Everyone penciled in Italy to win Group B at the World Cup, except Italy had to actually qualify. The Azzurri instead fumbled their way out of a third straight World Cup, losing a playoff stunner to Bosnia and Herzegovina that blew Group B wide open.
The Post previews Group B at the World Cup.
Teams listed in predicted order of finish. * indicates third-place team predicted to advance to the knockout stage.
Switzerland
Odds to win group: -125
What you need to know: Switzerland is the favorite in this group, and the big question is whether they can go anywhere in the knockout stages. They breezed through qualifying and have real depth in the squad, with center back Manuel Akanji and keeper Gregor Kobel keying a defense that’s consistently hard to break down. Though Switzerland isn’t a high-scoring team, it can keep possession for long stretches and suffocate the opposition.
How they play: Murat Yakin has managed Switzerland since 2022, and built a well-established identity. Switzerland tends to line up in a 4-3-3, though it’s deployed a 3-4-3 as well, and plays well-organized, stout defensive soccer. It’s a team that doesn’t have any superstars, but consistently performs to a standard higher than the sum of its parts.
Star player: Midfielder Granit Xhaka is Switzerland’s captain and best player, an excellent passer and leader in the center of the pitch. Xhaka spent most of his career at Arsenal, but played for Sunderland this season after two seasons with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. The 32-year-old will play in his fourth World Cup for Switzerland this year.
World Cup history: The Swiss have qualified 13 times, and reached the Round of 16 in four of the past five World Cups. They’ve never won a knockout game, though — their three quarterfinal appearances, in 1934, 1938 and 1954, came before there was a Round of 16.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Odds: +650
What you need to know: If you know one thing about the Dragons coming into the tournament, it’s probably that they beat Italy to qualify. That win, on penalty kicks, was the most stunning result in qualifying, and Bosnia is playing with house money just by being here. Still, it would be foolish to count them out in one of the tournament’s weaker groups.
How they play: Sergej Barbarez sets his team up in a 4-4-2 meant to let Bosnia play a direct style. The side has solid attacking depth with striker Edin Džeko still going strong at 40, and surrounded by young talent such as Kerim Alajbegovic and Esmir Bajraktarevic. Defense is a bit of a question mark. Bosnia has struggled to handle speed from opposing sides.
Star player: Džeko is the most decorated player in the country’s history, and even at age 40, the striker scored a critical goal against Wales to help Bosnia move onto the playoff final against Italy. Striker Ermedin Demirovic adds quality up front and, though he’s not their best player, it’s worth noting that midfielder Bajraktarevic — a 21-year-old born in Appleton, Wisc., who plays for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven — scored the penalty that sent Bosnia to the World Cup, having chosen to represent the country over the United States.
World Cup history: Since achieving independence in 1992, Bosnia has qualified for the World Cup once, in 2014. They beat Iran, 3-1, but lost their games to Argentina and Nigeria, failing to make it out of the group. Beating Italy to qualify via UEFA’s playoff this time around is likely the country’s most famous victory in the sport, though it could top that if it makes it out of a navigable Group B.
Canada*
Odds: +175
What you need to know: Canada might have a pretty serious injury problem. It seems unlikely that star Alphonso Davies will actually miss games at the World Cup — Bayern Munich’s statement said he would be out for “several weeks” — but whether he’s his usual self is another question. On top of that, it appears Moise Bombito, their best defender, won’t be back in time from a fractured left tibia he suffered in October. That’s two of their top three or four players who, at best, are unlikely to be at full strength.
How they play: Everyone, including manager Jesse Marsch himself, expected him to be managing the U.S. in this World Cup. Instead, after the USSF swerved and hired Mauricio Pochettino, Marsch ended up coaching America’s neighbor to the north. The Wisconsin native and former New York Red Bulls coach employs a system with a traditional 4-4-2 in which Canada is content to play without the ball. They have enough speed, particularly on the wings, to be dangerous on counterattacks.
Star player: Davies is the obvious answer, but after hurting his hamstring in Champions League play, it’s unclear what the star left back’s status will be. So for that reason, we’ll go with Jonathan David, the Juventus striker who excelled with Lille in France’s Ligue 1 before earning a move to Italy.
World Cup history: Not much and not good. Canada’s 2022 qualification was the first time it had done so since 1986, and for the second time in two World Cups, Canada did not secure a point. Their opening match in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina not only will be one of the biggest sporting events the country has ever hosted, it’s also a chance to instantly make this Canada’s best ever World Cup.
Qatar
Odds: 30/1
What you need to know: Ranked 55th by FIFA, Qatar is a prohibitive underdog in this group. Still, the Maroons have improved over the past four years, and at least shouldn’t be as woeful as they were in 2022, when it was obvious they didn’t belong on the same field as their opposition. Getting any kind of result across three games would qualify as an achievement.
How they play: Qatar hired an accomplished manager, Julen Lopetegui, in May 2025 to see them through to the World Cup. The former Real Madrid manager installed a possession-based, disciplined system that can operate out of a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, though it’s hard to see Qatar playing with the ball in the World Cup as often as it can against regional opposition.
Star player: Every player on Qatar’s roster plays for clubs based in the Middle East, but midfielder Akram Afif is their most accomplished. The two-time AFC Player of the Year has put up video game numbers at Al-Sadd, his Qatari club, and the national team revolves around him.
World Cup history: The 2022 tournament, when Qatar automatically qualified as the host nation, was its first time in the World Cup. Qatar lost all three of its games and scored just one goal, becoming the worst-performing host nation in history. The Maroons have performed better in this qualifying cycle, winning the 2023 Asian Cup and qualifying on merit for the expanded 2026 World Cup with a win over the United Arab Emirates.
Group B World Cup Schedule
Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Fri., June 12, 3 p.m., Toronto
Qatar vs. Switzerland, Sat., June 13, 3 p.m., San Francisco Bay Area
Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Thurs., June 18, 3 p.m., Los Angeles
Canada vs. Qatar, Thurs., June 18, 6 p.m., Vancouver
Canada vs. Switzerland, Wed., June 24, 3 p.m., Vancouver
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar, Wed., June 24, 3 p.m., Seattle
