Vancouver, BC Place – Switzerland are into the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. In the round of 32 – the first knockout round of a tournament expanded for the first time to 48 teams across twelve groups – the Nati defeated Algeria 2-0. Breel Embolo struck in the 10th minute before Dan Ndoye doubled the lead in the 46th. It was Switzerland's first victory in a World Cup knockout round in 88 years, their previous such win dating back to 1938.
Embolo and Manzambi set the tone
Switzerland pressed high from the first whistle in a 4-2-3-1 against Algeria's 4-3-3, and the opener arrived as early as the 10th minute. Johan Manzambi, 20 years old and one of the standout Swiss performers of the entire tournament, burst down the flank and rolled a low ball across the face of goal. Breel Embolo swept it home from close range – 1-0. It was Embolo's 26th international goal, making him the first Swiss player ever to score multiple goals at more than one World Cup. Algeria struggled to penetrate Switzerland's composed defensive block throughout the first half, with Chaibi picking up a yellow card in the 36th minute their only notable moment going forward.
Ndoye puts it to bed – Xhaka reaches a milestone
Before half-time had even been called, Dan Ndoye made it 2-0 in the 46th minute. Capitalising on an Algerian clearance error, Ndoye struck from the edge of the penalty area and sent an unstoppable effort into the corner past goalkeeper Luca Zidane. It was a devastating blow for Algeria at the worst possible moment, extinguishing any hope of a comeback before it had a chance to take shape. Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka made history on the other side of the pitch: the Swiss captain earned his 150th international cap against Algeria, becoming the 49th outfield player in men's football worldwide to reach that landmark.
A quiet second half – Algeria with no answers
Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic – himself the Swiss national team manager from 2014 to 2021 – made his move at the break, introducing Hadjam and Gouiri for Aouar and Zerrouki in the 58th minute. But the Nati managed the game with authority. Boudaoui was booked in the 72nd minute, and Petkovic continued to ring the changes, yet without reward. Switzerland kept control and rotated their own squad, replacing Manzambi with Okafor in the 71st minute and Embolo with Amdouni in the 83rd. The 2-0 scoreline was never threatened.
Algeria are eliminated at the first knockout stage, returning home without progress after their first World Cup appearance since 2014. Switzerland, meanwhile, advance to the round of 16 – the second knockout round of the new 48-team format, in which the twelve group winners, twelve runners-up and the eight best third-placed sides had reached the round of 32.
