World Cup
2026-07-02 - Switzerland vs Algeria
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: World Cup Last 32
Thursday 2nd July 2026 - Kick Off 8pm (EST)
British Time 4am
Switzerland
Two years ago, Switzerland were dumped out of the Euro 2024 tournament in the Quarter Final and they will have felt they had been the better team before going down on Penalties to eventual Runners Up England. That tournament has given the team real confidence ahead of the trip to North America for the World Cup Finals and Switzerland will continue playing matches in what will feel a familiar environment in Canada.
That is down to the fact that Switzerland have beaten Canada to finish top of Group B and that means the next two Knock Out ties will be played in Vancouver where they beat one of the co-hosts, but only if the Swiss keep winning. The opening draw with Qatar will have knocked the team, but wins over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada have given Switzerland some momentum, while also placing them in a pretty comfortable part of the Knock Out Bracket.
Switzerland have lost 1 of the last 17 games in all competitions, but they had won 1 of 6 fixtures after the draw with Qatar and before the consecutive Group Stage wins. There has been so much to like about the attacking threat Switzerland have produced in the opening three matches, but the improvement has to be made on the defensive side of the pitch to continue the journey to the last eight of the World Cup Finals for the first time since Switzerland hosted this tournament in 1954.
Silvan Widmer is a doubt for this fixture, but in the main Murat Yakin has to be happy with his options.
Predicted Line Up: Kobel, Widmer, Rodriguez, Elvedi, Akanji, Freuler, Xhaka, Manzambi, Sow, Vargas and Embolo (4-2-3-1)
Algeria
There was a moment just after Riyad Mahrez scored to help Algeria lead Austria 3-2 with seconds remaining that his teammates seemed to inform the former Manchester City attacker as to what the goal would mean. If Algeria could hold on, they would move into a Last 32 tie against Spain, while a draw would see Algeria through as one of the best third place teams and earn them a spot in the Knock Out Brackets that gives all of the nations involved a chance of having a big impact in this tournament.
All of that disappointment was for nought as Austria equalised just before the final whistle and that has given Algeria a chance to reach the Quarter Final of the 2026 World Cup by getting past Switzerland and either Colombia or Ghana. However, Vladimir Petkovic will be the first to admit that his Algeria team will have to be a lot better than they have been in the Group Stage of they are going to upset the Swiss.
Algeria opened the tournament with a defeat to Argentina, but that is the sole loss in the last 7 games played and this is a team that beat Jordan and earned the draw with Austria to move through the World Cup Group Stage. Under the current manager, Algeria have shown considerable growth and they will be feeling confident on the level shown in this tournament, even taking the defeat to World Champions Argentina on board.
Mohamed El Amine Amoura is a doubt for this game.
Predicted Line Up: Zidane, Belghali, Ait-Nouri, Mandi, Bensebaini, Chaibi, Bentaleb, Maza, Mahrez, Aouar and Belaid (4-2-3-1)
Head to Head
Switzerland have won both previous matches against Algeria, but both have been in international friendly settings and the last of those was played all the way back in 1986.
Prediction
There is no doubt that Switzerland will have plenty of backers as the favourite to win this Last 32 tie, but the layers have plenty of respect for Algeria.
Topping Group B has placed Switzerland in a very good looking part of the Knock Out Bracket, while they will also be able to play in Vancouver through to the Quarter Final as long as they can keep winning.
Familiarity with the conditions have to be respected, but Switzerland will be looking for a bit more decisiveness in the final third and also in the defensive third of the pitch.
Chances have been given up and Algeria are capable of exploiting vulnerabilities as they have shown in the last couple of games.
However, it has been a pretty disappointing performance from Algeria in this tournament and they have to be a lot better if they are going to get the better of one of the top European nations that have travelled to the World Cup Finals. The performance against Argentina was concerning and conceding three goals against Austria means Algeria have conceded seven goals in the tournament.
Vladimir Petkovic realised he got his tactics wrong against Argentina and so the attacking players should all be involved for the African nation, although the potential absence of Mohamed El Amine Amoura is a big blow.
Despite that, Algeria can at least play their part in this Knock Out tie, although ultimately it may be a fixture that is won by Switzerland when all is said and done.
The Pick :
Switzerland 2-1 Algeria
