GROUP B

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Coach: Sergej Barbarez

Star player: Edin Dzeko

World Cup best: Group stage, 2014

Bosnia broke four-time World Cup winners Italy's hearts in March's play-offs to secure their second ever appearance on the biggest stage. Edin Dzeko, fresh from promotion with Schalke at 40, continues to play a starring role for a team replete with up-and-coming players.

Ireland angle: Bosnia-Herzegovina manager Sergej Barbarez and Ireland defender Kenny Cunningham both announced their international retirement on the same day - 12 October, 2005.

Barbarez then spent a decade as a professional poker player before his first football management job when he took charge of Bosnia and Herzegovina and helped them to the World Cup at the first time of asking. Kenny does TV work.

Canada

Star player: Alphonso Davies

World Cup best: Group stage, 1986, 2022

Canada is abuzz as the World Cup co-hosts try to take football in the country to new heights. Jesse Marsch's side are sweating on Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies' fitness and need Jonathan David to step up after an underwhelming first campaign with Juventus.

Irish angle: Jonathan Osorio is the oldest member of the Canada World Cup squad. The 33-year-old is a one club man, having spent more than a decade playing for MLS outfit Toronto FC.

Breaking into the Toronto squad in 2013, Osorio was a callow 20-year-old when he made his debut, sharing the dressing room with Ireland international Darren O'Dea.

Qatar

Coach: Julen Lopetegui

Star player: Akram Afif

World Cup best: Group stage, 2022

Qatar's World Cup debut came on home soil four years ago - and ended miserably, losing all three matches and scoring just once. They have since turned to well-travelled Julen Lopetegui, who oversaw the nation's first qualification success. Qatar needs to unleash talented Akram Afif.

Irish angle: Qatar will have a former Ireland Under-21 international on their bench at the World Cup. Ex-Liverpool and Ireland youth player Richie Partridge is the head physio for Julen Lopetegui's squad, having joined the Qatar set-up from Liverpool in 2020.

Switzerland

Star player: Granit Xhaka

World Cup best: Quarter-finals, 1934, 1938, 1954

Edged out on penalties by England in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, the Swiss are approaching the end of an era as many of their main players are in their late 20s or early 30s. There is, though, talented option within a group able to hurt any opponent.

Irish angle: Switzerland have been familiar foes for Ireland in recent times with the two side meeting eight times since 2002. The Swiss have the clear advantage with Ireland just winning one of those games - an international friendly in 2016 where Ciaran Clark scored the only goal.

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Source: RTE