Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 through Embolo and Ndoye to reach the last 16
Breel Embolo (10') and Dan Ndoye (46', straight after the break) sent Switzerland through at BC Place in Vancouver. Algeria, with Luca Zidane in goal and Mahrez up front, had the ball but no cutting edge.
Switzerland reached the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup with a solid win over Algeria (2-0) at BC Place in Vancouver, the retractable-roof stadium that hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony and is now shared by MLS side the Whitecaps and the CFL's BC Lions. Two early blows, one in each half, were enough to see off an Algeria team that had the ball but not the idea of what to do with it.
Murat Yakin set up a 4-2-3-1 with Gregor Kobel in goal; Akanji, Elvedi and Ricardo Rodríguez in defence; captain Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler in front of them; and Dan Ndoye, Johan Manzambi and Rubén Vargas behind Breel Embolo. The plan clicked from the off: in the 10th minute Embolo turned in a Manzambi cross for a 1-0 that set the tie on its way.
The clincher arrived right after the restart. In the 46th minute, barely back from the dressing room, Dan Ndoye finished off a fine move for 2-0 and all but settled the contest. The Swiss winger was named man of the match with an 8.2 rating, the highest on the pitch.
Algeria, coached by Vladimir Petković —a familiar face from the Swiss bench— went with a 4-3-3 featuring Luca Zidane in goal, Riyad Mahrez and Houssem Aouar up top and young Ibrahim Maza between the lines. The Africans monopolised the ball (55% possession) and out-passed Switzerland, but barely threatened: just two shots on target and an xG of 0.73 that lays bare their lack of penetration. Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine and an Algeria international, could do little about either goal.
The numbers, by contrast, reward Swiss efficiency: 2.56 xG and five shots on target with less of the ball. Kobel enjoyed a quiet afternoon and Switzerland managed the game with their usual know-how. Mahrez's Algeria, who had impressed in the group stage, leave the World Cup without ever making their sterile dominance count.
Switzerland, group winners and now in the last 16, await the winner of Colombia-Ghana as they keep dreaming in a tournament that is breaking their way. Yakin's side, organised at the back and lethal up front, confirm themselves as one of the most awkward teams on this side of the draw.