Switzerland continued their impressive 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a clinical 2-0 win over Algeria on Thursday, sealing a place in the Round of 16.Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye ensured the Swiss comfortably booked their place in the last 16, where they will face the winner of Friday’s clash between Colombia and Ghana in Vancouver.Having reached the knockout rounds at each of the previous three World Cups, Switzerland have now achieved a deeper run after repeatedly falling at the first elimination hurdle in the 32-team era.
Embolo and Ndoye fire Switzerland
Algeria made the brighter start and controlled possession during the first 10 minutes, but Switzerland struck with their first meaningful attack.Breakout youngster Johan Manzambi stormed down the right flank before delivering a pinpoint cross for Breel Embolo, who made no mistake from close range to score his 26th international goal. The forward celebrated with a trademark knee slide as the Swiss took firm control of the contest.Switzerland doubled their lead less than a minute after the restart.Dan Ndoye unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the penalty area that beat a full Luca Zidane in the Algerian goal, effectively putting the result beyond doubt.The Swiss almost added a third in the closing stages when Fabian Rieder found himself with a simple finish in the 81st minute, only to miss the target after the ball flashed across the face of the goal.FIFA president Gianni Infantino was among the spectators after earlier attending Spain’s win over Austria.
History hits for the Swiss
The win keeps Switzerland on course for what could become their best World Cup campaign in decades.Although the Swiss have reached the round of 16 in each of the last four World Cups, they have not won a last 16 match since the 1938 tournament in France. Their only deepest run since then came at home in 1954, when they won one playoff game before reaching the quarterfinals.Confidence grew steadily throughout the tournament.Switzerland opened their campaign by defeating Canada 2-1 before securing another convincing win to eliminate Algeria and advance to the knockout stages.Much of this success has been driven by 20-year-old Johan Manzambi, who has emerged as one of the tournament’s brightest young talents. After starting the World Cup as a substitute, the youngster has forced his way into the starting line-up and now boasts two goals and two assists, including the crucial set-up for Embolo’s opener.For Algeria, the defeat ended a memorable return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. The North Africans had reached the knockout rounds as one of the best teams in third place after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Austria, but could not overcome a Swiss discipline.Switzerland will now go to Vancouver knowing that a win over either Colombia or Ghana will send them into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the modern era.