Canada and Switzerland duel for Group B top spot as Bosnia and Qatar fight for survival in World Cup closing group matches

The final round of Group B kicks off simultaneously on Wednesday evening, with Canada facing Switzerland at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and Bosnia-Herzegovina taking on Qatar at Lumen Field in Seattle. Both matches are scheduled for 21:00 local time, part of the new 48-team World Cup format that sends the top two plus the eight best third-placed teams through to the round of 32.

What is at stake in Vancouver

Canada and Switzerland sit level on four points, with the co-hosts holding the edge on goal difference (plus-six against plus-three). A draw would send both through, Canada as group winners, but neither coach wants to settle. Jesse Marsch, the Canadian manager, said in a press conference that the worst way to get a draw is to play for one, insisting his side will aim for victory. Murat Yakin, his Swiss counterpart, pointed out that winning the group would give them three or four extra days of rest before the next round, calling it a huge advantage.

The worst way to get a draw is to play for one. You have to play to win, and we will approach the match with the mentality and tactics to win.

If we beat Canada we will finish first and have three or four more days of rest. That is always a big advantage.

The Swiss make four changes from the side that beat Bosnia 4-1, with Johan Manzambi, who came off the bench to score twice in that game, starting. Canada also rotates, resting captain Alphonso Davies and midfielder Stephen Eustáquio. Jonathan David and Cyle Larin, the team’s all-time leading scorers, lead the attack. Ismaël Koné, the Canadian midfielder, will miss the rest of the tournament after suffering a broken tibia and fibula against Qatar.

The other end of the table

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar each have one point and sit third and fourth respectively, separated by three goals in their goal difference (minus-three for Bosnia, minus-six for Qatar). Both can still progress as one of the best third-placed teams, but only with a win and a favourable combination elsewhere. Julen Lopetegui, the Spanish coach of Qatar, has described the match as a final, urging his players to recover from the 6-0 thrashing by Canada and focus on the last group fixture.

I have asked the players to lift themselves after the heavy defeat and concentrate on this final match.

Edin Dzeko, the veteran Bosnian striker, remains a threat up front, alongside young playmakers Esmir Bajraktarevic and Kerim Alajberovic. Qatar will rely on star forward Akram Afif and the individual skill of Edmilson Junior. Bosnia’s coach, Sergej Barbarez, has made four changes from the heavy loss to Switzerland, including reshuffling his backline.

The path ahead

The group winner will face a third-placed team from groups E, F, G, I or J, which as things stand would be Belgium, though that could shift. The runner-up gets the second-placed team from Group A, currently South Korea. For both, reaching the last 32 would be a historic step: Canada have never won a World Cup match until they beat Qatar 6-0 in the previous round; Switzerland have exited at the group stage in their last two appearances.

The matches also feature a strong South American officiating presence: Brazil's Ramon Abatti referees the Canada game with Venezuela's Juan Soto on VAR, while Venezuela's Jesús Valenzuela takes charge of Bosnia-Qatar.