Switzerland eye fourth straight Round of 16 as Algeria chase history in Vancouver

Switzerland will look to continue their unbeaten run at the FIFA World Cup 2026 when they face Algeria in a Round of 32 clash at BC Place on Friday (July 3), with both sides chasing a piece of knockout-stage history neither has managed before.

Murat Yakin's Switzerland finished top of Group B with seven points, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 and co-hosts Canada 2-1, while drawing 1-1 with Qatar. The Swiss have not lost in their last nine matches and have conceded just three goals across their three group games, a run that has established them as favourites heading into the last-32 tie.

Algeria, coached by Vladimir Petkovic, arrived in the knockout rounds by a far more turbulent route. A 2-1 win over Jordan was followed by a 3-0 defeat to Argentina, before a dramatic 3-3 draw with Austria on the final matchday — in which Algeria conceded a stoppage-time equaliser — was enough to see them scrape through as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the group stage.

The tie carries an added subplot, with Petkovic facing the Swiss national team he coached for seven years before handing the reins to Yakin in 2021. Neither Switzerland nor Algeria has ever progressed beyond a World Cup knockout round in the modern group-stage era, meaning only one of the two sides will extend that wait on today.

Switzerland are expected to field Gregor Kobel in goal behind a back four of Luca Jaquez, Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji and Ricardo Rodríguez, with Remo Freuler and captain Granit Xhaka controlling midfield. Djibril Sow, Christian Manzambi and Ruben Vargas are tipped to support lone striker Breel Embolo in attack.

Algeria are likely to start Zidane in goal, protected by a defensive line of Rafik Belghali, Aïssa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini and Rayan Aït-Nouri. Hicham Boudaoui and Nabil Bentaleb are set to sit in midfield, with talisman Riyad Mahrez pushed forward alongside Ibrahim Maza and Farès Chaïbi in support of striker Amine Gouiri.

The winner of Friday's tie will advance to face either Ghana or Colombia in the Round of 16.