Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi each scored to fuel a 2-1 win over Canada and clinch Group B for Switzerland on Wednesday at the World Cup.

Johan Manzambi of Switzerland celebrates scoring against Canada in a group stage win at the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday in Vancouver. Photo by Bob Frid/EPA UPI

June 24 (UPI) -- Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi each scored to fuel a 2-1 win over Canada and clinch Group B for Switzerland on Wednesday at the World Cup.

The Swiss, who finished group play with a 2-0-1 record, were outshot 13-6 in the narrow triumph in Vancouver. With the victory, they denied the second-place Canadians of a Round of 32 match on home soil.

The Canadians and Swiss played a scoreless first half. Vargas needed less than a minute to draw first blood in the second half.

Manzambi received a feed above the box an raced in front of defenders at the start of the sequence. The midfielder then roped a pass to a wide-open Vargas, who buried a shot into the left side of the net.

Manzambi doubled the advantage about a dozen minutes later. Striker Breel Embolo first brought down a long pass in front of the box. He dribbled away from denders and tapped to an oncoming Manzambi, who used his first touch to beat Canada goalie Maxime Crepeau for a second time.

Canadian midfielder Nathan Saliba assisted forward Promise David for Canada's lone score in the 76th minute, but an equalizer never came.

Switzerland, the No. 17 team in the FIFA world rankings, will take on a third-place team from Group E, F, G, I or J in the Round of 32. The No. 31 Canadians will face the second-place team from Group A to start the knockout stage.

Co-host No. 12 Mexico already clinched Group A, meaning the Canadians will face No. 43 Czechia, No. 24 South Korea or No. 60 South Africa in the Round of 32 on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. The winner of that match will take on the winner of Group F or second-place team from Group C in the Round of 16.

The No. 8 Netherlands (1-0-1) lead Group F, ahead of second-place No. 16 Japan (1-0-1). No. 36 Sweden (1-1-0) and No. 56 Tunisia (0-2-0) round out the group. No. 5 Brazil (1-0-1) leads Group C, ahead of second-place No. 6 Morocco (1-0-1). No. 40 Scotland (1-1-0) and Haiti (0-2-0) sit in third- and fourth-place, respectively.

No. 62 Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1-1) also earned a Group B triumph, with a 3-1 win over No. 61 Qatar (0-2-1) on Wednesday in Seattle.