VANCOUVER.- This Wednesday, Switzerland sealed its ticket to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup as first in Group B after its victory against host Canada 2-1 in Vancouver.
Undefeated with seven points, Nati advances to the knockout rounds for the fourth consecutive edition of the World Cup.
Canada is also advancing
Jesse Marsch’s Canucks, for their part, are second in the group (4 points), which condemns them to moving to the United States to play in the round of 32.
Rubén Vargas (46′) and the promising Johan Manzambi (57′) scored the goals for the Swiss team, led by Murat Yakim, while Promise David scored the goal for the hosts (76′) as soon as he came off the bench.
The Swiss await a rival for Friday, July 3 in the same Vancouver stadium against one of the eight best third parties.
Canada, which despite the defeat achieved the historic feat of surpassing the group stage of the World Cup for the first time, will enjoy less rest, since on Sunday, June 28, the pass to the round of 16 will be played against the second in Group A.
Before kickoff, Canadian midfielder Ismael Koné entered the field in a wheelchair after suffering a broken leg in Canada’s 6-0 rout of Qatar last week and received a standing ovation from the spectators at Vancouver’s BC Place.
The two teams came to the duel at the BC Place stadium in the Canadian city virtually classified in the round of 32 thanks to their favorable goal difference, and therefore, with initially less suffocating pressure.
This was reflected in the first half with few opportunities and without the initial score moving.
But upon returning from the locker room, the young man from Freiburg Manzambi continued to gain points to be considered one of the revelations of the World Cup. First he served for Vargas’ goal, and then he took advantage of a series of errors by the local defense and goalkeeper to increase the score to 2-0 with his third goal in this World Cup.
After 2-1, the Canadians came close to scoring in a couple of set pieces in the final stretch, but Switzerland held on at the top of the group.
Bosnia-Herzegovina secured third place in the group thanks to a 3-1 victory over Qatar and secured its ticket to the next phase as one of the best third parties.
