Switzerland edge Canada to top Group B as co-hosts crash out

Switzerland edged past Canada in Vancouver to claim top spot in Group B, ending the co-hosts’ hopes of playing their first knockout tie on home soil. A disciplined Swiss side, marshalled by Murat Yakin, absorbed early pressure before striking twice in a 12-minute second-half burst that left Jesse Marsch’s men chasing shadows. Promise David’s late cameo offered only fleeting hope as the hosts were forced to regroup for a trip to Los Angeles.

Swiss precision topples Canadian firepower

Canada entered the match knowing a draw would secure their place at the top of Group B, but Switzerland had other ideas. After a cagey opening 45 minutes in a stifling BC Place, Ruben Vargas broke the deadlock 40 seconds into the second half with a fierce strike that silenced 52,497 home fans. Ten minutes later, Johan Manzambi doubled the lead, exploiting hesitant defending to squeeze a shot past Maxime Crepeau. The visitors had seized control with ruthless efficiency, and Canada’s late barrage could only delay the inevitable.

David’s 73-second cameo offered a glimmer of hope, but Switzerland’s composure under pressure saw them see out the contest. Their pragmatic approach—rooted in midfield control and disciplined transitions—outlasted a Canadian side that had banked on home advantage but found only frustration. The result means Switzerland will remain in Vancouver for their last-16 tie, while Canada must now travel to Los Angeles for a shorter turnaround.

Marsch’s misfires and Davies’ decoy gamble

Jesse Marsch had promised his team would not settle for a draw, yet his tactical choices left Canada vulnerable. The omission of Alphonso Davies—initially billed as a starter—was framed as a “decoy” to unsettle the Swiss, but Switzerland refused to bite. Davies remained unused as the hosts chased a point they never truly threatened to claim. “Alphonso wasn’t ready yet so I was using him a little bit as a decoy,” Marsch admitted post-match. “I wanted Switzerland to have to think about it.”

The absence of Ismaël Koné, still on crutches six days after a brutal challenge, further weakened Canada’s spine. Marsch turned to Nathan Saliba and Mathieu Choinière, but the midfield battle was lost before it began. Granit Xhaka and his Swiss counterparts dictated tempo, while Canada’s late surge arrived too late to shift the balance. The co-hosts’ campaign ends in disappointment, their World Cup story now one of missed opportunities and tactical missteps.

Yakin’s Nati deliver when it mattered

Murat Yakin’s Switzerland have now gone seven World Cup knockout games without a win, but this was a performance built on pragmatism rather than flair. Vargas and Manzambi’s goals arrived in a ruthless 12-minute window, exposing Canada’s defensive fragility. “Right now we only react on what is happening on the pitch,” Yakin said, deflecting questions about Davies’ role. “We delivered as a team and deserve to be where we are right now.”

The Swiss will face the third-placed team from Groups E, F, G, I, or J in Vancouver on 2 July, while Canada’s road trip to LA begins with a four-day turnaround. Their elimination marks the end of the co-hosts’ hopes of playing their first knockout tie on home soil—a bitter pill after the drama of Larin’s late leveller against a rival side. For Switzerland, the focus shifts to ending their knockout hoodoo, knowing their disciplined display in Vancouver was the perfect preparation.

Switzerland’s victory was built on cold pragmatism, not passion. They absorbed Canada’s early intensity, struck when it mattered, and refused to panic under late pressure. Jesse Marsch’s side, meanwhile, leave Vancouver with a sense of what might have been—had their tactics matched their ambition, or had Davies been fit to lead the charge. Instead, they must regroup quickly for a daunting trip to Los Angeles, while their conquerors prepare to extend their stay in the city they now call home.