Switzerland scored two goals past goalkeeper Luca Zidane to eliminate Algeria 2-0 and advance to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

⚽ SWITZERLAND – ALGERIA 2:0 (1:0). Goals: Embolo 11 (1:0), N'Doye 46 (2:0)

Another day of the first round of the 2026 World Cup playoffs began with a convincing victory of Spain over Austria. After that, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates sent home 40-year-old Luka Modric and company – Portugal defeated Croatia.

These results cannot be called unexpected. Nor the victory of the "Crusaders" over the "Desert Foxes". Algeria has never beaten Switzerland, although the teams had only met twice before today. They lost the third time as well. One can see karma catching up with the Africans. After all, Austria, another participant in the strange match that kept Iran out of the playoffs, did not stay long at the World Cup.

Murat Yakin's charges managed quick goals in each half. In the 11th minute, Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi completed a solo run down the left flank with a cross from the end line. Rennes striker Breel Embolo only had to tap it in – 1:0.

In the first minute of the second half, Monaco midfielder Denis Zakaria crossed into the Algerian box, defenders cleared the ball, but Dan N'Doye of Nottingham Forest fired a powerful shot into the bottom corner. The son of famous Zinedine Zidane, as with the first goal, was powerless to help his team.

In the remaining time, the Algerian boys of Bosnian specialist Vladimir Petkovic, who had long coached Switzerland, found no significant counterarguments. On the contrary, their opponents were close to making the score bigger. How Fabian Rieder of German club Augsburg managed to miss an empty net in the 81st minute is probably unclear even to him.

In the Round of 16, Switzerland will play on July 7 here in Vancouver against the winner of the match Colombia – Ghana.

⚽ SOUTH AFRICA – CANADA 0:1, BRAZIL – JAPAN 2:1

⚽ GERMANY – PARAGUAY a.e.t. 1:1, pen. 3:4, NETHERLANDS – MOROCCO a.e.t. 1:1, pen. 2:3, IVORY COAST – NORWAY 1:2

⚽ FRANCE – SWEDEN 3:0, MEXICO – ECUADOR 2:0, ENGLAND – DR CONGO 2:1

⚽ BELGIUM – SENEGAL a.e.t. 3:2, USA – BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2:0

⚽ SPAIN – AUSTRIA 3:0, PORTUGAL – CROATIA 2:1, SWITZERLAND – ALGERIA 2:0, AUSTRALIA – EGYPT

⚽ ARGENTINA – CAPE VERDE, COLOMBIA – GHANA

The 23rd final tournament of the World Cup started on June 11. The world football forum is being held for the first time in three countries – the USA, Canada and Mexico – and for the first time gathered 48 teams.

After the group stage, the two best teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams continue the fight.

The 2026 World Cup will finish on the night of July 19-20 with the final match in New York.