Expert Picks

Qatar have failed to score in their past three games, which doesn’t bode well against a Switzerland side that is loaded with quality, including Granit Xhaka, who has 145 caps for the national team. Switzerland won UEFA Group B during World Cup qualifying with a +9 goal differential. I expect the Swiss to secure all three points in this matchup, beating Qatar by at least two goals in the process.

Switzerland are a very solid side. They are loaded with top European talent with players like Granite Xhaka, Noah Okafor and Ruben Vargas. While Switzerland have found good form in their qualifiers, Qatar are one of those teams that are happy to be included at this point and have very low expectations. They are not the worst squad in this competition, but their offense is going to have a brutal time maintaining any possession or getting past a very solid Swiss backline. I have Switzerland winning this 2-0.

Switzerland should outclass Qatar when the teams clash in California. The Swiss are unbeaten since November 2024 in competitive matches, and they cruised through their qualifying campaign. By contrast, the Qataris have recently lost to Palestine, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, and the Republic of Ireland, so they could struggle against elite players like Granit Xhaka, Gregor Kobel, and Johan Manzambi.