Breaking down Canada’s FIFA World Cup group

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Striker Edin Dzeko headlines a Bosnia squad that’s set to make its second ever World Cup appearance. The nation previously played at the 2014 tournament in Brazil and beat Iran in the group stage, but did not advance to the knockout round.

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FIFA RANKING: 65

HOW’D WE GET HERE?: Bosnia earned its spot with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Italy in the final of the UEFA playoffs.

PLAYER TO WATCH:

HEAD COACH: Former Bayer Leverkusen striker Sergej Berbarez

FUN FACT: The team boasts some of the youngest players in the tournament in Mladen Jurkas (18 years, 247 days) and Kerim Alajbegovic (18 years, 263 days), and one of the oldest in Dzeko (40 years, 86 days).

CANADA

Raucous crowds are expected to rally behind the Canadians as they play their first games on home soil. The team has been plagued by injuries leading up to the tournament and will likely miss star left back Alphonso Davies in Friday’s opener. This is Canada’s third World Cup appearance, but the country is still searching for its first victory.

FIFA RANKING: 30

HOW’D WE GET HERE?: Received an automatic entry as a co-host nation.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Striker Jonathan David. The 26-year-old Ottawa product leads the men’s national team in all-time scoring with 39 goals over 77 appearances.

HEAD COACH: American Jesse Marsch, who worked with Leeds and Leipzig before taking over the role in May 2024.

FUN FACT: During downtime at hotels, many of the players enjoy playing the game “Mafia” together.

QATAR

After hosting the tournament four years ago, Qatar is back for its second World Cup. The country is looking for its first win after becoming the first nation to lose all three of its group stage matches in 2022. Qatar’s pre-World Cup preparation plans were scuttled in March when tune-up matches against Serbia and Argentina were cancelled due to war between the United States and Iran.

FIFA RANKING: 55

HOW’D WE GET HERE?: Earned a spot in the fourth round of Asian Football Confederation qualifying.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Striker Almoez Ali, the nation’s all-time leading scorer.

HEAD COACH: Spaniard Julen Lopetegui, who previously coached top-level clubs such as Real Madrid and West Ham.

FUN FACT: Just one of the 26 athletes on the roster plays his club soccer outside of Qatar. Left back Homam Ahmed suits up for Cultural Leonesa in Spain.

SWITZERLAND

Defender Ricardo Rodriguez leads an experienced squad representing Switzerland in its 13th World Cup appearance. Last time out, the nation fell to Portugal in the round of 16. This year, the Swiss are looking to reach the knockout stage for the fourth tournament in a row.

FIFA RANKING: 19

HOW’D WE GET HERE?: Breezed through UEFA qualifying, going unbeaten (4-0-2) with a plus-12 goal differential.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Former Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka, who now stars for Sunderland in the English Premier League.

HEAD COACH: Murat Yakin took over the national team in 2021 after managing Swiss clubs Basel and Grasshoppers.

FUN FACT: Switzerland has reached the World Cup semifinals three times, but not since hosting the tournament back in 1954.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press