Switzerland moved to first place in Group B of the 2026 World Cup after beating Canada 2-1 in the final round of group play on Wednesday. The result denied the co-hosts the point they needed to finish top of the group and keep home-field advantage for the first knockout stage match.
Canada came into the game after a dominant 6-0 win over Qatar and only needed a draw to secure first place and a Round of 32 game in Vancouver. Switzerland, after a 4-1 victory over Bosnia, arrived with some breathing room but showed from the start that it wanted more. Murat Yakin’s team controlled the first half and wasted several chances, including a major one-on-one miss by Breel Embolo, while Canada struggled to get going until later in the half.
The breakthrough came just 42 seconds after the restart, when 20-year-old Johan Manzambi, making his first start after scoring twice off the bench against Bosnia, set up Ruben Vargas for a hard shot in off the post. Eleven minutes later, Manzambi scored himself after a fine Embolo pass and a mistake by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, whose weak save attempt let the ball in. David Promise, a substitute, pulled one back for Canada in the 76th minute, but the hosts could not find an equalizer despite heavy late pressure on Gregor Kobel.
Switzerland will face one of the third-place teams in Vancouver on July 2. Canada will travel to California to meet the runner-up from Group A, a team that will be determined later Wednesday night.
