Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina prepare for Group B World Cup 2026 clash

Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina will face off in Group B of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 18, alongside Qatar and Canada. Both teams began their tournament campaigns with 1–1 draws in the opening round: Switzerland drew with Qatar in what was considered an upset, with Breel Embolo scoring from the penalty spot before conceding in stoppage time, while Bosnia and Herzegovina drew with Canada after Jovo Lukic's first-half goal was cancelled out late in the match.

Switzerland enters the match as the tournament favourite, ranked 19th by FIFA and appearing in the World Cup for the sixth consecutive time. However, the team has struggled in recent tournaments, reaching the round of 16 in each of the previous three World Cups and never advancing beyond the quarterfinals in modern times. The team qualified directly for 2026 with four wins and two draws in qualifying, finishing ahead of Kosovo, Slovenia, and Sweden under coach Murat Yakin. Against Qatar, Switzerland dominated with 26 shots (seven on target) and an expected goals figure of 3.25, suggesting a tactical approach focused on sustained attacking pressure.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, ranked 64th by FIFA, qualified for 2026 through the playoffs under coach Sergey Barbareze, defeating Wales and then Italy on penalties. The team made its World Cup debut in 2014 in Brazil and has shown defensive stability in recent matches, going nine games without defeat and eight consecutive matches without conceding more than one goal. Despite their relative inexperience on the world stage compared to Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina's defensive organisation and capacity to frustrate stronger opponents could prove crucial in determining the outcome of their Group B encounter.