Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Super Subs Make the Difference as Switzerland Take Control in Group B

Switzerland cruised to an insanely entertaining 4-1 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina in a thrilling second half in Inglewood, Los Angeles in front of a packed out crowd of 70,000 spectators at the SoFi Stadium in this crucial match in a wide open Group B.

In the two previous games so far at this venue, nine goals had been scored and the fans continued to see some entertaining football in front of them.

Super subs Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi proved the difference in a thrilling second half as the Swiss earned a valuable three points to go clear at the top of Group B ahead of the later kick-off between Canada and Qatar.

Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina was looking like the worst game until the 75th minute.

5 goals and a sending off has changed the game in a 4-1 win for Switzerland.

Manzambi and Vargas changed the game off the bench.

Incredible.

— Samuel (@SamueILFC) June 18, 2026

Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina: As It Happened

This part of downtown LA is home to a large portion of Bosnian citizens, and they certainly made their voices heard throughout as they hoped to egg on their side to a first World Cup victory in 2026. After both opening matches in the group ended 1-1 despite both of these nations going ahead in their respective openers, both sides needed a win to put themselves in a perfect position of progression to the knockouts.

After a cagey few opening minutes, it was group favourites Switzerland who crafted the first chance. Granit Xhaka found a well-timed pass to Dan Ndoye on the left side of the box, but the Nottingham Forest winger could only fire his effort into the side netting.

It took two minutes on for Xhaka's dictation of the play to find another opportunity. This time he found Riccardo Rodriguez down the left side and his grounded cross was not met by Ndoye how he would have liked, with the ball sliding between his legs before getting cleared - there was no doubt that this was the Switzerland we expected to see from minute one of matchday one.

The next good chance for the Swiss came just before the hydration break, as this time it was Remo Freuler who saw a gap in the Bosnia defence and he let off a ripper from just outside the box, but saw it crash into the side of the goal once again - chances were certainly flying, but Switzerland were yet find a breakthrough.

Chances for the eastern European side were few and far between in the first half, but half an hour in Edin Dzeko was the focal point for a chance that could have been the opening goal. He was played through brilliantly into the left side of the Swiss box, and his cross was an inch or two away from being met at the far post.

It didn't take long for Switzerland to get back on top, however, and they were finding Ndoye often and putting that left channel to very good use. However, it was deep ball forward to Breel Embolo which found third corner. The resulting was then cleared by Dzeko, but their balls forward into the box continued to cause many problems for them.

Just before the break, Bosnia managed to craft one more chance after some good pressure on Nico Elvedi saw the ball go to Kerim Alajbegovic, who found Dzeko well but his shot was well blocked.

Half-Time Score: Switzerland 0-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina

Continuing on from their first-half dominance, it took just five minutes for the Swiss to craft yet another chance. Again, it was Ndoye being used well on the left flank, before he cut in sharply on Amar Dedic, but his shot rolled straight into the arms of Nikola Vasilj as they continued to struggle to find that goal.

Soon came another rocket of a chance for the Swiss. It was Ndoye once again on the end of another brilliant Xhaka cross, who was denied by Vasilj following his epic bicycle kick attempt which could have certainly been one way to open his World Cup account.

Following many fouls throughout the game, it was a surprise that referee Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro took an hour to dish out his first card of the game. It was given to Dzeko following a poorly-timed challenge on Manuel Akanji.

Another chance soon came and went begging once again for Switzerland as Embolo finally had a decent chance from a corner, but his header was tipped against the post by Vasilj.

Just prior to the hydration break, momentum changed once more. Bosnia worked it very well and smoothly in the final third, before Dedic found the ball at around 25 yards, firing a fierce effort which forced Gregor Kobel into action.

Johan Manzambi comes off the bench and immediately scores for Switzerland 🔥

The Bosnia-Herzegovina fans are in shock! pic.twitter.com/jli3B33mnu

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 18, 2026

On the 74th minute, Switzerland FINALLY found what they were looking for. Almost instantly after the break of which was booed heavily by Bosnian onlookers, Ruben Vargas looped the ball in well from the left side to 20-year-old Johan Manzambi who struck it superbly on the volley. Despite Vasilj getting an arm on it, he didn't do quite enough to keep it out.

Shortly after the goal, things went from bad to worse for Bosnia. Embolo ran onto a superb ball and was through on goal, but Tarik Muharemovic went right through the back of him, and received the first red card since the opening day.

Six minutes from time and Switzerland soon sunk Bosnian hearts as they secured a crucial win, Manzambi turning provider for Vargas who was in a perfect position to slot the ball into the bottom right corner.

And soon came goal number three, as the two super subs linked up yet again. An excellent initial pass from Xhaka into Vargas, who then pulled it back perfectly into Manzambi who slotted home a simple goal.

It wasn't too late, however, for Bosnia to have something to write home about. A corner cleared out to the edge of the box to an oncoming, newly subbed on Ermin Mahmic who smashed home his first ever international goal at 21 years old.

Aaaaand there was one last chance for the Swiss, who restored their three-goal cushion from the spot as Granit Xhaka very deservedly opened his account at the World Cup from 12 yards.

Full-Time Score: Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina

Switzerland Player Ratings

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Switzerland XI in the World Cup vs Bosnia & Herzegovina! 🇨🇭💫 pic.twitter.com/dunO8HwysT

— LowBlockClub (@LowBlockClub) June 18, 2026

• Gregor Kobel (6)
• Riccardo Rodriguez (7)
• Manuel Akanji (8)
• Nico Elvedi (7)
• Silvan Widmer (6)
• Remo Freuler (7)
• Granit Xhaka (8)
• Michel Aebischer (7)
• Dan Ndoye (7)
• Breel Embolo (7)
• Fabian Rieder (6)
• Djibril Sow (6)
• Johan Manzambi (10)
• Ruben Vargas (9.5)
• Luca Jaquez (N/A)
• Cedric Itten (N/A)

Bosnia & Herzegovina Player Ratings

OFFICIAL BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA STARTING XI! #FIFAWorldCup #BIHSUI 🇧🇦🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/LjfkSMBxKx

— Bosnian Football (@BosniaNTBall) June 18, 2026

• Nikola Vasilj (6)
• Sead Kolasinac (6)
• Nikola Katic (6)
• Tarik Muharemovic (4)
• Amar Dedic (7)
• Kerim Alajbegovic (6)
• Ivan Sunjic (6)
• Benjamin Tahirovic (6)
• Amar Memic (6)
• Edin Dzeko (6)
• Ermedin Demirovic (6)
• Ivan Basic (6)
• Esmir Bajraktarevic (6)
• Amir Hadziahmetovic (6)
• Jovo Lukic (6)
• Ermin Mahmic (8)

Player of the Match - Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas

Granit Xhaka was incredible today, and his play between the lines and shot creation in were superb, but 20-year-old Johan Manzambi certainly dug his team out of big trouble.

On international tournament debut, he struck the ball perfectly from around 12 yards to thump the Swiss to a crucial 1-0 win over Bosnia to go flying to the top of Group B, almost certainly confirming their progression to the knockouts in the process.

Ruben Vargas, who assisted the first goal shortly after coming on then went on to score Switzerland's second as the super subs provided the goods at a vital time for their nation.

Bad Day at the Office - Tarik Muharemovic

This one sort of writes itself. I was going to put Breel Embolo in for this category, as he was rather lacklustre until the game bursted into life, failing to put any of his rare chances away.

Although, he was the one who made that darting run which forced Muharemovic into a challenge which saw him take an early bath - in turn, making his sides chances of progression much tougher as they later concded two more which seriously dampens their chances of progression should goal difference come into play.