2026 World Cup Group B Odds: Preview, Schedule & Standings
Get the full World Cup 2026 Group B breakdown, including teams, World Cup odds, match schedule, predictions, and key players. Updated standings and analysis throughout the tournament.
Group B was tightly contested, with Switzerland emerging on top after a draw with Qatar and wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada. Canada started steadily with a draw against Bosnia and a big 6–0 win over Qatar, but a loss to Switzerland kept them from first place. Bosnia and Herzegovina mirrored Canada’s inconsistency with a draw against Canada, a win over Qatar, and a defeat to Switzerland, while Qatar finished bottom after managing just one draw against Switzerland.
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World Cup Group B Standings
| Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
| Canada | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +5 | 4 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| Qatar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -8 | 1 |
World Cup Group B Schedule
The Group B schedule will be played out across several World Cup venues, including Santa Clara, Seattle, and Los Angeles in the United States. Games will also take place in Canada, in Toronto and Vancouver.
Matchday 1
- Friday, June 12: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 3 p.m. ET (Toronto, CA)
- Saturday, June 13: Switzerland vs. Qatar – 3 p.m. ET (Santa Clara, USA)
Matchday 2
- Thursday, June 18: Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 3 p.m. ET (Los Angeles, USA)
- Thursday, June 18: Canada vs. Qatar – 6 p.m. ET (Vancouver, CA)
Matchday 3
- Wednesday, June 24: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar – 3 p.m. ET (Seattle, USA)
- Wednesday, June 24: Canada vs. Switzerland – 3 p.m. ET (Vancouver, CA)
The final group matches are usually decisive, with qualification and elimination scenarios playing out simultaneously.
Key Matches to Watch
- Canada vs. Switzerland: Likely the most important match in determining the group winner
- Switzerland vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina: A key matchup that could play a major role in shaping the race for the knockout spots
- Canada vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina: A potential swing match that may have a significant impact on qualification depending on early results
World Cup Group B Players to Watch
- Alphonso Davies (Canada): The Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) star is one of the fastest and most dynamic players in world football, capable of affecting play at both ends of the pitch.
- Granit Xhaka (Switzerland): The Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga) midfielder is a key leader who controls tempo and brings experience in big matches.
- Akram Afif (Qatar): The Al Sadd (Qatar Stars League) forward is a creative attacker who plays a central role in Qatar’s offensive build-up.
- Edin Džeko (Bosnia & Herzegovina): The veteran striker, who plays for Fenerbahçe, remains Bosnia’s primary attacking threat. Known for his strength, positioning, and finishing ability, Džeko brings experience and leadership, making him a key figure in decisive moments.
Group B Team Profiles
Below is a closer look at each team in Group B, including how they qualified, key players, and their World Cup history.
Canada
Canada enters the tournament with the advantage of playing at home, which could play a major role in its performance. After returning to the World Cup in 2022, Canada has continued to develop a talented core of players competing at top clubs worldwide. Expectations will be higher this time around, with a realistic chance to advance from the group stage.
- Federation: CONCACAF (Qualified as co-host)
- Key players: Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin
- World Cup history: Second straight appearance (third since 1986)
Switzerland
Switzerland has built a reputation as one of the most consistent teams in international football, regularly advancing from the group stage and competing well against top opponents.
Their disciplined defensive structure and experienced core make them a difficult team to break down, and they are often involved in tight, low-scoring matches.
- Federation: UEFA
- Key players: Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Manuel Akanji
- World Cup history: Three straight Round of 16 appearances
Qatar
Qatar brings recent World Cup experience after hosting the 2022 tournament and continues to build on its development as a competitive international side. While results have been mixed, Qatar has shown it can compete technically and will look to take advantage of opportunities in a balanced group.
- Federation: AFC
- Key players: Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Hassan Al-Haydos
- World Cup history: Second appearance
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia & Herzegovina enters the tournament as a dangerous European side after an impressive qualification campaign, highlighted by a notable victory over Italy. That result underlined their ability to compete with top nations and will give them confidence heading into the group stage. With a mix of experienced players and technical quality, Bosnia has the tools to challenge for a place in the knockout rounds.
- Federation: UEFA
- Key players: Edin Džeko, Miralem Pjanić, Rade Krunić
- World Cup history: Second appearance
World Cup Group B Best Bets
There are many markets to choose from and thus, many World Cup Group B predictions to choose from. Here’s one that prioritizes value since it involves two teams and exact finishing position within the group:
Dual Forecast – Switzerland 1st, Canada 2nd (+225 at DraftKings)
Switzerland enters the tournament as the most complete team in the group and is rightly favored to finish top, and Canada benefits from both home-field advantage and a favorable group draw. In the end, it could be these two teams going 1-2 in the group stage.
Bosnia and Herzegovina could make things interesting after securing a surprise qualification by eliminating Italy, but sustaining that level of performance over three group matches is a different challenge altogether. Canada’s familiarity with the environment, combined with the support of home crowds, should give them an edge in what is likely to be the key battle for second place.
Since Switzerland and Canada are already the two shortest-priced teams in the group betting markets, backing them to finish first and second offers a logical combination of probability and value. With Bosnia viewed as the primary threat to the prediction and Qatar considered the outsider of the group, this dual forecast provides an attractive balance between risk and potential payout at online sportsbooks.
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World Cup Group B betting FAQs
Alphonso Davies (Canada) and Granit Xhaka (Switzerland) headline the group, with several other key contributors expected to play major roles.