Qatar takes on Switzerland in pre‑World Cup friendly at Levi's Stadium

Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, opened its 2026 campaign with a friendly against Switzerland on the evening of 22 Nov. at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The match follows Qatar’s recent 0‑0 draw with El Salvador and a six‑match winless streak, while Switzerland entered the game on the back of a solid qualifying record and a recent 1‑1 draw with Australia.

Qatar coach Hulen Llopetegi said, “Our first dream was qualification, which we achieved; now we know the quality of our opponent and we must be as competitive as possible.” Swiss captain Murat Yakin added, “We are not here just to participate – we want to compete at the highest level.”

Both sides fielded near‑full strength line‑ups, with Qatar relying on forward Akram Afif and Switzerland planning a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation centred on Granit Djaka and Manuel Acandji. The friendly serves as a preparation test ahead of the 2026 World Cup.