Qatar vs Switzerland Tips, Odds & Prediction for World Cup 2026

* Odds supplied by Betway and accurate when this preview was written.

Qatar take on Switzerland at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Saturday 13 June, and kickoff is at 21:00 CAT. Akram Afif is Qatar's chief source of creativity, but Murat Yakin's Switzerland come in as huge favourites, with skipper Granit Xhaka leading a far more experienced team. The bookies have Switzerland as strong favourites and I see no real reason to argue. Every one of our World Cup betting tips sits in its own dedicated section.

Qatar

As I see it, Qatar are firm underdogs, and Lopetegui will line them up to defend in numbers in a tight 4-2-3-1, with Akram Afif the key creative player behind striker Almoez Ali. Their best hope is to keep things tight early and find Afif in the half-spaces, where he showed his class with eleven assists in AFC qualifying. Meshaal Barsham is a dependable shot-stopper in goal, and they will need him at his best. There are no major injury worries in the squad, but the gap in technical quality to Switzerland is big.

Expected Lineup: Barsham; Pedro Miguel, Khoukhi, Mendes, Hassan; Madibo, Fathi; Boudiaf, Afif, Al-Haydos; Ali.

Switzerland

Switzerland bring one of the most experienced squads at the tournament, with Granit Xhaka as captain and Manuel Akanji organising the defence. Murat Yakin will probably go with a 4-3-3, with Embolo up front and Vargas and Ndoye giving width and drive. Xhaka, Freuler and Sow give them real control in midfield, and Akanjis speed at the back makes them very difficult to get through. The squad is in good health with nobody important missing. I think Switzerland will have most of the ball, work it patiently into the final third, and create lots of chances.

Expected Lineup: Kobel; Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka, Sow; Ndoye, Embolo, Vargas.

Switzerland have the experience, technique and game management to win this without much trouble. Qatar will sit deep and try to make it awkward, but keeping Switzerland out for long will be tough. I expect the favourites to score before half-time and get a second after the break. My forecast: Qatar 0 Switzerland 2.

BTTS: No at 1.60

My pick is Both Teams to Score: No, simply because Qatar lack the attacking quality to break Switzerland down. Akram Afif is their only genuine creator, and the Swiss back four of Akanji, Elvedi and Rodriguez has the experience to snuff out one threat. Switzerland will have most of the ball and give away few clear chances, which fits my 0-2 forecast. At 1.60 from Betway, BTTS: No offers the best value of the markets we have priced.