Switzerland reach Round of 16 with historic knockout win after 88 years

Switzerland ended an 88-year drought by securing a place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a commanding 2-0 victory over Algeria in the Round of 32 clash. The match, played in Vancouver, saw the Swiss side take control early on and maintain dominance throughout the game. Just 10 minutes into the match, young winger Johan Manzambi set up Breel Embolo with a precise assist, which the striker calmly converted to give Switzerland an early lead. The Swiss team doubled their advantage just 46 seconds after the start of the second half, when Dan Ndoye finished brilliantly to extend the lead. Algeria attempted to respond before halftime, with their best opportunity coming through Farès Chaïbi, but Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made an easy save to deny the chance. After that, Algeria struggled to create any significant threat for the remainder of the match. Nineteen-year-old Johan Manzambi delivered an impressive performance, bringing his total direct goal involvements in the tournament to five—an achievement not matched by any Swiss player since 1966. With this victory, Switzerland now advance to the next round, where they will face the winner of the match between Colombia and Ghana.