch
Akram Afif – the one who carries the dream
If Qatar has a moment at this World Cup, it will come through Akram Afif. The winger is considered one of the finest footballers to emerge from Asia in years, a two-time AFC Player of the Year, and the man who scored a hat-trick of penalties in the 2023 Asian Cup final to retain the continental title. He is 29, he is at his peak, and he is hungry to erase the memory of 2022.
Qatar’s game plan will largely be organised, compact, and defensive. But when the moment arrives to make something happen, all eyes go to Afif.
Almoez Ali – Qatar’s all-time top scorer
The 29-year-old Sudan-born striker is Qatar’s record goalscorer with 55 international goals. He played all three group stage matches in 2022 and scored the only Qatar goal of that tournament. He won the Golden Boot at the 2019 Asian Cup. His link-up play and movement in the box give Qatar a genuine threat from open play.
Pedro Miguel – the quiet organiser
The Portugal-born defender headed the decisive goal against UAE that sealed Qatar’s qualification for this tournament. He can play at right-back or in central defence, has over 100 international caps, and brings the kind of calm experience this squad needs in tight moments.
Hassan Al-Haydos – the captain
At 35, the Al Sadd captain may be in his final major tournament. He brings leadership, technical quality, and a read of the game that younger players in this squad cannot replicate. Do not write him off as a starter.
Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid – The only player of Indian origin representing Qatar at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The only player of Indian origin representing Qatar at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid. The 19-year-old winger made history by becoming the first player of Indian descent (and the first with Kerala roots) to be selected for the Qatari national squad.
Qatar’s Head Coach: Julen Lopetegui
There are few managerial careers quite as dramatic as Julen Lopetegui’s. He was sacked as Spain head coach 48 hours before their opening match at the 2018 World Cup after Real Madrid announced his appointment before the tournament. He was then sacked by Real Madrid 139 days later. He bounced back by winning the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020 before spells at Wolves and West Ham.
Now, finally, he gets to coach at a World Cup. The Spaniard favours a possession-based, short passing style. The results under his management of Qatar have been inconsistent, with just one win in 12 games before the tournament, but his experience of managing at the highest level in European football brings a different tactical dimension to this squad.
Qatar’s preparation was also disrupted by the regional tensions earlier in 2026. Despite that, Lopetegui’s appointment represents a clear statement about Qatar’s footballing ambitions.
Can Qatar Qualify from Group B?
Group B on paper looks like the most balanced of all the FIFA World Cup 2026 groups. Switzerland are a solid European side. Canada are playing on home soil and carry enormous hope as co-hosts. Bosnia and Herzegovina bring experience in Edin Dzeko, one of the most decorated strikers of his generation.
Qatar’s path to the round of 32 is narrow but it is real.
A win against Switzerland on June 13 would change everything. Switzerland are technically disciplined but not a top-tier European side, and the game at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is entirely winnable for a well-organised Qatar team.
The Canada match on June 18 is trickier. Playing in Vancouver in front of a partisan home crowd is not ideal, but Qatar have won at venues far more hostile during Asian Cup campaigns.
If Qatar get four points from their first two games, the June 24 match against Bosnia becomes a genuine qualification decider.
The quarter-finals and semi-finals are not the realistic target here. The goal is to reach the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history, and the Qatar team that arrives in North America in June 2026 is the most prepared and most experienced squad the country has ever sent to a global tournament.
How to Watch Qatar at FIFA World Cup 2026 from Doha
For anyone in Qatar, both beIN SPORTS and Alkass Sports Channels are broadcasting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
beIN SPORTS MAX and CONNECT will carry all 104 matches live, including all three of Qatar’s group stage fixtures. You can stream through the beIN SPORTS CONNECT app or through the TOD streaming platform. Select high-profile games, including the World Cup Final, may also be available on the free-to-air beIN SPORTS NEWS channel.
Alkass Sports Channels are also broadcasting select matches free-to-air for viewers in Qatar.
If you are watching from outside Qatar and want to follow the local broadcast, a VPN connected to a Qatari server will let you stream through beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
For a complete guide to where to watch the matches from fan zones and screening locations across Doha, check our dedicated World Cup watch guide for Doha.
Where to Watch Qatar’s Matches in Doha (TBA)
Several venues are running special Qatar match packages with extended hours.
Expect Doha’s fan culture to hit a level it has not seen since Qatar 2022. This time, though, the pride is different. Qatar earned this.
For the full list of screening locations, match-day food and drink deals, and fan zone timings, see our complete Doha World Cup watch guide.
Qatar at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Fast Facts
- Qatar is in Group B alongside Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
- They qualified through the AFC qualifier rounds for the first time, having appeared in 2022 as hosts
- Qatar’s FIFA ranking going into the tournament is 55
- They are the reigning Asian champions, having won the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 and 2023
- Akram Afif is a two-time AFC Player of the Year
- Almoez Ali has scored 55 international goals, the most in Qatar’s history
- Head coach Julen Lopetegui won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020
- The full FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule runs from June 11 to July 19
- The final will be held at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19
- Qatar’s matches are broadcast live on beIN SPORTS and Alkass in the region
The Bigger Picture
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the biggest tournament in history. For the first time, 48 teams compete across 104 matches, spread across 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The expanded format means more matches, more drama, and a genuinely wider path to the knockout rounds for teams like Qatar.
The host cities include iconic venues. Mexico City Stadium, the legendary ground that hosted two World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986. New York New Jersey Stadium, where the World Cup trophy will be lifted on July 19. Dallas Stadium, with a 94,000 capacity and a jaw-dropping skyline roof. San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, where Qatar opens their campaign against Switzerland.
This is the World Cup that Qatar gets to enter on its own terms. No hosting advantage. No guaranteed group stage spot handed down. Just a squad that fought through qualification, won two Asian Cups, and believes it belongs here.
June 13 is the first test. Doha will be watching.
FAQ :
When does Qatar play at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Qatar plays three group stage matches: vs Switzerland on June 13, vs Canada on June 18, and vs Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 24.
What group is Qatar in at World Cup 2026?
Qatar is in Group B alongside Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Where are Qatar’s World Cup 2026 matches being played?
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (June 13), BC Place Vancouver (June 18), and Seattle Stadium (June 24).
Who is Qatar’s coach at the 2026 World Cup?
Julen Lopetegui, the Spanish manager who previously managed Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolves, and West Ham.
Who is Qatar’s best player at World Cup 2026?
Akram Afif, a two-time AFC Player of the Year and the man who scored a hat-trick in the 2023 Asian Cup final.
How can I watch Qatar’s World Cup 2026 matches in Doha?
Live on beIN SPORTS MAX, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, and Alkass Sports Channels. All three group stage matches will be available to stream through the TOD app.
Has Qatar ever qualified for the World Cup before 2026?
Qatar appeared at the 2022 World Cup as the host nation. The 2026 edition is the first time they have qualified through the AFC qualifying rounds.
What time do Qatar’s World Cup matches kick off in Qatar time?
Qatar vs Switzerland: 11 PM AST on June 13. Canada vs Qatar: 3 AM AST on June 19. Bosnia vs Qatar: 11 PM AST on June 24.
