Story by Anashe Murombedzi
THE 2026 FIFA World Cup continues this Saturday with a series of high-profile fixtures, headlined by a blockbuster Group C showdown between five-time champions Brazil and African heavyweights Morocco early Sunday morning.
Before that, attention turns to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where Qatar face Switzerland in a crucial Group B encounter as both sides seek to strengthen their position in a tightly contested group.
The match pits the 2022 World Cup hosts against one of Europe’s most consistent performers on the global stage. With co-hosts Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina already holding a point each, victory could prove decisive in the race for qualification.
Switzerland enter the contest as favourites, boasting a squad that combines experience and emerging talent. The Europeans are making their sixth successive World Cup appearance and have reached the Round of 16 in each of the last three tournaments.
Key figures for the Swiss include Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka, Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji and Stade Rennais forward Breel Embolo.
Qatar, meanwhile, will be looking to draw confidence from their only previous meeting with Switzerland, a 1-0 friendly victory recorded in Lugano in 2018. Their preparations for the tournament produced mixed results, including a goalless draw against El Salvador and a defeat to Ireland.
The action shifts into Sunday morning with four matches across Groups C, D, E and F.
The standout fixture sees Brazil take on Morocco in what promises to be one of the most compelling contests of the opening round. Morocco arrive with growing confidence following their recent rise on the international stage, while Brazil begin another quest for a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
Elsewhere in Group C, Haiti face Scotland, while Australia meet Türkiye in a Group D encounter.
Four-time world champions Germany launch their campaign against World Cup debutants Curaçao in Group E, with the Europeans expected to be among the tournament favourites.
In Group F, the Netherlands take on Japan in Arlington, Texas, in a clash that pits European pedigree against Asian technical excellence.
With heavyweight nations entering the competition and group standings beginning to take shape, the race for World Cup glory is gathering momentum across North America.
