Johan Manzambi leads Switzerland past Bosnia and Herzegovina in World Cup 2026

Johan Manzambi changed Switzerland’s World Cup path in 19 minutes. The Freiburg midfielder came off the bench in the 71st minute and scored twice, including his first World Cup goal on a sharp volley in the 74th minute, as Switzerland defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 at Los Angeles Stadium.

The result gave Switzerland its first win of the 2026 tournament and sent it to the top of Group B. It also showed how quickly Murat Yakin’s side can tilt a game once it finds the right mix of energy and control, with Manzambi emerging as a decisive late weapon rather than a starter. FIFA named him the Superior Player of the Match.

Switzerland did not break Bosnia and Herzegovina down immediately. The opening hour held stubbornly in place until Tarik Muharemović was sent off, leaving Bosnia with 10 men and changing the rhythm of the match. From there, Switzerland found space and speed, and the final stretch turned into a statement: four goals in the last 23 minutes.

After Manzambi’s volley opened the floodgates, Rubén Vargas added a second Swiss goal in the 84th minute. Manzambi then struck again in the 90th minute to complete his brace, underlining both his timing and the tactical value of a substitute who could attack a tiring back line with direct runs and clean finishing. Granit Xhaka added a penalty in the 90+7th minute to close out the scoring.

Bosnia and Herzegovina did briefly respond through Ermin Mahmić in the 90+3rd minute, but by then the match had already swung heavily toward Switzerland. The late surge mattered beyond the scoreline. It turned a difficult Group B fixture into a commanding win, strengthened Switzerland’s position in the standings, and sharpened the sense that this squad has more than one way to win.

For Yakin, the evening reinforced a broader formula: experience from Xhaka, variance from Vargas, and an explosive option in Manzambi, who gave Switzerland a different ceiling in the closing phase of matches. With Canada next on June 24, Switzerland goes into its final group game with momentum, control of Group B, and a clearer sense that its knockout-round path is now firmly in reach.