Switzerland beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to close on World Cup last 32

n n

Switzerland’s midfielder #10 Granit Xhaka celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup Group B football match between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

n

Super subs Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas fired Switzerland to a 4-1 win over 10-man Bosnia-Herzegovina in a late rush of goals in Los Angeles on Thursday.

n

The result gave the Swiss a strong chance of reaching the knockout round as one of the top two teams in Group B.

n

They had been controlling a largely tepid stalemate at the SoFi Stadium until coach Murat Yakin rang the changes in the 72nd minute, bringing on the pair of forwards who immediately transformed the game.

n

Bosnia’s attempted clearance from a Vargas cross felt to Manzambi who volleyed home with his first touch of the game, before Manzambi turned creator for a Vargas finish.

n

In between those goals, Bosnia had Tarik Muharemovic sent off for a desperate sliding tackle on Breel Embolo, who was clear through on goal.

n

The afternoon got worse for Bosnia as Vargas then assisted another finish for 20-year-old Freiburg star Manzambi.

n

Ermin Mamhic pulled back a spectacular consolation from a corner, but a Granit Xhaka penalty in stoppage time sealed the rout.

n

Switzerland go top of Group B on four points, three clear of the other teams, with Canada and Qatar playing later Thursday.

n

With their country playing in only its second World Cup, Bosnian fans turned out in huge numbers.

n

A sea of blue swept into the impressive stadium and drowned out the Swiss support, with the exception of one man dressed as a cow, who defiantly rattled his oversized cowbell.

n

The Swiss had the better of the early exchanges.

n

Veteran midfielders Xhaka and Remo Freuler orchestrated forays down the left flank to Dan Ndoye, which fizzled out with poor crosses and lackluster finishing.

n

Having started very deep, the Bosnians slowly grew into the half.

n

Forty-year-old star Edin Dzeko created their first big chance in the 32nd minute, cleverly switching play across the six-yard box to Benjamin Tahirovic, who failed to connect at the far post.

n

Ndoye nearly gave Switzerland a spectacular lead after the break, smashing a bicycle kick from Xhaka’s cross toward Nikola Vasilj, who did well to palm it over the bar.

n

An increasingly frustrated Dzeko earned a booking for bulldozing Manuel Akanji, and was substituted.

n

Yakin made three changes in the 72nd minute, and two minutes later, two of those subsitutes combined to finally put his side ahead.

n

Vargas ran up the left wing, his first cross bounced back to him, and on his second attempt, Amar Memic’s attempted headed clearance fell to Manzambi, who volleyed home.

n

Muharemovic was dismissed in the 79th minute for a sliding tackle from behind on Embolo.

n

The floodgates then opened. In the 84th minute Manzambi, coming in from the right, found Embolo who played it to an open Vargas to slot home.

n

Six minutes later, Vargas cut back to Manzambi, who guided the ball across the ‘keeper.

n

Three minutes into stoppage time, Gregor Kobel slapped a corner out to Bosnian substitute Mamhic, who rifled his shot home.

n

But the Bosnian backline had lost their heads, and a desperate foul by Amar Memic gave Swiss captain Xhaka the chance to bury his penalty.

n

AFP

n n