Switzerland have progressed to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ round of 16 after a controlled 2–0 victory over Algeria, continuing their strong tournament form.

The Swiss side took the lead through Breel Embolo, who finished from a precise cross delivered by 20-year-old Johan Manzambi, who has emerged as one of the standout young talents of the competition.Dan Ndoye later secured the result with a second goal, as Algeria were unable to respond effectively.

Switzerland will now face the winner of the Colombia vs Ghana fixture, with hopes of breaking a long-standing barrier that has seen them repeatedly eliminated in the round of 16 in previous tournaments.Portugal also advanced after a tense and dramatic match against Croatia.

Ivan Perišić opened the scoring for Croatia, but Portugal responded through a penalty converted by Cristiano Ronaldo following a VAR review for a foul in the box.Substitute Gonçalo Ramos proved decisive, scoring a late winner after a well-timed assist from Rafael Leão in stoppage time.The match featured several disallowed goals and close chances, with Portugal ultimately holding on to secure progression.Ronaldo’s penalty marked his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout stage.Spain delivered a dominant 3–0 win over Austria, controlling possession and creating sustained pressure throughout the match.Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice, while Pedro Porro added a header to complete the victory.Despite occasional resistance from Austria, Spain’s technical superiority and attacking depth proved overwhelming.

The result sets up a highly anticipated round of 16 clash involving European heavyweights, as all three teams move deeper into the knockout phase of the tournament.

Overall, the matches highlighted the strength of Europe’s top football nations as the World Cup progresses, with standout performances from emerging talents and established stars alike.