Canada
Manager: Jesse Marsch
World Cup history: Third appearance. Best result, Group Stage (1986, 2022)
Three games on home soil give Canada a genuine chance to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. But the injury hanging over Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies is a major concern. The left back is captain and their greatest ever player, though Canada have held their own in recent friendlies.
Star man: Jonathan David. Should Davies struggle for fitness, the Juventus striker must pick up the mantle. He has struggled in Serie A this season but boasts 39 goals in 75 appearances for the national team.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Manager: Sergej Barbarez
World Cup history: Second appearance. Best result, Group Stage (2014)
Bosnia are already in bonus territory just by being in North America, having qualified from the UEFA playoffs as underdogs to beat Wales and Italy. Their victory against Italy showed they are not to be underestimated. Like Canada, they will fancy reaching the knockout stage.
Star man: Edin Dzeko. He may be 40 years old, but the striker is still Bosnia’s talisman with 73 goals in 148 games. A physical presence who causes defenders endless problems.
Switzerland
Manager: Murat Yakin
*World Cup history: 13th appearance. Best result, Quarter finals (1934, 1938, 1954)*
Yakin has gone for an experienced squad as Switzerland look to break the last 16 barrier. The Swiss have lost at that stage in four of their past five tournaments, failing to reach the quarter finals since 1954. They have the talent to top this group, but losing again to an elite team in the early knockout stage would not be a surprise.
Star man: Granit Xhaka. The scheming midfielder is 33 now but showed his class in the Premier League last season, joining promoted Sunderland and leading them to European football.
Qatar
Manager: Julen Lopetegui
World Cup history: Second appearance. Best result, Group Stage (2022)
After a big build up, Qatar laid an egg at their home World Cup, losing every match in their group. Have they done enough since to suggest this tournament will go better? Their qualification was unconvincing, finishing well behind Iraq and Uzbekistan in their group. Their trump card is their manager, the former Spain and Real Madrid boss.
Star man: Akram Afif. The left winger has been prolific for AlSadd in the Qatari league and has twice won Asian Footballer of the Year.
The bottom line
This group is wide open. Canada have home advantage but need Davies fit. Bosnia have momentum after shocking Italy. Switzerland have the experience but not the knockout pedigree. Qatar have Lopetegui but little else.
Any two of these four could advance. Expect chaos. Expect close games. Expect the unexpected.
And keep an eye on Dzeko. At 40, he’s still capable of deciding matches. That’s the kind of story the World Cup was made for.
