Switzerland beat Israel 2-0 in Sion and reach round two of Women's World Cup qualifying
Iman Beney headed Switzerland in front in Sion, and Julia Stierli added a direct free kick in the 93rd minute. The 9-3 aggregate win sends the team into a two-legged tie with Austria.
A controlled second leg in Sion
Switzerland's women beat Israel 2-0 at the Stade de Tourbillon in Sion on Tuesday, 13 October, completing a 9-3 aggregate after their 7-3 first-leg win. The hosts controlled the tie from the opening whistle, holding about 77% of possession and taking 32 shots to Israel's 2, according to SRF. Coach Rafael Navarro made three changes to his starting line-up, bringing in Lia Kamber, Nadine Riesen and Julia Stierli. Defender Viola Calligaris had set the goal of keeping a clean sheet, and the back line held, with Israel not registering a shot until the 53rd minute. Finishing was the weak point, as several chances in the second half went begging.
- Switzerland
- 32 shots
- Israel
- 2 shots
Beney and Stierli find the net
Iman Beney opened the scoring in the 30th minute, rising above her marker to head in a cross from Géraldine Reuteler. The 20-year-old Valais forward plays for Manchester City, and SRF counts this as her third goal of the qualifying campaign. RTS puts it as her fifth goal in 25 caps for Switzerland. Riola Xhemaili and Lia Kamber, who each scored twice in the first leg, both wasted chances in the second. Julia Stierli sealed the result in the 93rd minute with a direct free kick, after the team had already settled for a one-goal lead, according to SRF.
- Iman Beney heads Switzerland into a 1-0 lead from a Géraldine Reuteler cross
- Israel record their first shot of the match
- Julia Stierli scores with a direct free kick to make it 2-0
Protest flags inside the stadium
The Swiss Football Association (SFV) had announced before the match that only the flags of the two competing teams were permitted, but Palestinian colours still appeared in the stands. According to watson, a man displayed a Palestine flag during the Israeli anthem without being stopped by stewards, and chants of free Palestine could be heard. Later, a group unfurled a large Palestine flag and set off flares for several minutes before leaving the stadium without resistance. 20 Minuten reports that security stayed inactive for a long time despite the clear ban. The SFV had allowed individual players to skip the game, but none did.
Boycott calls before kick-off
Before the match, former Swiss national-team player Noa Schärz sent the SFV a long email urging it to boycott the playoff games against Israel, 20 Minuten reports. Players Coumba Sow and Lourdes Romero liked her post, according to the same outlet. No boycott took place. The squad had worn black armbands in the first leg and held a minute's silence in its final training session for victims of conflicts worldwide, without naming Israel or Palestine.
Austria next and the road to Brazil
In the second playoff round Switzerland face Austria, who beat Kosovo 6-1 on aggregate and won 4-0 in Vienna on Tuesday. The two teams sit close together in the world rankings: SRF lists Austria 25th and Switzerland 26th, while NZZ gives Austria 23rd. RTS gives 1 and 5 December as the dates of the two legs, while SRF gives a window from 26 November to 5 December. If Switzerland win, they could still face an intercontinental playoff in February 2027 if they finish as the weakest of the eight European playoff winners, SRF reports. A place at the World Cup in Brazil would follow, which SRF gives as possibly 24 June to 25 July 2027.
