Switzerland edges Canada to claim Group B supremacy

The match hinged on a blistering start to the second half. Just seconds after the restart, Ruben Vargas exploited a gap in the Canadian defense to bury a shot off the post. Switzerland doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Breel Embolo threaded a precise pass to Manzambi, whose powerful strike slipped through the goalkeeper's hands. The contest was defined by Granit Xhaka, whose tactical intelligence dictated the tempo and neutralized Canada’s momentum for long stretches.

Canada attempted to claw back into the game as the clock wound down, energized by a series of chaotic set-pieces. In the 76th minute, Saliba delivered a moment of individual brilliance, finding substitute Promise David with a deft touch. David’s athletic finish cut the deficit, but the late pressure failed to produce an equalizer. The loss is compounded by the absence of midfielder Ismael Kone, sidelined with a broken leg, and the ongoing fitness battle of star Alphonso Davies. Having finished second in the group, Canada now shifts its focus to Los Angeles, where they will face the runner-up of Group A in the next round.