World Cup co-hosts Canada got the kindest possible draw when they were gifted a group with Switzerland as the highest ranked nation and rounded out by previous World Cup hosts Qatar along with Bosnia & Herzegovina.
At least on paper, it’s a draw that should allow Canada not just to win their first points ever at a World Cup, but to advance to the knockouts with a second-place group finish the minimum target. Still, as high as hopes are for the co-hosts, it’s Switzerland who are group favourites, with the Swiss
FIFA’s 19th ranked side while Canada are 30th. Qatar are 55th and Bosnia & Herzegovina 65th to round out the group.
With 12 groups and 48 countries at this expanded World Cup, the top ranked side here being 19th best in the world while the final two fall outside the top-50 should set the Canadian co-hosts up for success—or for a rather embarrassing failure.
There could also be a chance for Qatar to slip into the knockout rounds, as eight of 12 third-place finishers will advance this summer. It’s a situation that either highlights that there are simply too many countries at the World Cup party this time around, or alternately that an expanded World Cup means a chance to see some Cinderella stories.
Certainly Group B seems set up to allow at least one underdog outsider to go deeper at a World Cup than they ever could have dreamed of. Seeing who that turns out to be and going along for the ride with them could be a lot of fun.
How to Watch
Friday, June 12th
Canada vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina
3PM EST/12PM PST | BMO Field, Toronto
How to Watch: FOX
Saturday, June 13th
Qatar vs. Switzerland
3PM EST/12PM PST | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (CA)
How to Watch: FOX
Thursday, June 18th
Switzerland vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina
3PM EST/12PM PST | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
How to Watch: FOX
Canada vs. Qatar
6PM EST/3PM PST | BC Place, Vancouver
How to Watch: FS1
Wednesday, June 24th
Switzerland vs. Canada
3PM EST/12PM PST | BC Place, Vancouver
How to Watch: FOX
Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Qatar
3PM EST/12PM PST | Lumen Field, Seattle
How to Watch: FS1
Game of the Group
Switzerland vs. Canada
Canada have never won a point at the World Cup but now get all three games in front of their home fans to try and change that. With a pacy counter-attacking side under head coach Jesse Marsch and with stars like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David in the mix, they should be a lot of fun to watch—and they’re a side that on paper sets up well to take down Switzerland.
Switzerland are the toughest side in the group, at least on paper, but they’re also a side in transition. The Swiss have seen key players including Xherdan Shaqiri, Fabian Schär, and Yann Sommer all retire from international football recently, and in qualification they seemed to be struggling to figure out a new identity.
That sets up a final day battle between the promising co-hosts on one side and better-known favourites who might not be as good as everyone remembers on the other. It’s also a match that should be significant for finishing order. There’s a very good chance it will either determine who finishes first or, if one of them stumbles in an earlier match, if both make the knockout rounds like everyone expects.
It can be hard going in to know which final day group stage games will matter, but it would be a shock if this one didn’t really, really matter for at least one of Switzerland or Canada—and quite possibly both.
Group B Predictions
Canada’s status as co-hosts and Switzerland’s as the top ranked side mean it’s hard to pick against them finishing top two—but it’s not entirely clear who finishes first. Until Canada prove they can pick up even a single point at a World Cup, though, the safe money is on the experience of the Swiss coming out on top. Still, Canada are the best they’ve ever been and they’re at home, and that makes them one of the most intriguing sides to keep an eye on.
Meanwhile, the knockout round bracket means plenty to play for in the battle for first. Rather than the second place side some group winners will face, the Group B winners will play a third-place side. That country will be drafted in from Group E, F, G, I, or J so there’s not a lot of clarity as to who it might be, but in theory there’s a bigger advantage to finishing first here than in some other groups.
Meanwhile, the Group B runner-up face Group A’s runner-up. With Mexico the presumptive Group A winners that leaves South Korea, South Africa, and Czechia as possibilities for whoever comes second.
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