FIFA World Cup 2026: Switzerland completes late win over Bosnia – SUI vs BHI player ratings

Substitute Johan Manzambi scored his first World Cup goal after an excellent volley in the 74th minute, and Switzerland erupted late on Thursday for a 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina to take control of its group.

Rubén Vargas scored for the Swiss in the 84th minute, shortly after Tarik Muharemovic was sent off for a dangerous tackle, leaving Bosnia with 10 men. Manzambi scored again in the 90th from Vargas’ assist, and captain Granit Xhaka converted from the penalty spot with the final kick of the match in stoppage time.

Ermin Mahmic scored in second-half stoppage time for Bosnia, which still has a legitimate chance of reaching the knockout stages of only its second World Cup after hanging with higher-ranked Switzerland deep into the second half.

Switzerland followed up last week’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Qatar by largely dominating play against the momentum-laden Dragons, who are unbeaten in their last nine competitive matches.

But the Swiss was only able to break through after a moment of brilliance from Manzambi, a 20-year-old Geneva native who plays for German club Freiburg – and then Muharemovic’s red card changed the game.

Manzambi scored three minutes after coming on for star Dan Ndoye. Manzambi jumped and made perfect contact after Amar Memic’s ball attempt, sparking a wild celebration in the nervous Swiss section of the SoFi Stadium.

Bosnia were buoyed by raucous cheers with tens of thousands of fans in the crowd of 70,026 celebrating their country’s second World Cup appearance. The Dragons had less possession and fewer chances, yet every good moment was greeted with a roar.

Four minutes after Muharemovic was sent off for taking out striker Breel Embolo a step outside the penalty area, Embolo received the ball from Manzambi and played a pass across the front to Vargas for an undoubted goal. Xhaka then found Vargas deep for another pass to Manzambi, who finished with aplomb.

Mahmic’s vicious goal in traffic created a good feeling in Bosnia, who drew against co-hosts Canada last week.

Captain Edin Dzeko started and played 63 minutes for Bosnia, becoming the fourth outfield player to start a World Cup in his 40s – a group joined on Wednesday by Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Switzerland opened the game last week by conceding an equalizer against Qatar in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, which immediately raised concerns about the group favourite.

Bosnia impressively held Canada to a draw in Toronto and continued the strong run of coach Sergej Barbarez’s team. The Dragons qualified in theatrical fashion by beating Wales and Italy in the qualifying play-offs.

Switzerland dominated possession in the first half but struggled in the final third as Bosnia hung back. The Swiss stepped up their attack after the break, with Ndoye doing most of the work – including a spectacular bicycle kick that forced Nikola Vasilj to make an alert save over the bar.

Published on June 19, 2026