{
    "title": "Canada advances to knockout stage at FIFA World Cup",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-25 15:13:19",
    "published_at": "2026-06-25 15:05:00",
    "url": "https://news.canadasoccer.com/canada-advances-to-knockout-stage-at-fifa-world-cup",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/ZFJd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "History made on home soil. We clinch a spot in the Round of 32 while the focus shifts to a blockbuster knockout clash with South Africa in Los Angeles.",
    "slug": "canada-advances-to-knockout-stage-at-fifa-world-cup",
    "body": "<p>By <a href=\"https://olympic.ca/author/dsquizzato/\">Daniel Squizzato</a> of the <strong>Canadian Olympic Committee</strong></p><p>For the first time ever, the Canadian men&rsquo;s national team has reached the knockout stage at the FIFA World Cup.</p><p>While a 2-1 loss to Switzerland at Vancouver&rsquo;s BC Place on Wednesday wasn&rsquo;t the ideal result, the team has still done enough to finish second in Group B. It means advancement to the tournament&rsquo;s Round of 32, the latest bit of history for head coach Jesse Marsch&rsquo;s team at this tournament.</p><p>First was a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada&rsquo;s first-ever point at a senior men&rsquo;s FIFA World Cup. Then came the 6-0 trouncing of Qatar for the nation&rsquo;s first-ever win in the competition.</p><p>Though Canada came up just short on Wednesday, Marsch said it provides good experience for the team in putting together complete performances in big games against quality opponents.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to be in the knockout phase, which is exactly where we wanted to be,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We still have a massive opportunity ahead of us.&rdquo;</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/3f207233-e33c-461e-b6eb-19284fc03844/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"Canada and Switzerland players jostle for positioning during Wednesday&amp;rsquo;s FIFA World Cup match. (Credit: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)\"\n                id=\"image-3f207233-e33c-461e-b6eb-19284fc03844\"\n                data-id=\"3f207233-e33c-461e-b6eb-19284fc03844\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/3f207233-e33c-461e-b6eb-19284fc03844/-/inline/no/\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/3f207233-e33c-461e-b6eb-19284fc03844/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Canada and Switzerland players jostle for positioning during Wednesday\u2019s FIFA World Cup match. (Credit: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\">Canada and Switzerland players jostle for positioning during Wednesday&rsquo;s FIFA World Cup match. (Credit: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)</figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p><strong>READ:</strong><a href=\"https://news.canadasoccer.com/16-fun-facts-about-members-of-canadas-fifa-world-cup-squad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong> 16 fun facts about members of Canada&rsquo;s FIFA World Cup squad</strong></a></p><p>Marsch made two changes to his starting lineup to face Switzerland, both in central midfield. <a href=\"https://canadasoccer.com/profile/6550/nathan-dylan-saliba/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nathan Saliba</a> and <a href=\"https://canadasoccer.com/profile/4293/mathieu-choiniere/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mathieu Choini&egrave;re</a> came in for <a href=\"https://canadasoccer.com/profile/5005/stephen-eustaquio/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stephen Eust&aacute;quio</a> (who was dealing with muscle tightness) and the injured <a href=\"https://canadasoccer.com/profile/55656/ismael-kone/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Isma&euml;l Kon&eacute;</a>.</p><p>The jam-packed stadium was filled with visual tributes to Kon&eacute;, with fans displaying 8s (his jersey number) in various forms. He also received a loud ovation during warm-up when he came out to field level in a wheelchair.</p><p>In Eust&aacute;quio&rsquo;s absence, striker <a href=\"https://canadasoccer.com/profile/6522/jonathan-david/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jonathan David</a> &mdash; fresh off a hat trick against Qatar &mdash; wore the captain&rsquo;s armband.</p><p>It was a tight, physical first half but there was no score at the halftime break. The closest either team came was an 11th-minute breakthrough by the Swiss that produced a terrific save from <a href=\"https://canadasoccer.com/profile/824/maxime-crepeau/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maxime Cr&eacute;peau</a>.</p><p><strong>READ: </strong><a href=\"https://news.canadasoccer.com/this-is-our-house-fifa-world-cup-leaves-lasting-impact-in-toronto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>This is our house: FIFA World Cup leaves lasting legacy in Toronto</strong></a></p><p>But the game&rsquo;s dynamic changed within the first minute after the break. Switzerland got behind the Canadian defence and Ruben Vargas scored from close range to put the visitors up 1-0.</p><p>The Swiss got their second goal on the counterattack 10 minutes later, with Johan Manzambi finding the back of the net.</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b7f1e396-d772-4ad4-8e75-a95ed77b9940/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"Canada&amp;rsquo;s Jonathan David dribbles the ball against a Switzerland opponent in a FIFA World Cup match on Wednesday. (Credit: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)\"\n                id=\"image-b7f1e396-d772-4ad4-8e75-a95ed77b9940\"\n                data-id=\"b7f1e396-d772-4ad4-8e75-a95ed77b9940\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b7f1e396-d772-4ad4-8e75-a95ed77b9940/-/inline/no/\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b7f1e396-d772-4ad4-8e75-a95ed77b9940/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Canada\u2019s Jonathan David dribbles the ball against a Switzerland opponent in a FIFA World Cup match on Wednesday. (Credit: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\">Canada&rsquo;s Jonathan David dribbles the ball against a Switzerland opponent in a FIFA World Cup match on Wednesday. (Credit: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)</figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p>Canada got one back in spectacular fashion in the 75th minute. A great touch and pass from Saliba led to a goal from <a href=\"https://canadasoccer.com/profile/57098/promise-david/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Promise David</a>, who&rsquo;d only entered the match a few minutes earlier.</p><p>The sold-out BC Place crowd loudly urged Canada forward as the game entered its dying minutes. But despite creating several half-chances, the Canadians couldn&rsquo;t find the equalizing goal.</p><p>&ldquo;On another day, maybe we&rsquo;re able to get the equalizer,&rdquo; said Marsch. &ldquo;We so desperately wanted to continue being here and continue the momentum that has been built around the team and around the tournament in the country.</p><p>&ldquo;We came up a little short, and that&rsquo;s unfortunate. But again, we&rsquo;re in the knockout round.&rdquo;</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/e484faf8-0761-456b-ba91-99c33d941ac6/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"Canada&amp;rsquo;s Nathan Saliba controls the ball against a Switzerland opponent in Wednesday&amp;rsquo;s FIFA World Cup match in Vancouver. (Credit: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)\"\n                id=\"image-e484faf8-0761-456b-ba91-99c33d941ac6\"\n                data-id=\"e484faf8-0761-456b-ba91-99c33d941ac6\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/e484faf8-0761-456b-ba91-99c33d941ac6/-/inline/no/\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/e484faf8-0761-456b-ba91-99c33d941ac6/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Canada\u2019s Nathan Saliba controls the ball against a Switzerland opponent in Wednesday\u2019s FIFA World Cup match in Vancouver. (Credit: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\">Canada&rsquo;s Nathan Saliba controls the ball against a Switzerland opponent in Wednesday&rsquo;s FIFA World Cup match in Vancouver. (Credit: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)</figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p><strong>READ: </strong><a href=\"https://news.canadasoccer.com/how-accessibility-and-alignment-turned-canada-into-a-soccer-power\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>How accessibility and alignment turned Canada into a soccer power</strong></a></p><p>Had Canada managed a draw against Switzerland, their next match would have been back at BC Place on July 2.</p><p>As it stands, though, Canada&rsquo;s Round of 32 match will be played on Sunday at noon PT / 3 pm ET at Los Angeles Stadium. Their opponent will be South Africa, courtesy of a somewhat surprising 1-0 win over South Korea on Wednesday night.</p><p>The knockout rounds consist of single-elimination matches that must have a winner. A level score after 90 minutes means extra time and, if required, a penalty shootout.</p><p><strong>The winner of Canada&rsquo;s Round of 32 match will move on to the Round of 16, while the losing team is eliminated.</strong></p>",
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