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Another African country out! Switzerland edge Algeria to reach World Cup last 16
03rd July, 2026 08:38 AM
Switzerland booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after defeating Algeria 2-0 in Vancouver on Friday, July 3, 2026, extending their unbeaten run in the tournament.
Breel Embolo put the Swiss ahead early, finding the net in the 10th minute to give his side a dream start. Just moments after the restart, Dan Ndoye added a second goal, striking in the 46th minute to put Switzerland firmly in control and seal the victory.
The result means Switzerland have now gone through the tournament without suffering a defeat, having collected two victories and a draw during the group stage to finish at the top of Group B.
With qualification secured, the Swiss will return to BC Place on Wednesday for a Round of 16 showdown against either Colombia or Ghana. They will be aiming to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for only the fourth time in the nation’s history.
Algeria’s qualification path
Algeria, alongside Austria, who were earlier eliminated by Spain, secured their places in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32 after producing an unforgettable 3-3 draw in their final Group J fixture on Sunday, June 28, 2026, a result that ended Iran’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
The pulsating contest swung from one side to the other before reaching a breathtaking climax in stoppage time. Austria appeared to be heading out when Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez scored what looked to be a dramatic winner in the third minute of added time. However, substitute Sasa Kalajdzic struck just three minutes later to level the match and send Austria through alongside the North Africans.
The result also marked significant milestones for both nations. Austria progressed beyond the World Cup group stage for the first time since 1982, while Algeria reached the knockout rounds for only the second time in their history, having last done so in 2014.
The match further highlighted the impressive performance of African nations at the tournament. Nine of the ten African teams competing at the 2026 World Cup qualified for the round of 32, with Tunisia the only side to miss out. However, after Friday’s results, Algeria becomes the latest African nation to be knocked out of the competition after South Africa, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
