Qatar vs Switzerland World Cup 2026: Preview, Lineups, Time and Where to Watch
GOAL! WHAT A MOMENT FOR AL ANNABI
Boualem Khoukhi heads in the equaliser to earn Qatar’s first-ever point at @FIFAWorldCup!
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
The day Qatar has been waiting for is finally here. On Saturday June 13, 2026, Qatar steps onto the World Cup stage for the first time as a team that earned its place through qualification, not as a host nation handed a spot. The opponent is Switzerland, a side appearing in their sixth consecutive World Cup, and the stage is San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
For everyone in Doha, this is the match. Kick off is at 10 PM Qatar time (12 noon in San Francisco, 9 PM in Bern), which means it lands at a perfect prime time slot for fans across the country to gather, watch, and roar together.
This article brings together everything search engines and fans are looking for right now. The full match details and kick off time in Qatar, both teams’ probable lineups, the latest team news including Switzerland’s Breel Embolo visa update, the weather forecast for Santa Clara, Group B standings heading into the match, and where to watch Qatar vs Switzerland live across Doha including the official Visit Qatar Fan Zone at Al Maha Island.
Qatar went from World Cup hosts to World Cup hopefuls in just four years, and this Group B opener against Switzerland is the moment that journey truly begins. Here is everything you need before kick off.
Match Details: Qatar vs Switzerland
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group B
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Kick off time: 10:00 PM Doha time / 12:00 PM Pacific Time (Santa Clara) / 9:00 PM Bern time
Referee: Said Martinez
This is the opening match of Group B for both Qatar and Switzerland, with Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina kicking off their own Group B campaign on the same matchday. According to the early Group B standings, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina drew their opener 1-1, meaning Qatar and Switzerland both enter this match with a real opportunity to take an early lead in the group.
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Qatar vs Switzerland: Probable Lineups
Both teams are expected to line up as follows, though no official confirmed lineup had been released as of the latest update. Updates will follow closer to kick off.
Qatar probable starting XI (4-3-3):
1 – Mahmoud Abunada (GK)
2 – Pedro Miguel
4 – Issa Lay
5 – Jassim Gaber
8 – Edmilson Junior
11 – Akram Afif
13 – Ayoub Al Alawi
14 – Homam Al Amin
15 – Youssef Abdulrazzaq
16 – Boualem Khoukhi (C)
23 – Assim Madibo
SUBSTITUTES
21 – Salah Zakaria (GK)
22 – Meshaal Barsham (GK)
3 – Lucas Mendes
6 – Abdulaziz Hatem
7 – Ahmed Alaa
9 – Mohammed Muntari
10 – Hassan Al Haydos
12 – Karim Boudiaf
17 – Ahmed Al Janehi
18 – Sultan Al Brake
19 – Al Moez Ali
20 – Ahmed Fathy
24 – Tahsin Mohammed
25 – Alhashmi Alhussain
26 – Mohammed Mannai
Switzerland probable starting XI (4-2-3-1):
Gregor KOBEL(GK)
Defender
Nico ELVEDI
Manuel AKANJI
Ricardo RODRIGUEZ
Midfield
Denis ZAKARIA
Remo FREULER
Granit XHAKA
Michel AEBISCHER
Attack
Breel EMBOLO
Dan NDOYE
Ruben VARGAS
Qatar are managed by Julen Lopetegui, and Switzerland are managed by Murat Yakin. No injury or suspension news has been confirmed for either squad heading into this match.
One major update on the Switzerland side: Breel Embolo, who had faced uncertainty over his participation after the United States initially denied him a visa, has since been cleared and is available for selection. Embolo is one of Switzerland’s most important attacking players, and his availability is a significant boost for Murat Yakin’s side heading into this opener.
Qatar vs Switzerland: Match Preview
Having gone from hosts to hopefuls, Qatar face a Swiss side appearing in their sixth consecutive World Cup in this Group B opener. The narrative around Qatar heading into this tournament has been one of redemption. Four years ago, Qatar became the first host nation to lose all three group stage matches at a World Cup. This time, they arrive as a team that earned its spot through the AFC qualifying rounds and as reigning Asian champions.
Switzerland, by contrast, bring tournament consistency. Their sixth consecutive World Cup appearance speaks to a footballing culture built on organisation, discipline, and a midfield anchored by experienced names like Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler. With Embolo now cleared to play, Switzerland’s attacking line gains a player capable of changing games on his own.
For Qatar, the key names are Akram Afif, the two-time AFC Player of the Year whose creativity in the final third will be central to any attacking threat, and Almoez Ali, Qatar’s record goalscorer who will lead the line. Pedro Miguel’s experience in defence will be crucial against a Swiss attack that knows how to be patient and clinical.
This is a genuinely competitive Group B opener. Switzerland will likely be favourites on paper, but Qatar playing their first World Cup match as a qualified nation, in front of a country that will be watching in numbers unlike anything seen before, brings a different kind of energy to this fixture.
Weather Forecast for Qatar vs Switzerland
The weather in Santa Clara is expected to be mostly sunny on matchday, with daytime temperatures likely in the high 20s to low 30s Celsius. Rain is not expected to play a role and the pitch should remain dry throughout.
Heat could be the bigger factor given the noon local kickoff time. San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is open-air with no roof, meaning both teams will be exposed to direct sunlight for large parts of the match. Hydration breaks and game management could become important if temperatures stay elevated, particularly in the second half when fatigue sets in for both sides.
Group B Standings Before Qatar vs Switzerland
Heading into the Qatar vs Switzerland kickoff, here is how Group B looks:
Canada: 1 match played, 1 draw, 1 point, goal difference 0
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 1 match played, 1 draw, 1 point, goal difference 0
Switzerland: 0 matches played, 0 points
Qatar: 0 matches played, 0 points
With Canada and Bosnia already on the board following their 1-1 draw, both Qatar and Switzerland know that a win here puts them firmly in contention for the top two spots in Group B. A draw keeps both sides level with the other two teams. This is very much an open group, and the outcome of this match will set the tone for the rest of the group stage.
For the full Group B schedule including Qatar’s remaining fixtures against Canada on June 18 and Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 24, check our complete Qatar World Cup 2026 guide.
Where to Watch Qatar vs Switzerland Live in Doha
This is the match every venue in Doha has been building toward, and the city is ready.
Visit Qatar Fan Zone at Al Maha Island
The official Visit Qatar Fan Zone opened on June 11 and runs through July 19 at Al Maha Island, Lusail. For the Qatar vs Switzerland match on June 13, the screening is confirmed for 10 PM Doha time, matching the kickoff exactly. This is the largest and most official fan gathering point in the country, set up under one massive tent purpose-built for the World Cup, with live music, big screens, and the kind of atmosphere that only a national team’s opening World Cup match can bring.
- Date: 13 June
- Timing: 10 PM
- Location: Al Maha Island, Lusail
- Reservation: +974 5114 0000
- Tickets: 75QAR (Kids under 7 enter free.)
- Instagram: Follow Visit Qatar’s official channels for daily screening schedules
For Qatar vs Switzerland specifically, screening begins at 10 PM on Saturday June 13 with Group B branding across the venue.
Every bar, hotel, and fan zone across Doha
From sports bars with 47 screens to rooftop lounges, 24-hour hookah spots, and luxury cinematic viewing experiences, Doha has an enormous range of venues screening every World Cup match including this one. For the complete list of every venue with prices, timings, and contact details, see our full guide to where to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in Doha.
Mall of Qatar Oasis Screens
For families and anyone looking for a free option, the Oasis Area at Mall of Qatar is screening Qatar vs Switzerland live with the mall staying open until 11 PM and food and beverage outlets open until midnight for this fixture.
Novo Cinema – Qatar Vs Switzerland
Catch Qatar vs Switzerland live on the big screen at #NovoCinemas and be part of every moment, every chance, and every celebration. Book in advance and experience the FIFA World Cup like never before.
- Date: 13 Jun 2026
- Price: 2D for 67.5 QAR | 7 star 2D for 177.5 QAR
- Timing: 7 pm onwards
- Location: Mall of Qatar, Doha Oasis, Centro, Tawar Mall, Place Vendôme, 01 Mall, Msheireb Galleria, Souq Waqif – Doha, The Pearl
- Contact/Book: Click here
- Instagram: @novocinemas_qtr
How to Watch on TV and Streaming
beIN SPORTS holds exclusive broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 across Qatar and the wider region. The match will be available live on beIN SPORTS MAX and through the beIN SPORTS CONNECT app and the TOD streaming platform. Alkass Sports Channels are also broadcasting select matches free-to-air for viewers in Qatar.
For viewers outside Qatar following the regional broadcast, a VPN connected to a Qatari server allows streaming through beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
Qatar vs Switzerland Head to Head and Prediction
Qatar and Switzerland have never met before at a FIFA World Cup, and the two sides have a limited history of meetings overall, with no recent fixtures between them on record. This is effectively new territory for both teams, which makes the prediction harder than usual and the match genuinely unpredictable.
Switzerland bring the experience of a sixth consecutive World Cup appearance, with Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler giving them control in midfield and Breel Embolo, now cleared to play, adding a genuine threat in attack. Their squad depth and tournament pedigree are difficult to overlook.
Qatar arrive with a different kind of motivation. This is their first World Cup match as a team that qualified on merit rather than as hosts, and that brings a fresh energy compared to four years ago. Akram Afif’s creativity and Almoez Ali’s finishing in the box will be central to whatever Qatar create going forward, while Pedro Miguel’s experience anchors the defence.
Group B openers rarely follow the script on paper. With Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina having already drawn 1-1 in their opener, every point in this group carries weight from the very first match. A draw, a narrow Switzerland win, or a Qatar upset are all realistic outcomes here, and fans on both sides have every reason to believe their team can take something from this game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kick off is at 10 PM Doha time on Saturday June 13, 2026.
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Yes. After initial visa uncertainty with the United States, Embolo has been cleared and is available for selection for Switzerland.
Said Martinez has been appointed as the referee for this Group B opener.
Mostly sunny with temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s Celsius and no rain expected. Heat and direct sunlight could be a factor given the noon local kickoff at the open-air stadium.
The official Visit Qatar Fan Zone at Al Maha Island screens the match from 10 PM. Mall of Qatar’s Oasis Area has free screening. Dozens of bars and hotels across the city are also screening live, listed in our complete Doha watch guide.
Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Canada and Bosnia drew 1-1 in their opening match.
Julen Lopetegui. Switzerland are managed by Murat Yakin.
beIN SPORTS MAX and beIN SPORTS CONNECT, plus the TOD streaming app and Alkass Sports Channels.
