Switzerland, Canada qualify for World Cup round of 32
Switzerland have booked their place in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup after securing a 2-1 win over co-hosts Canada to top Group B on Wednesday night.
Both teams advanced to the next stage of the tournament as Switzerland topped the group with seven points from three matches and Canada finished second with four points with a better goal difference than third-placed Bosnia Herzegovina.
The first half ended goalless but the game burst into life in the second half as goals from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi in the opening 12 minutes were enough to give Switzerland the maximum points.
Promise David scored the consolation goal for Canada in the 76th minute.
In the other Group B game, Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Qatar 3-1 thanks to goals from Kerim Alajbegović, Ermin Mahmić and an own goal from Sultan Al-Brake.
Hassan Al-Haydos scored the only goal for Qatar as they bow out of the tournament in the group stage.
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Switzerland topped the group, Canada finished second, Bosnia and Herzegovina occupied the third position, with hopes of qualifying, as Qatar finished bottom of the group with one point.
Top Stats From Switzerland vs Canada Match
4 – 🇨🇭 Switzerland have qualified for the knockout stages in each of the last four FIFA World Cup editions (2014, 2018, 2022, 2026).
The only other European nation who have achieved that is France.
4 – Canada are the first host nation to progress from a FIFA World Cup group stage with as few as four points since the USA in 1994.
45:39 – Switzerland’s opener is the earliest second half goal scored at the FIFA World Cup since Daniel Agger’s own goal for Denmark against the Netherlands in 2010 (45:32).
Johan Manzambi (20y, 253d) is the youngest player to both score AND assist in a single World Cup game since Memphis Depay (20y, 125d) in 2014.
Goals scored by players aged 21 and under at the 2026 World Cup:
🇨🇭 3 – Johan Manzambi
🇪🇸 1 – Lamine Yamal
🇧🇦 1 – Kerim Alajbegovic
🇧🇦 1 – Ermin Mahmic
🇸🇳 1 – Ibrahim Mbaye
🇦🇺 1 – Nestory Irankunda
🇵🇹 1 – João Neves
🇺🇸 1 – Alex Freeman
🇬🇭 1 – Caleb Yirenkyi
