World Cup 2026 Picks: Group B Winner Prediction, Schedule & Team Previews
All eyes will be on Canada in Group B of the FIFA World Cup, as Jesse Marsch aims to guide the nation to a first ever win at the global tournament. Switzerland will compete for top spot, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar round off the nations involved. Find the odds and our World Cup Group B picks here.
World Cup 2026: Group B Odds
| Group B Team | To Win Group B Odds | To Qualify Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | -125 | -1267 |
| Canada | +225 | -455 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | +350 | -267 |
| Qatar | +2800 | +167 |
Group B World Cup Schedule
Matchday 1
- Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 12)
- Qatar vs. Switzerland (June 13)
Matchday 2
- Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 18)
- Canada vs. Qatar (June 18)
Matchday 3
- Switzerland vs. Canada (June 24)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar (June 24)
Group B: Meet The Teams
Switzerland
- Manager: Murat Yakin
- Odds to Win World Cup: +9000
- Best World Cup Performance: Quarterfinals (1934, 1954)
- Key Player: Granit Xhaka
Switzerland will be one of the more interesting dark horse contenders at this summer’s World Cup, having shown in recent tournaments that they have been able to compete on the biggest stages.
The Swiss have reached the round of 16 in the last three editions of the World Cup, and their excellent record since the start of last year should be respected. Murat Yakin’s side easily beat Mexico and the United States last summer, while they topped a tricky looking European qualifying group, winning four of their six fixtures.
Controlling the middle of the park will be one of their key strengths, with Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler able to use their vast experience.
Canada
- Manager: Jesse Marsch
- Odds to Win World Cup: +20000
- Best World Cup Performance: Group Stage (1986, 2022)
- Key Player: Alphonso Davies
Everything has been building up to this moment for Canada, as Jesse Marsch was appointed boss of the Les Rouge with this summer’s tournament in mind.
History could be made by Canada this year, as they bid to win their first ever match at the FIFA World Cup, having lost all six of their fixtures across previous appearances in 1986 and 2022. Finding a balance will be the biggest question posed of Marsch, as Canada have failed to win in five of their last six, and they have failed to score in three of their last four.
Alphonso Davies will be deployed in a more offensive role for the national team, but questions surrounding his fitness remain alive. The pace of Tajon Buchanan should cause opponents issues on the counter-attack.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Manager: Sergej Barbarez
- Odds to Win World Cup: +30000
- Best World Cup Performance: Group Stage (2014)
- Key Player: Edin Dzeko
Bosnia and Herzegovina have been no strangers to upsetting the odds already this year, having shockingly dumped Italy out of qualification in the playoffs.
Their record in the group stage of qualification should be respected, as they avoided defeat in nine of their ten matches.
Edin Dzeko is the nation’s all-time leading scorer, but the striker is now aged 40, which means that they will need pacey players around the former Man City star. Samed Baždar is one player worth considering, as the attacking midfielder has scored an impressive five goals in 17 club appearances in 2025-26.
Qatar
- Manager: Julen Lopetegui
- Odds to Win World Cup: +75000
- Best World Cup Performance: Group Stage (2022)
- Key Player: Mohamed Al-Mannai
For the first time in history, Qatar have qualified for the World Cup. The nation were awarded a spot at the tournament four years ago as hosts, and the legacy of their successive tournament is reflected by their historic achievement this year.
However, the odds will be stacked against the nation, as they lack high-level quality across the field, with many of their players competing in domestic leagues. Confidence surrounding their unlikely chances are further reduced after considering that they have won just twice in their last eleven internationals since the start of June last year.
Preparations for this summer’s tournament have also been impacted after having three friendlies canceled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
World Cup 2026 Picks: Who Will Win Group B?
Canada’s chances will likely hinge on how they perform on matchday one against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Marsch’s pragmatic approach could see a draw being played out, which will hand the advantage to Switzerland to top the standings. Therefore, we like the chances of the Swiss finishing first and Canada finishing second in Group B.
