Players of Canada applaud fans after the team's 1-2 defeat in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Switzerland and Canada. — AFP/VNA Photo

Anh Đức, Xuân Đăng & Thanh Hà

VANCOUVER —  Canada progressed through the group stage of a FIFA World Cup for the first time on Tuesday, despite losing 1-2 against Switzerland at BC Place in Vancouver.

Youngster Johan Manzambi was the star of the night with one goal and an assist to help the Swiss finish the group stages undefeated.

After an uneventful first half, the deadlock was broken after the interval, as Manzambi's perfect cross found Ruben Vargas free inside the box, who fired a powerful shot into the back of the net.

Switzerland's lead was doubled in the 57th minute, as Manzambi finished off a great one-two with Breel Embolo with a somewhat fortunate goal. Maxime Crepeau could have kept the ball out, but the ball bounced off the keeper's hands and into the back of Canada's net.

Canada pushed on forward in the final minutes, but all they could get was Promise David's goal in the 76th minute to reduce the deficit.

Kerim Alajbegovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina scores his team's first goal during the match against Qatar. — AFP/VNA Photo

Bosnia & Herzegovina advance in third place

Elsewhere in Group B, Qatar faced Bosnia & Herzegovina in a decider, with both teams on one point and a win guaranteeing a place in the Round of 32 as one of the best third-place teams.

Bosnia opened the score through Kerim Alajbegovic in the 29th minute. The 18-year-old dribbled past multiple Qatari players before netting a contender for best goal of the tournament.

Bosnia doubled their lead just five minutes later, as Sultan Al-Brake put the ball into his own net after a chaotic play in the box.

Qatar got one back before the break courtesy of Hassan Al-Haydos, and continued their chase for the goal in the second half. However, the Bosnian defence was disciplined and Ermin Mahmic scored a third in the 81st minute.

The win guarantees Bosnia advance to the knockout stages.

Vinicius double sends Brazil into the last 32

Vinicius Junior scored twice as Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday, securing top spot in Group C and a place in the World Cup 2026 last 32.

Brazil's Vinicius Junior heads home his second goal past Scotland's goalkeeper. —  AFP/VNA Photo

Brazil took the lead after just seven minutes following a costly error. Defender Scott McKenna hesitated in his own penalty area and was closed down by Rayan, whose block fell to Vinicius, who rounded goalkeeper Angus Gunn before finishing into an empty net. Vinicius thought he had a second in the 22nd minute, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review for a foul in the build-up.

Scotland gradually settled but struggled to break through Brazil's disciplined defence. In first-half stoppage time, Bruno Guimaraes crossed into the six-yard box, Gunn misjudged the flight, and Vinicius arrived unmarked to head home his second.

Kieran Tierney added attacking impetus after the break, but Alisson preserved the clean sheet. Brazil sealed the win in the 60th minute when Guimaraes set up Matheus Cunha to fire low past Gunn. Neymar made his long-awaited return from the bench in the 76th minute, his first Brazil appearance since October 2023.

Morocco fight back twice to beat Haiti 4-2

Morocco fought back twice from behind to defeat Haiti 4-2 in an entertaining Group C clash on Wednesday, reaching the World Cup 2026 last 32 despite finishing second behind Brazil on goal difference.

Already eliminated, Haiti stunned the Atlas Lions in the 10th minute when Jean-Kevin Duverne's low cross was flicked goalwards by Lenny Joseph and deflected off goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for an own goal. Morocco levelled in the 39th minute when Bilal El Khannouss forced a save and captain Achraf Hakimi tapped in the rebound.

Soufiane Rahimi celebrates after scoring the decisive goal in the second half of the Atlas Lions' 4-2 comeback victory over Haiti. — AFP/VNA Photo

The parity lasted only four minutes, as Wilson Isidor seized a loose ball outside the box and unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner. But Morocco answered again in first-half stoppage time, Hakimi crossing low for Ismael Saibari to slot home — his third goal in as many World Cup matches.

The 2022 semi-finalists dominated after the break but waited until the 78th minute to complete the turnaround, Soufiane Rahimi's effort deflecting in off a defender. Rahimi then set up substitute Gessime Yassine to seal a 4-2 win one minute from time.

Morocco finished on seven points, level with Brazil. Haiti exited without a point despite scoring their first World Cup goals since 1974.  

Mexico's forward Julian Quinones fights for the ball during the match between the Czech Republic and Mexico. — AFP/VNA Photo

Mexico make it three straight wins

Mexico made World Cup history by claiming maximum points for the first time, beating the Czech Republic 3-0 in their final Group A match at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 25.

The hosts were the only team to finish the group stage with nine points, a 100 per cent win rate and no goals conceded.

Mexico controlled possession and threatened from early on, particularly after the hydration break, firing at least four shots without reward. Their pressure finally told in the 55th minute, when Mateo Chávez delivered a precise finish to delight more than 80,000 fans.

Seven minutes later, Julián Quinones doubled the lead off a deflection, before coach Javier Aguirre brought on goalkeeping legend Memo Ochoa for his first minutes of the tournament — the sixth World Cup of his career.

In the third minute of stoppage time, substitute Álvaro Fidalgo curled a right-footed strike from the centre of the box into the upper left corner to make it 3-0.

The Czech Republic pressed in the closing stages but tired and were sent home earlier than expected, while Mexico advanced to the knockout round as group winners.​

Thapelo Maseko celebrates his winning goal in the match against South Korea. AFP/VNA Photo

South Africa make World Cup history

Sixteen years after hosting the tournament, South Africa reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time with a surprise 1-0 victory over South Korea.

Having lost to Mexico and drawn with the Czech Republic, Bafana Bafana came into the match at the foot of the table and needed a win to advance. South Korea, sitting second with a win and a loss, needed only a draw to qualify.

South Korea had more possession in the first half, but South Africa created the better chances, registering three shots on target to South Korea's none.

After several unsuccessful attempts, South Africa's winner arrived in the 63rd minute through Thapelo Maseko. Collecting a low pass from the left, Maseko found himself alone on the right side of the box, controlled with his first touch and rifled a left-footed shot into the near post.

South Korea grew desperate and threw everything forward in the closing stages, but could not break through.

South Africa finished second in Group A to join Mexico in the next round, while South Korea were left awaiting results from other groups — their hopes appearing slim due to an inferior goal difference. — VNS