Canada loses to Switzerland 2-1 but advances to World Cup knockouts
Team fell short in Vancouver's crucial Group B match but will face a tougher path with an LA knockout game on June 28 instead of a second home match.
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Canada's men's national team lost 2-1 to Switzerland on June 25, in a pivotal World Cup match at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver—but the loss doesn't end their tournament run.
Canada needed a draw against the higher-ranked Swiss to top Group B and stay in Vancouver for a knockout match at home. Switzerland scored twice in rapid succession early in the second half: Ruben Vargas netted a minute into the half, followed quickly by Johan Manzambi. Canada pulled one back in the 76th minute when substitute Promise David scored with his first touch, but it wasn't enough.
The loss drops Canada to group runner-up, forcing the squad to travel to Los Angeles for its first knockout round on June 28. The decision means less recovery time, added travel, and none of the perks of playing on home soil.
Despite the heartbreak, supporters remained optimistic. Greg Fairbairn, a Vancouver resident attending with his wife and two boys, bought a flight to Los Angeles to see the next game before leaving the stadium. "I told my family that no matter what the outcome, I was really happy to experience it with them," he said.
Jeremy Tarnaske, who travelled from Ottawa for the match, acknowledged the sting. "I'm trying not to cry," he said as people filed out. "But we've come so far, and I love that the city's super into it. It's still an amazing atmosphere."
The Voyageurs fan group paid tribute to injured midfielder Ismaël Koné, who suffered a broken leg in Canada's 6-0 rout of Qatar last week, by waving thousands of his No. 8 jersey during the march to the stadium.
