World Cup Group B Preview: Betting Predictions & Team Analysis

Switzerland enter Group B as the odds-on favorites according to the soccer futures odds. The Swiss are the only team in this group with consistent recent success at the World Cup, having reached the knockout rounds in each of the last three editions. By comparison, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar have only four combined World Cup appearances between them.

This will be Switzerland’s 13th appearance at the World Cup. However, while the Red Crosses have been reliable in the Group Stage, they have not advanced beyond the Round of 16 since hosting the tournament in 1954.

Odds to Win Group B

Switzerland -110
Canada +260
Bosnia and Herzegovina +285
Qatar +3700

Switzerland’s experience is a major reason why the Group B World Cup betting odds favor them. This squad features several proven veterans who have already played on the biggest international stage, and it would be surprising if the Swiss failed to advance from what looks like one of the more manageable groups in the tournament.

The rest of Group B comes with far less World Cup success. Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar have combined to lose 11 of their previous 12 matches in this competition. Bosnia and Herzegovina are the only one of those three teams to have earned a World Cup victory, beating Iran 3-1 in 2014 after already being eliminated following losses to Argentina and Nigeria.

Odds to Win World Cup for Group B Teams

Switzerland +9000
Canada +17000
Bosnia and Herzegovina +40000
Qatar +150000

Canada, one of the 2026 World Cup co-hosts, have limited history in this tournament. This will be just their third World Cup appearance, and they failed to record a result in their first two trips. Canada have scored only two goals across six World Cup matches, with one of those goals coming through an own goal.

Still, expectations are higher this time around. Canada will play all three Group Stage matches with home support behind them, giving them a real chance to push for their first-ever trip to the knockout rounds.

Match Schedule

Team Previews

Switzerland

Switzerland are clearly the most experienced side in Group B. Their final World Cup roster is expected to include around 10 players with at least 50 international caps, even without longtime standouts Yann Sommer and Xherdan Shaqiri.

The biggest question from an experience standpoint is likely in goal, where Gregor Kobel is expected to replace Sommer. Even so, the Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper is far from unproven. Kobel has spent close to a decade in the Bundesliga and became the first Swiss goalkeeper to start for his club in a Champions League Final two years ago.

Switzerland’s back line also has a stable foundation despite Fabian Schar retiring from international football shortly after the most recent European Championship. Ricardo Rodriguez is the most experienced defender in the squad with 136 caps, while Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, and Silvan Widmer are expected to play key roles in defense.

The midfield is another area where Switzerland can rely on veteran leadership. Captain Granit Xhaka has been the central figure for the national team for years and is now the most capped player in Swiss history. Xhaka is not known as a major goal scorer and can sometimes be overly aggressive, but he brings control, intensity, and leadership to the middle of the field.

Remo Freuler gives Switzerland a bit more attacking quality from midfield, having scored 11 goals in 86 appearances. Fabian Rieder has also flashed some offensive upside in limited international action.

Up front, Breel Embolo is expected to be the main attacking option. Embolo has enjoyed a long career across the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 and has been playing regularly at a high level since he was 17. Dan Ndoye and Ruben Vargas are also options in the attack, with Ndoye scoring the opening goal in Switzerland’s exciting friendly against Germany in late March.

Canada

Canada’s biggest storyline is the potential impact of playing as a World Cup host. The Canadians have never enjoyed success in this tournament, losing all six of their previous World Cup matches. They finished last at the 1986 World Cup after failing to score against France, Hungary, and the Soviet Union.

Their 2022 World Cup campaign was also difficult. Canada finished as the second-worst team in the tournament, ahead of only host nation Qatar. However, that group was especially challenging, with Croatia and Morocco both reaching the semifinals and Belgium entering the tournament as one of the favorites before crashing out early.

One of the biggest questions for Canada is the status and role of Alphonso Davies. The most talented player in Canadian history has not played for the national team in more than a year after dealing with multiple injuries, including a torn ACL last February. If healthy, Davies will certainly be included in the final roster. He has scored 15 goals in 58 appearances for Canada and can be used in several different roles because of his versatility.

Jonathan David is already Canada’s all-time leading scorer at just 26 years old. The Juventus forward has scored 39 goals in 75 appearances for the national team and was excellent during his time with Lille, scoring 87 goals in 178 matches for the French club.

Cyle Larin is another important attacking piece. After struggling to find consistent club success following his departure from Besiktas in 2022, Larin has shown improved form with Southampton in the English Championship, scoring six goals in 14 appearances.

Canada also have useful pieces outside the forward line. Jonathan Osorio has been a steady performer in MLS for years, while Tajon Buchanan and Junior Hoilett are midfielders who can push forward and support the attack. The main concern is defensively, as many of Canada’s recent back-line callups have played most, if not all, of their careers in MLS.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s qualification came as a surprise to many. The Golden Lillies benefited from being placed in a qualifying group that included Cyprus and San Marino, but they were still sizable underdogs to advance over Italy according to the soccer betting odds.

Italy grabbed an early 1-0 lead against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup qualifier, but a red card just before halftime changed the match. Haris Tabakovic found the equalizer in the 79th minute, and Bosnia and Herzegovina held their nerve in the penalty shootout to secure a World Cup place. The result also meant Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

Edin Dzeko remains the most accomplished player in Bosnian soccer history. Now 40 years old, Dzeko is far ahead of every other Bosnian player in both appearances and goals, with 148 caps and 73 goals. Although he is currently dealing with a shoulder injury, he is expected to be available for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup.

The team’s biggest strength is likely its defense. Sead Kolasinac brings the most experience to the back line, while Amar Dedic is viewed as a rising star. Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected to be organized defensively and may prefer to sit deep before looking for counterattacking opportunities.

Qatar

Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts, qualified for their second straight World Cup after defeating the United Arab Emirates in October 2025. Their debut World Cup appearance did not go well, as they finished last in the tournament despite playing at home. However, they did record their first-ever World Cup goal when Mohammed Muntari scored against Senegal.

One thing Qatar do have is international experience. They may end up with one of the most capped squads at the tournament, as eight current players have at least 125 caps. That group includes Hassan Al-Haydos, who has 187 caps, and all-time leading scorer Almoez Ali, who has scored 60 goals in 125 appearances.

Even with that experience, there are many concerns surrounding Qatar ahead of the World Cup. They were unable to play an international match in late March because of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, and their performances in late 2025 were underwhelming. Despite playing four matches at home, Qatar lost to Zimbabwe, Palestine, and Tunisia, while also settling for a 1-1 draw against Syria.

At the moment, Qatar are only scheduled to play one match before the World Cup. That leaves plenty of uncertainty around their form and preparation, making it difficult to expect much from them when they travel to North America for the 2026 World Cup.