World Cup: Swizterland finish top, Canada defeated, Bosnia's hopes alive
Switzerland narrowly edged a valiant Canada side (2-1) and finished top of Group B. Canada are also through to the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time in their history, whilst Bosnia and Herzegovina will have to wait to see if they will be one of the best third-place finishers. Their win over Qatar (3-1) could yet be enough to see them progress in the 2026 edition.
Switzerland 2-1 Canada
Breel Embolo could - and perhaps should - have given the Swiss the lead in the first half. An excellent diagonal ball from the left was excellently controlled by the Rennes forward, but one-on-one, he could not apply the finish. Johan Manzambi couldn't either on the rebound, instead hitting his shot against a Canadian player, rather than finding the back of the unguarded goal.
But, despite a couple of half-chances for hosts Canada, this was a game in which Switzerland were in control and that continued after the break. It took only 40 seconds for the visitors to open the scoring after the break and it came through their danger man, Rubén Vargas. He was found at the back-post and he had the time to control and then finish off the inside of the near post (46').
Whole nation behind us 🇨🇦 #CANMNT pic.twitter.com/TScpXs2UPF
— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) June 24, 2026
The lead was then doubled 11 minutes later. It was a long ball, the type that Embolo thrives upon. He controlled, drew in the Canada defenders, turned and laid it off for Manzambi, whose shot squirmed under Maxime Crépeau (57').
As has often been the case in this World Cup, there was a shift in momentum after the hydration break. Nathan Saliba impeccably pulled the out of the air with his first touch before finding Promise David, only on the pitch for a matter of seconds, to tuck home first time on the volley (76').
Derek Cornelius, under contract at Marseille and returning following a loan spell at Rangers, almost equalised with a header at the near post soon after. The defender couldn't find a target.
Canada tested Gregor Kobel in the final minutes of the game but could not find the goal that would take them to the top of their group.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar
18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic opened the scoring for Bosnia and Herzegovina with a spectacular run and finish into the top corner (29'). Their lead was doubled just moments later as an Edin Dzeko ball was put into the Qatar net by Sultan Al-Brake. That was the 10th own goal of the Group Stages, a record at this stage of the competition (34').
Hassan Al-Haydos levelled up from close range just before the stroke of half-time (42') and it meant that Bosnia and Herzegovina pushed in the second half in order to improve their goal difference situation. Ultimately, that could prove vital. And they would get that crucial goal. It would come through Ermin Mahmic (80'). Time will tell how vital that late goal will prove.
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