Switzerland Seeks Revenge Against Qatar in World Cup Opener

Switzerland opens its World Cup campaign on Saturday at 10:00 p.m. against Qatar in the first round of the tournament, with the Swiss side looking to settle a score from their only previous meeting. The two teams last played eight years ago in Lugano in a friendly, where Qatar won 1-0 thanks to an 86th-minute goal by star striker Akram Afif.

Swiss media framed the rematch as a chance for revenge, writing that Switzerland has reason to get even with Qatar and calling the earlier loss a "collective disaster" that drew heavy criticism. The article also notes that four days after that defeat, Switzerland beat Belgium 5-2 and secured a place in the UEFA Nations League semifinals.

Ahead of the match, Switzerland national team director Pierluigi Tami said the squad needed time to find its rhythm because of the heat and jet lag. He added that in the last few days there had been "real progress" in the intensity and quality of training. The match is part of the opening round of the 2026 World Cup.