The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be upon us sooner than you think. Now that the group stage draws are done with, it’s time to lock in on some futures. I’m here to break down Group B, giving you some info on the best teams before we decide on the best bet to win the group. Let’s dig into it.
The Field
Group B is one of the more well-balanced groups in the tournament. I’ll break down these teams in order of their FIFA ranking.
Switzerland, ranked 17th overall, brings a lot of talent to the tournament. Inter Miami center-half Manuel Akanji leads the defense. He’s flanked by some solid up-and-coming talents like Luca Jaquez (VfB Stuttgart) and Aurèle Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt). How this younger defense responds to the pressure of a World Cup is a major question mark.
The midfield carries some young talents to watch as well. Johan Manzambi, the young SC Freiburg star, may play a prominent role. Fabian Rieder is making a name for himself as well. Those two add a lot of talent to the typical holdovers, Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) and Djibril Sow (Sevilla).
Up top, it’s going to be a battle between talent and experience. Breel Embolo (Rennes) has been there time and time again for the Swiss, but Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest) has talent that cannot be denied. He showed that in the qualifying stages. It’s a good problem for manager Murat Yakin to have, but one that bears watching.
Canada are up next in the rankings at 27th overall. The Canadians had the luxury of automatically qualifying as one of the host nations, but their spot is deserved. It’s a team waiting to break out with a big performance on the world stage.
A lot of their potential hinges on Alphonso Davies’ health. The Bayern Munich left-back is one of the best defenders in the world and is currently recovering from an ACL tear. If he’s able to go, it’s a significant boost to an awfully young and inexperienced defensive group. Without Davies, Derek Cornelius (Rangers) and Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) lead a group of four defenders aged 22 or younger.
The midfield was a mixed bag in their CONCACAF Gold Cup run. Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal) has tons of potential, but is inconsistent. Niko Sigur is a good holding midfielder, but inexperienced. MLS men Mathieu Choiniere and Jacob Shaffelburg are adequate but without much upside. There’s going to be some tinkering in this unit throughout the group stage.
Up top, it’s the Jonathan David show. The talented Juventus striker is the center of Canada’s hopes. If he looks like his best self, they have to feel good about their chances in the group.
Qatar, the 2022 host nation, comes in third in the FIFA rankings at #51. They’ve been on their best run in team history, winning two straight Asian Cups and reaching their highest-ever FIFA ranking in 2024. But this team has a significant issue: they are set to field zero players from the power European leagues. To a man, every player on Qatar’s qualifying stage team plays in the Middle East; most play domestically in Qatar.
In that flaw is their greatest strength. Many of their players are teammates or play against one another often. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses well. Cohesion doesn’t always beat talent, but it can.
The last spot is up for grabs based on the supplemental qualifying round. And boy, does that hold the wild card of wild cards. After a rough qualifying run, Italy will have to play its way into the group. If they can, they’d be the highest-ranked team in the group, and a legitimate contender to win the whole tournament, let alone the group.
They’re backstopped by perhaps the best goalkeeper in the world, Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Manchester City No. 1 is looking to fill the shoes of the great Gigi Buffon in net for Italy, and no less than a World Cup title is needed to enter that conversation.
Donnarumma has a strong defense in front of him, led by Alessandro Bastoni. The Milan man will hold it down in their three-back formation alongside Gianluca Mancini and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, two fellow Serie A fixtures. But the real strength of this team is in front of them.
The Inter Milan midfield trio of Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco, and Davide Frattesi is the lifeblood of this team. Manager Gennaro Gattuso asks much of these three, and they answer with elite box-to-box play. With Juventus holding midfielder Manuel Locatelli behind them and Sandro Tonali available to move around, it’s one of the best midfield groups in the world.
Italy’s question mark is their striking pair. They have no shortage of options. Veterans like Matteo Politano (Napoli), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), and Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna) are dependable, if unspectacular. Then you have the younger trio of Mateo Retegui (Al Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), and Giacomo Raspadori (Atletico Madrid) who bring speed, size, and skill to the group. The real wild card here is 20-year-old Francesco Pio Esposito; the young Inter Milan striker is acclimating well to the top of Serie A, and got some caps during the qualifying stage.
It’s a lot of pressure on the manager to pick the right players here. They don’t have an A1 attacking option, but if the right players break out, it’s a dangerous attack. The midfield will provide them plenty of service; whether or not they can finish their dinner is the question.
Wales is another team with a strong chance of making it through. With a strong attack featuring Premier League players and a solid defense, they could be a threat to the group if they advance. Bosnia is trying to qualify and give 39-year-old striker Edin Dzeko one more run on the international stage, but their chances are rough. Northern Ireland brings up the rear in terms of odds; qualifying for the fourth spot in the first place would be a massive shock.
Now that we know the teams, let’s get into the pick.
The Pick
Here’s how the odds look for winning Group B:
The qualifying stage plays a significant role in picking the winner here. Italy is the favorite to make it through, which turns this group into a severe bloodbath. Wales would present a serious threat as well on the strength of their attacking group.
Italy’s value is too strong to ignore. If they navigate the supplemental qualifying round, which they should, I rate them as the best team in the group. The doubt cast on them after a poor initial qualifying stage is deserved, but they’re not going to miss their second chance. Throw your money on Italy +230.
