Zakaria set to open Switzerland's World Cup campaign against Qatar
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
AS Monaco captain Denis Zakaria is in contention to start as Switzerland face Qatar in their 2026 World Cup opener on Saturday evening.
Denis Zakaria, who captains AS Monaco, lines up with Switzerland on Saturday 13 June as the Nati begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Qatar, the two-time Asian champions. Kick-off is at 21:00, with Zakaria in a straight contest with Ricardo Rodriguez for a starting berth in the Swiss midfield.
Despite the selection uncertainty, the Geneva-born midfielder holds a central role within the national setup and has spoken about the quality of this Swiss generation. For Monaco supporters, Saturday's match offers the first chance to see their captain on the World Cup stage, with the Principality's most prominent footballer carrying the armband into one of sport's biggest tournaments.