Switzerland beat Canada 2-1 to win Group B in Vancouver
Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi set up the Swiss win and Promise David could only pull one back for Canada.
Switzerland beat Canada 2-1 at Vancouver's BC Place, the Canadian retractable-roof venue holding 52,497 spectators, in the decisive third-round Group B clash at the 2026 World Cup. Both sides arrived level on four points with first place at stake, and it was the Swiss who came out on top.
The match broke open right after the break. In the 46th minute, Rubén Vargas finished off a Johan Manzambi pass to put Switzerland ahead, and just eleven minutes later, in the 57th, Manzambi himself doubled the lead after an assist from Breel Embolo to make it 2-0.
Canada responded with pride. In the 76th minute, Promise David pulled one back from a Nathan-Dylan Saliba pass to revive the Vancouver crowd, but Jesse Marsch's men could not find an equaliser against a disciplined Switzerland superbly protected by an outstanding Gregor Kobel in goal, named man of the match.
Murat Yakin set up Switzerland in a 4-2-3-1 built around Granit Xhaka, booked in the 32nd, while Jesse Marsch replied with a 4-4-2 featuring Cyle Larin — also cautioned in the 32nd — and Promise David up front. Liam Millar (87') picked up the match's other yellow late on for Canada.
With this win, Switzerland close Group B on seven points as winners, while Canada finish second on four and also advance to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Both nations book their place in the knockout stage.