Algeria became the latest African side to depart the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, beaten 2-0 by Switzerland at BC Place in Vancouver in a last-32 tie that ended their hopes of a first-ever World Cup knockout victory.
Switzerland broke the deadlock after 10 minutes when Johan Manzambi burst down the left with a mazy run before squaring an inch-perfect cross for Breel Embolo to turn home from close range. Algeria’s best opening of the first half came in stoppage time, when Ibrahim Maza dragged a snap effort wide of the near post.
The contest was effectively settled inside a minute of the restart. A tame clearance from Rafik Belghali fell straight to Dan Ndoye, who drilled a low finish beyond goalkeeper Luca Zidane to make it 2-0. Riyad Mahrez had a swift reply, but he shot straight at a defender from a central position when better placed.
With Denis Zakaria and Granit Xhaka marshalling the Swiss midfield, Switzerland dropped into a five-man shape without the ball, inviting Algeria to attack while offering little space in behind. Substitute Fabian Rieder somehow contrived to miss an open goal late on, though the miss had no bearing on the result.
Algeria enjoyed the greater share of possession, with 56% of the ball, but Switzerland’s cutting edge told, finishing the match with an expected-goals tally of 2.52 to their opponents’ 0.73. Coach Vladimir Petkovic, who spent seven years in charge of Switzerland before taking the Algeria job, was unable to find a way past his former side. Algeria conceded nine goals across their four matches at the tournament.
Switzerland, under Murat Yakin, reached the round of 16 for the fourth World Cup running and remain unbeaten in the competition. They stay in Vancouver to face the winner of Friday’s meeting between Colombia and Ghana.
The Desert Foxes now join Tunisia, South Africa, Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Senegal in the list of African teams eliminated from the round of 32, taking the continent’s exit tally to six. Morocco remain the only African side through to the last 16, with Egypt, Ghana and Cape Verde still to discover their fate.
