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How Canada's loss to Switzerland cost Les Rouges home-field advantage in Round of 32 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While Canada can now finally say that they've made it to the knockout stages of a World Cup, today's loss to Switzerland had a consequence that could be the decider on how far they move on at this summer's tournament.
Since Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Qatar today, both of them were fully eliminated from the World Cup, and Canada would survive regardless of their own result since their goal differential was miles better than the European team's. However, Canada really would have liked to win this game for one simple reason.
Due to not winning or drawing against Switzerland today, Les Rouges will have to play their first Round of 32 match outside their own country. A win would have meant an extended stay in their own country and in a stadium guaranteed to be packed with their own fans.
Here's what Canada's loss today means in terms of their home-field advantage in the Round of 32.
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How Canada's loss to Switzerland cost it home-field advantage in the Round of 32
Heading into today's match against Switzerland, the co-host Canada needed to win or draw against Switzerland in order to play their first match at BC Place in Vancouver. However, Les Rouges picked a bad time to lose their first match at the World Cup, and were downed 2-1 by the Swiss.
If Canada had secured a point against Switzerland in Vancouver, the team wouldn't have even had to leave its hotel, as its next match would have been played there. Instead, Canada will soon board a plane and head to the United States for its Round of 32 match.
MORE: Who has qualified for the Round of 32 so far at the 2026 World Cup?
Where will Canada play its Round of 32 match?
With Canada clinching second place in their Group B, they will play their Round of 32 match on Sunday, June 28, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Their opponent will be the second-place team from Group A.
If they had won or drawn against Switzerland today, the Canadians would have won the group on goal differential, the first tiebreaker to divide them and the Swiss. For winning Group B, the Canadians would've had their first Round of 32 match at BC Place in front of the Vancouver faithful, a valuable home-field advantage.
Possible Canada opponents in the Round of 32
In this year's Round of 32, Canada's first time exiting the group stage in their country's World Cup history, Les Rouges will play their first match against the second-place team in Group A.
Due to Mexico already clinching the top spot from Group A, the teams that can still finish in second place are South Korea (3 points), Czechia (1 point), and South Africa (1 point). During each team's next match, Mexico will play against Czechia tonight at 9 p.m. ET, while second-place South Korea will face off against South Africa at the same time.
It is very likely that the Canadian team will match up against South Korea in the Round of 32. Regardless of who Les Rouges stand across the pitch from, their match will take place on Sunday, June 28, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
MORE: Group A LIVE standings from 2026 World Cup
Canada's group stage results
Canada Group B final table
| Pos. | Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
| 1. | Switzerland - Q | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 |
| 2. | Canada - Q | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 |
| 3. | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 |
| 4. | Qatar - E | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | -8 |
Canada Group B schedule, results
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Fri, Jun. 12 | 3 p.m. | Canada 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 | BMO Field (Toronto, CAN) |
| Thu, Jun. 18 | 6 p.m. | Canada 6, Qatar 0 | BC Place (Vancouver, CAN) |
| Wed, Jun. 24 | 3 p.m. | Switzerland 2, Canada 1 | BC Place (Vancouver, CAN) |
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