Qatar face Switzerland on Saturday, June 13 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in their Group B opener at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with kick-off set for 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT.
This is a landmark fixture for Qatar, who return to the World Cup for the first time since their disastrous home debut at Qatar 2022, where they became the first host nation to be eliminated in the group stage. For Switzerland, Group B represents a strong opportunity to reach the knockout rounds for a fourth consecutive World Cup.
In this blog, you will find everything you need to know about how to watch and stream the Qatar vs Switzerland World Cup match online, along with team news, kick-off times, squad lists, broadcast options, and tactical analysis.
Key Details
- Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
- Kick-off Time: 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. BST / 9:00 p.m. CEST
- Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California (San Francisco Bay Area)
- Where to Watch: Fox / FS1 (USA) | ITV1 / BBC (UK) | SBS (Australia) | Zee5 (India)
Where to Watch Qatar vs. Switzerland Football World Cup Match?
In the USA, Qatar vs Switzerland airs live on Fox and is also available to stream via Fox One. Spanish-speaking viewers in the United States can watch on Telemundo and Universo.
In the UK, both ITV1 and BBC hold shared rights for the 2026 World Cup, with streaming available free via ITVX and BBC iPlayer. Australian viewers can watch free on SBS and SBS On Demand without any subscription. Fans in India can stream via Zee5, while Qatar-based viewers can watch through the region’s beIN Sports rights.
FIFA+ offers a free streaming option in regions without an official local broadcaster. Canadian fans can watch on CTV and TSN, and fans across the Middle East and North Africa can access the match via beIN Sports.
How to Watch Qatar vs. Switzerland with a VPN
If the match is unavailable in your region, a VPN unlocks free access to ITVX, which broadcasts every World Cup game free to UK residents.
ITVX is geoblocked to UK IP addresses, so connecting through a PureVPN server in the UK bypasses that restriction instantly. Follow these steps:
- Sign up for PureVPN and install the app on your device.
- Connect to a UK server to obtain a British IP address.
- Visit ITVX and sign in or create a free account.
- Search for the Qatar vs Switzerland match and start streaming live.
Note: Always check your local laws regarding VPN usage and review the terms of service of any streaming platform before connecting.
Qatar vs. Switzerland FIFA World Cup 2026 Team News
Qatar Team News
Julen Lopetegui was appointed Qatar head coach in May 2025, becoming the latest in a long line of Iberian coaches to manage the Maroons. The Spaniard previously managed Real Madrid, Sevilla, and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League before taking the role. Qatar’s last six managers all came from the Iberian Peninsula.
Qatar failed to qualify directly from their AFC third round qualifying group, finishing behind Iran and Uzbekistan. They entered the fourth round playoffs, drew 0-0 with Oman, then beat the UAE 2-1 in Doha to secure their World Cup place. Lopetegui left out defender Niall Mason from the preliminary squad in a notable selection call, and veteran striker Sebastian Soria, 42, also missed out entirely.
Captain Hassan Al-Haydos is Qatar’s most capped player and the central figure in the squad. Almoez Ali, 29, is Qatar’s all-time top scorer with 60 goals in 126 appearances and scored 12 times across all rounds of AFC World Cup qualifying, the most of any player in Asian qualifying. Creative winger Akram Afif provided 11 assists in 16 qualifying matches and is Qatar’s primary creative threat.
Lopetegui’s Qatar are expected to defend deep and rely on the counter-attacking threat of Afif and Ali rather than attempting to control possession against stronger opponents. Between the two World Cup cycles, Qatar successfully defended their AFC Asian Cup title on home soil, with Afif playing a starring role.
Switzerland Team News
Murat Yakin has led Switzerland since August 2021 and arrived at the World Cup with the best tournament record among recent Swiss coaches. He guided the team to the round of 16 at Qatar 2022, then to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals where they beat holders Italy before losing to England on penalties.
Switzerland dominated UEFA qualifying Group C, winning four, drawing two, and losing none across six matches on their way to automatic qualification. Pre-tournament form showed confidence: they beat Jordan 4-1 in their final warmup friendly on May 31, 2026, and drew 0-0 with Norway in March.
Captain Granit Xhaka, 33, now at Sunderland, captains Switzerland at his fourth consecutive World Cup. No player has represented Switzerland more times. Xhaka sets the tempo from central midfield alongside Remo Freuler of Bologna, giving Yakin a reliable double pivot built on experience in Europe’s top leagues. The retirement of Xherdan Shaqiri after Euro 2024 removed a major creative force, but younger players including AC Milan midfielder Ardon Jashari and 20-year-old Johan Manzambi of Freiburg have stepped into wider roles.
Breel Embolo leads the attack with 24 international goals and was Switzerland’s top scorer in qualifying. Dan Ndoye of Nottingham Forest and Ruben Vargas of Sevilla provide width, while Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund takes over from the retired Yann Sommer as first-choice goalkeeper. Yakin typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 that can shift to a 4-3-3, defending in a disciplined block and transitioning quickly through Xhaka’s distribution.
Qatar World Cup 2026 Squad
- Goalkeepers: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, Salah Zakaria
- Defenders: Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Sultan Al Braik, Al Hashmi Al Hussein, Ayoub Al Alawi, Issa Laaye, Lucas Mendes, Ahmed Al Janhi
- Midfielders: Assim Madibo, Karim Boudiaf, Ahmed Fathi, Abdulaziz Hatem, Jassem Jaber, Mohammed Al-Manai, Mostafa Meshaal
- Forwards: Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Hassan Al-Haydos, Ahmed Alaaeldin, Yousuf Abdurisag, Homam Ahmed, Khalid Muneer, Ismaeel Mohammad, Abdullah Al-Ahrak
Switzerland World Cup 2026 Squad
- Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel, Yvon Mvogo, Marvin Keller
- Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez, Silvan Widmer, Miro Muheim, Luca Jaquez, Aurele Amenda, Eray Comert
- Midfielders: Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler, Ardon Jashari, Denis Zakaria, Michel Aebischer, Djibril Sow, Fabian Rieder, Johan Manzambi, Noah Okafor, Ruben Vargas, Dan Ndoye, Christian Fassnacht
- Forwards: Breel Embolo, Zeki Amdouni, Cedric Itten
Qatar vs Switzerland Match Preview
Qatar vs Switzerland takes place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara in the opening Group B fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026. These two nations have never met at a World Cup before, making this a historically fresh encounter.
Switzerland arrive as the group’s standout European presence, ranked 55 places above Qatar in FIFA’s world rankings. Qatar’s only previous World Cup appearance in 2022 ended in three defeats, a record for a host nation, and the weight of that experience defines what this tournament means for Lopetegui’s squad.
For Switzerland, the objective is to confirm progression into the round of 32 as early as possible and set up a kind knockout draw. For Qatar, survival in the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history starts with avoiding defeat against the tournament’s best-ranked side in Group B.
Tactical Outlook
Yakin’s Switzerland will look to control possession through Xhaka and Freuler in midfield, stretch Qatar’s defensive block with the pace of Ndoye and Vargas out wide, and create central space for Embolo to work in. Their 4-2-3-1 is designed to be patient, structured, and hard to counter.
Lopetegui’s Qatar will defend in a compact low block, deny space in behind, and rely on Akram Afif’s creativity and Almoez Ali’s finishing on the break. Qatar’s qualified route through the AFC playoffs showed resilience, but Switzerland’s quality in possession will test their defensive shape throughout.
The critical matchup is Afif against Switzerland’s right-sided defensive pair, where one moment of quality could change the match. If Embolo can hold the ball up and bring midfield runners into the final third, Switzerland have the tools to break down an organised Qatari defence before the half-hour mark.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule
| Date | Match | City | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 13 | Brazil vs. Morocco | New York/NJ | 19:00 |
| June 13 | Qatar vs. Switzerland | San Francisco | 23:00 |
| June 13 | USA vs. Paraguay | Los Angeles | 01:00 (June 14) |
| June 14 | Haiti vs. Scotland | Boston | 22:00 |
| June 14 | Germany vs. Curaçao | Houston | 22:00 |
| June 14 | Côte d’Ivoire vs. Ecuador | Philadelphia | 22:00 |
| June 14 | Australia vs. Türkiye | Vancouver | 00:00 (June 15) |
| June 14 | Netherlands vs. Japan | Dallas | 00:00 (June 15) |
| June 15 | Spain vs. Cabo Verde | Atlanta | 20:00 |
| June 15 | Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay | Miami | 21:00 |
| June 15 | Belgium vs. Egypt | Seattle | 23:00 |
| June 15 | Sweden vs. Tunisia | Monterrey | 01:00 (June 16) |
FIFA World Cup 2026: The Biggest Football Tournament in History
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be the most ambitious and expansive edition of football’s grandest stage. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the first time ever, three nations are co-hosting the World Cup; a milestone that reflects both the scale of the event and the growing global footprint of the beautiful game.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Format Explained: 48 Nations, 104 Matches
An expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than in Qatar 2022, and take place across three host nations for the first time. This expansion fundamentally changes the tournament’s structure.
The competition now consists of 12 groups of four teams, with each team playing three matches in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament will advance to the knockout Round of 32.
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage now includes a Round of 32, a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, meaning there will be 104 matches in total, 40 more than in Qatar. As a result, the 2026 World Cup will last 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in FIFA World Cup 2026
There will be 16 host cities in total, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The cities where these games will take place include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States.
The opening match is especially historic. The tournament kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa, making it one of the most iconic venues in World Cup history, and the first stadium to host games at three different men’s World Cups.
The final is set for an equally iconic setting. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has been rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the event in order to comply with FIFA’s corporate name policy.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed the 2026 World Cup final will have a half-time show. Coldplay will be involved in putting together the event at MetLife Stadium, in a move inspired by the NFL’s Super Bowl.
The Stars to Watch in FIFA World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup features a massive mix of established superstars and next-generation talent. Here are the names central to the tournament conversation:
Established Legends
- Lionel Messi — Argentina’s captain, widely expected to play his final World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal’s all-time icon, also likely bowing out on the biggest stage
Elite Europeans
- Kylian Mbappé — France’s generational superstar and title favourite
- Erling Haaland — Norway’s goal machine making his World Cup debut
- Jude Bellingham — England’s midfield engine and creative force
- Jamal Musiala — Germany’s technically gifted young star
- Lamine Yamal — Spain’s teenage sensation
- Harry Kane — England’s all-time top scorer hunting major honours
South American Powerhouses
- Vinícius Júnior — Brazil’s electric winger and Ballon d’Or contender
- Federico Valverde — Uruguay’s tireless and technically brilliant midfielder
North American Heroes
- Alphonso Davies — Canada’s captain and fan favourite on home soil
- Christian Pulisic — The face of US soccer playing in front of a home crowd
African Star
- Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s legendary forward bringing vast club experience to the global stage
For Messi and Ronaldo, this will likely be their final World Cups, giving the tournament an unmistakably emotional dimension as two of the greatest players in football history bow out on the grandest stage.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Stadiums
| Stadium Name | Host City | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 45,000 |
| BC Place Vancouver | Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 54,000 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | 83,000 |
| Estadio Guadalajara | Guadalajara | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | 48,000 |
| Estadio Monterrey | Monterrey | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico | 53,500 |
| Atlanta Stadium | Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 75,000 |
| Boston Stadium | Boston | Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA | 65,000 |
| Dallas Stadium | Dallas | Arlington, Texas, USA | 94,000 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | Houston, Texas, USA | 72,000 |
| Kansas City Stadium | Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 73,000 |
| Los Angeles Stadium | Los Angeles | Inglewood, California, USA | 70,000 |
| Miami Stadium | Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, USA | 65,000 |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | 82,500 |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | 69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area | Santa Clara, California, USA | 71,000 |
| Seattle Stadium | Seattle | Seattle, Washington, USA | 69,000 |
Prize Money and Commercial Scale for FIFA World Cup 2026
The prize money for the 2026 World Cup was confirmed at a FIFA Council meeting in Doha. The prize fund is up 50 per cent on that of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and each team also receives $1.5m to cover preparation costs, meaning every team is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
The United States last hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994, and that tournament still holds the record as the most attended World Cup with 3.6 million fans. But that record will certainly be shattered in 2026 with fans entering turnstiles in three countries.
FIFA World Cup 2026 official broadcasters
Here’s a list of the official broadcasters for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2026 in different countries across the world.
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | TV Klan |
| Algeria | ENTV |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Angola | Z Sports |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
| Armenia | Fast Sports |
| Aruba | Telearuba |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Bangladesh | TBA |
| Belize | Nexgen |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel, Entel, Tigo Sports |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT/N Sports |
| Brunei | TBA |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas |
| Canada | Bell Media |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CCTV, Migu, Xiaohongshu |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports |
| Costa Rica | Teletica, Tigo Sports |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV |
| Czechia | ČT, TV Nova |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, Pio Deportes |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports |
| Estonia | TV3 Estonia, ERR |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV |
| Fiji | FBC |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 |
| France (Metropolitan) | M6, beIN Sports |
| France (Ultramarine) | Antenne Réunion, La 1ère |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV |
| Greece | ERT |
| Guatemala | Albavisión, Tigo Sports |
| Haiti | TNH |
| Honduras | Televicentro, Tigo Sports |
| Hong Kong | PCCW |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| India | Unite8 Sports (Zee) |
| Indonesia | TVRI, FolaPlay, Telkomsel |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI |
| Jamaica | TVJ |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, DAZN |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK |
| Kenya | Azam TV |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK, Beeline Ukmush TV |
| Laos | TBA |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF |
| Macau | TDM |
| Malawi | Azam TV |
| Malaysia | RTM, Unifi TV |
| Maldives | ICE Networks |
| Malta | Television Malta |
| Mauritius | MBC |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca |
| MENA | beIN Sports |
| Mongolia | EduTV, National Television, Suld TV, MNB, Mobihome VOO |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports |
| Myanmar | TBA |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports, Dgo |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa, Tigo Sports |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad |
| Panama | RPC/COS, TVN Media, Tigo Sports |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN TV |
| Peru | América Televisión |
| Philippines | Aleph Arena, TAP DMV, Cignal PPV |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | Sport TV, RTP, SIC, TVI, LiveModeTV |
| Romania | Antena |
| Russia | Match TV |
| Rwanda | Azam TV |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN |
| Senegal | RTS |
| Serbia | PTC, Arena Sport |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport |
| South Africa | SABC, SportyTV |
| South America | DSports, Disney+ |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Sri Lanka | TBA |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Tanzania | Azam TV |
| Thailand | TBA |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL, ETO |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media |
| Uganda | Azam TV |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO |
| United Kingdom | STV (Central & Northern Scotland), BBC, ITV |
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV |
| Vanuatu | VBTC |
| Venezuela | Televen |
| Vietnam | VTV |
| Zambia | Azam TV |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV |
2026 FIFA World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is more than a football tournament, it is a cultural event spanning an entire continent. The tournament is expected to be the largest World Cup ever by both attendance and scale, and is also expected to expand the reach of football across North America.
With legendary players potentially playing their last World Cups, host nations hungry for glory, and a brand-new format delivering more football than ever before, the summer of 2026 promises to be utterly unforgettable for fans around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Qatar vs Switzerland takes place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Kick-off is at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. BST.
Both nations are in Group B alongside Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Switzerland qualified automatically through UEFA qualifying. Qatar qualified through the AFC fourth-round intercontinental playoff, beating the UAE 2-1 in the decisive match.
Qatar became the first host nation in World Cup history to be eliminated in the group stage at their home tournament in 2022, losing all three matches to Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands.
Breel Embolo of Rennes is Switzerland’s leading striker, bringing 24 international goals and the physical presence to trouble any international defensive line. Dan Ndoye of Nottingham Forest and Ruben Vargas of Sevilla provide additional attacking threat from wide positions.
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