World Cup
Switzerland equal World Cup second‑half goal record
Switzerland opened the second half against Canada at the World Cup with a goal from Ruben Vargas after exactly 45 minutes and 39 seconds, equalling the tournament record for the earliest second‑half strike. The goal came just moments after the teams returned to the pitch for the break.
Opta data Vargas's strike set the benchmark for German‑speaking nations, marking the earliest World Cup goal ever recorded by a team whose language is German. The timing of 45:39 placed Switzerland alongside the previous record holder in the tournament's historical logs.
The earlier record was set by Daniel Agger for Denmark at the 2010 World Cup, as noted by the data platform Opta. Agger's goal had stood as the fastest second‑half marker for twelve years.
For Canada, the concession could represent their first defeat in the current tournament, yet they remain second in Group B ahead of Bosnia thanks to a superior goal difference. The group standing reflects Canada's resilience despite the setback.
If the result holds, it would mark Canada's inaugural loss at this World Cup edition. The original German version of the article is available for readers seeking the source text.
This article was translated into English by artificial intelligence, ensuring wider accessibility.