Qatar starting lineup vs Switzerland confirmed for FIFA World Cup 2026 clash
Qatar kick off their World Cup campaign against Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium.
Qatar will get their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign underway when they take on Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, tonight. This is only the second World Cup appearance for the Maroons, who played in the 2022 edition as hosts.
With seasoned head coach Julen Lopetegui at the helm, the Middle Eastern nation will look to fare better than they did at home, losing all three games while scoring just a solitary goal.
They have been drawn into a competitive group containing Switzerland, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Set to face a strong Swiss side in their opener, the Hassan Al-Haydos-led side will look to give their all to secure a positive start to the campaign.
Let’s look at the Qatar confirmed lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Switzerland:
Qatar (4-3-3): Mahmud Abunada; Ayoub Al-Oui; Pedro ‘Ro-Ro’ Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi (c), Homam El-Amin; Issa Laye, Assim Madibo, Jassem Gaber; Edmilson Junior, Almoez Ali, Akram Afif.
Substitutes: Meshaal Barsham (gk), Salah Zakaria (gk), Ahmed Alaaeldin, Sultan Al-Brake, Ahmed Al-Ganehi, Al-Hashmi Al-Hussain, Almoez Ali, Mohammed Manai, Mohamed Boudiaf, Ahmed Fathy, Abdulaziz Hatem, Tahsin Jamshid, Lucas Mendes, Mohammed Muntari.
Thoughts on the lineup
Akram Afif, possibly the best Qatari player of his generation, starts up top along with Yusuf Abdurisag and Belgian-Brazilian-descent winger Edmilson Junior. Lopetegui made the surprising decision to drop Almoez Ali to the bench, despite the 29-year-old Al-Duhail forward being ever-present during the team’s warm-up friendlies.
Ali will likely come on as a second-half substitute, as might Hassan Al-Haydos, who is the most-capped player for his side with 188 appearances. Another player expected to play a part in the match is Tahsin Jamshid, whose parents are from Kerala.
The Middle Eastern side’s reliance on foreign-born players is also evident in other positions. The midfield will be controlled by Sudan-born Assim Madibo and Senegalese Issa Laye, who became a citizen of his new nation last year. They are joined by Jassem Gaber in a three-man midfield. The experienced Ahmed Fathy is an option off the bench for Lopetegui.
Portuguese-born former Benfica defender Ro-Ro and Algerian native Boualem Khoukhi start at the heart of defence. Ayoub Al-Oui and Homam El-Amin will start at full-back. Mahmud Abunada’s stellar form sees him start between the sticks over the usual number one, Meshaal Barsham.
When is Qatar vs Switzerland FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
The Group B clash will be played on June 13, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. In India, the match will kick off at 12:30 AM IST (June 14 in India).
Where to watch Qatar vs Switzerland match in India?
Fans in India can watch the game live on Zee5 (subscription required) or on Unite8 Sports TV channels.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.