Switzerland book final 16 spot at FIFA World Cup despite open-goal howler

Saturday, 4 July 2026

Nobody will be feeling more content about Switzerland’s 2-0 victory over Algeria than Fabian Rieder.

The Swiss midfielder has come up with the miss of the tournament so far at the FIFA World Cup, as his team advanced through to the final 16.

With an open goal in front of him, Rieder should have put the game to bed in the 81st minute, but somehow he managed to find Algeria’s keeper at BC Place in Vancouver on Friday (NZT).

Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye had earlier scored first-half goals for Switzerland.

The match commentators were blown away when Rieder somehow missed.

'Rieder, how did he not score?'

'Fabian Rieder, with the goal at his mercy,' said one commentator.

'This World Cup has seen some magical moments and we've now just seen a howler,” a second commentator chipped in.

'Rieder's got the whole goal to aim at; all he's got to do his sidefoot it home, but it catches his heel and goes across to the keeper.“

Next up, Switzerland will take on the winner of the round of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Catch up on all the action in the live blog below.