Qatar vs Switzerland betting tips: Back Swiss to roll poor opponents
Saturday at the World Cup is where things really get up and running with a quadruple-header of action – starting with Qatar against Switzerland.
Once again, our football tipster Matt Hill is on hand to preview this contest and gives us one solid wager alongside two more speculative plays.
Competition – 2026 FIFA World Cup – Group Stage, Matchday #1
Date - Saturday June 13th, 2026
Kick off - 12pm local time (UTC) / 8PM Saturday UK time
Venue – Levis Stadium, Santa Clara
TV channels – ITV1/ ITVX (UK), FOX Sports (US)
Match Winner - Qatar 16.00, Draw 7.20, Switzerland 1.24
Over 2.5 goals - Yes 1.78, No 2.24
Both Teams To Score - Yes 2.62, No 1.58
*Odds taken from Betfair Exchange on Friday June 12th at 1am. Subject to change.
Julen Lopetegui finally gets the chance to manage at a FIFA World Cup finals after being heartbreakingly dismissed on the eve of the 2018 World Cup when set to lead his native Spain – the national FA taking drastic action after his post-tournament agreement to become Real Madrid boss was made public.
Lopetegui is the latest in a string of foreign coaches to lead this Qatar side and deserves credit for navigating them to this tournament. After all, it is the first time the Gulf nation have qualified on legitimate grounds having only got into their previous appearance four years ago by virtue of being hosts.
That campaign brought three poor defeats and it’s a stretch to say Qatar have improved in the interim. Lopetegui – a defensive coach by nature – tries to give this group a solid structure and will look to talisman Akram Afif for some inspiration from the left flank going forward.
It’s hard to be confident with how the Spaniard will line his side up here as he’s tried several variations in recent outings with limited success. The front four of Edmilson Jr, Mohamed Al Mannai, the aforementioned Afif and central striker Almoez Ali all look fairly nailed-on.
Beyond that, there are question marks in defence and midfield – though whatever combination Lopetegui opts for, it’s fair to say genuine quality is lacking.
Murat Yakin’s Swiss tenure didn’t get off to the smoothest of starts but now taking the team into a third straight major tournament, he’s a popular figure among home supporters.
Yakin has shown a preference for a balanced 4-2-3-1, in which he can call on a wealth of players who are regulars in Europe’s top divisions. His squad now boasts considerable depth too, which should lead to rotation throughout the group stage providing they get their expected result in this opener.
There’s experience throughout the side, with Manuel Akanji and Ricardo Rodriguez remaining ever-presents at the back, captain Granit Xhaka still a steely and classy presence in midfield and the pacy Breel Embolo now leading the line as a 29-year-old tournament veteran.
At the time of writing, Switzerland don’t appear to have any obvious injury concerns and that will be music to Yakin’s ears.
“Anyone who has watched our pre-tournament content over on the Odds Now YouTube channel will know I am very anti-Qatar from a punting perspective.
“It doesn’t take a genius to conclude they are one of, if not the, weakest sides in the competition and I can’t say their qualification campaign convinced me they have improved from four years ago – an abject display on home soil which saw them sent packing without a point.
“Their only real attacking outlet of note is Akram Afif, who is undoubtedly talented but can be kept in check by classy opponents, which is what i believe Switzerland to be.
“It took England a penalty shootout to sneak past Yakin’s men at the 2024 Euros and it’s becoming a common theme for this side to make light work of inferior opposition and hold their own against the big boys. They’ve only actually lost one of their last 13 outings since 2024 and that was an entertaining 4-3 reverse away to Germany.
“Let’s keep this simple. I’m already on a few Qatar angles outright (no goalscorer 9/2, no points 13/8) but I can’t resist the 4/5 on offer with AK Bets about the Swiss winning this one to nil for a 2pt stake.
“Furthermore, I’m going to chance a cricket score. The 5-0 and 6-0 correct scorelines, at 20/1 and 40/1 respectively, would be a nice ticket to find yourself sat on if, as I expect, Switzerland take the game away from their opponents with some early goals.
"Chance half a point on each and sit back to hopefully enjoy a one-sided affair.”
2pts - Switzerland to win to nil vs Qatar - 4/5 (AK Betsl)
0.5pts - Qatar 0-5 Switzerland correct score - 20/1 (Bet365)
0.5pt - Qatar 0-6 Switzerland correct score - 40/1 (Bet365)
Total staked - 3pts
All prices correct as of 1am on Friday June 12th, 2026. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org.
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
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