Canada advances to World Cup knockouts after Switzerland loss
Canada lost 2-1 to Switzerland on Wednesday but still qualified for the Round of 32 for the first time in team history.
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Canada qualified for the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time ever, but not the way they hoped. Switzerland beat them 2-1 on Wednesday, June 24 at BC Place, claiming first place in Group B.
Canada needed only a draw to win the group and keep the July 2 Round of 32 match at home. Instead, they'll travel to Los Angeles on June 30 to face the Group A runner-up with just three days to prepare, likely against South Korea.
Switzerland scored twice in the second half — Rubén Vargas at 46 minutes and Johan Manzambi at 57 — before Promise David pulled one back for Canada at 76 minutes. The crowd at BC Place erupted when David scored, but the Canadians couldn't find the equalizer.
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch acknowledged the sting. "We so desperately wanted to continue being here and continue the momentum," he said. "But we're going to be in the knockout phase, which is exactly where we wanted to be."
Canada's group-stage record of 1-1-1 still marks historic progress: their first World Cup point came June 12 in a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, followed by a 6-0 win over Qatar on June 18 in Vancouver. The Round of 32 appearance on July 2 at BC Place is now guaranteed for Switzerland instead.