Switzerland clinches knockout place as Embolo and Ndoye strike

Under the bright lights of the stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, Switzerland secured a place in the World Cup round of 16 on Thursday night as Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye found the net against Algeria, delivering a 2‑0 victory that sent the Swiss side forward. Johan Manzambi surged down the right flank in the opening ten minutes before crossing to Breel Embolo, who tapped the ball home in the 10th minute. The goal marked Embolo’s 26th appearance on the scoresheet for Switzerland, and he celebrated with a trademark knee slide. Just after the break, Dan Ndoye unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box in the 46th minute, beating Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane with a low drive. The goal restored Switzerland’s lead and underscored Ndoye’s impact since his tournament debut. In the 81st minute, Fabian Rieder saw a clear opportunity but his shot clipped the face of the Algerian goal, denying Switzerland a third tally. The match was officiated by Yael Falcón Pérez, who oversaw the proceedings without controversy.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the match, his second appearance at the venue that day after watching the Spain‑Austria clash in Inglewood, California earlier. His presence highlighted the global spotlight on the tournament’s knockout stage. Switzerland’s next challenge will be against the winner of Friday’s Colombia‑Ghana encounter in Kansas City, with the round‑of‑16 fixture scheduled for next Tuesday in Vancouver. The Swiss side will look to build on their momentum heading into the decisive match.

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Three days earlier, Switzerland defeated Canada 2‑1, with goals from Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi, ending Canada’s hopes of a historic home‑soil knockout. Manzambi, now 20, emerged as the tournament’s breakout star, contributing two goals and two assists before the team took a week off at their San Diego training base. The victory ended a 89‑year wait for a Swiss knockout‑round win, the last coming in 1938, though a 1954 playoff had previously taken them to the quarter‑finals. Algeria, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2014, saw veteran captain Riyad Mahrez score twice in a 3‑3 draw with Austria, and former Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic, who led Switzerland from 2014‑21, watched his former side advance.