Algeria coach will go up against his former team Switzerland in the World Cup knockout round

Swiss forward Breel Embolo credits Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic with raising up Switzerland's national team during his seven years at the helm.

Embolo and the Swiss will play against Algeria and their former coach on Thursday in Vancouver, British Columbia, when the two teams meet in the round of 32 at the World Cup.

Petkovic coached Switzerland from July 2014 to 2021. He led the team to the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, then took Switzerland to the quarterfinals of the European Championships for the first time in 2020.

Embolo, who earned his first senior national team call-up in 2015, was named to the 2018 World Cup squad by Petkovic.

“Yeah, he’s a coach that knows me very well," Embolo said "I’m not the only one. I think he knows a lot of players. But personally speaking, no, nothing’s going to change on my front. I’m going to play the football I’m used to playing, taking into consideration not only the qualities of the Algerian squad, but also their weak spots. We’re going to work together as a group, and we’re going to try and get in there 100% because we believe that if we play to our strengths, we’ve got what it takes to get through to the next round.

“And then obviously I’ll go and say hi to him after the match.”

The feeling was mutual.

“The world of football has become universal. Everyone knows each other. There are no real secrets left in the game,” Petkovic said. “I don’t think it’s a huge advantage to know someone or someone else, just as I know the players, the players know me, and it’s a huge pleasure to come up against them. It’ll be lovely to meet and greet them, but after that, the players will go out there on the pitch, and I’m certainly expecting a tough game, and in order to win a match we need to give 120% against a very decent Swiss inside.”

Algeria, back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014, was looking for a first knockout round victory. At the Brazil World Cup, Algeria advanced out of the group stage, but fell in the first match against eventual champions Germany.

Switzerland reached the round of 16 at the past three World Cups, but with a smaller field of 32 teams. This year’s tournament featured 48 teams.

Algeria is coming off a thrilling 3-3 draw with Austria on Saturday in Kansas City. Algeria took the lead in stoppage time only for Austria to answer on the final play of the game for the final margin. The result sent both teams through to the knockout round and eliminated Iran.

The Swiss got goals from Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi to beat Canada 2-1 in Vancouver last Wednesday and win Group B. The Canadians had been hoping for a win or a draw so they would play their round-of-32 match on home soil.

Instead, Switzerland got the return trip to Vancouver. The team got a week off, during which time they returned to their training base in San Diego.

Even Switzerland coach Murat Yakin has a connection to his 62-year-old Bosnian counterpart, serving as an intern under him with the Swiss club Young Boys years ago. Petkovic was hired as Algeria’s coach in February 2024 following a stint with French club Bordeaux.

“I really appreciate the way he works, the way he treats the players, and also the way he lets the players play,” Yakin said. “The players know him, he knows most of the players. It can be an advantage and a disadvantage, but five years have passed since, and our style of football has changed and evolved. He helped the team to qualify for many tournaments, so thanks to him, and I’m very happy to see him tomorrow.”

While he understands that it's noteworthy that he is coaching against his former team, Petkovic emphasized that he's not the one playing against the Swiss. It's his players.

“It’s a match between two teams that certainly play good football. These are two sides that will certainly want to get a result. Switzerland need to, because they have publicly stated that they want to at least make the quarter finals, and we’ve already secured two huge goals, not only by making the World Cup as a whole, but also by getting out of the group as well," Petkovic said ”I’m very keen to be involved in this match, but I’m also very keen to win the game and keep progressing."

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Austria's players celebrates after Austria's Sasa Kalajdzic (14) scored to tie the match during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Algeria and Austria in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Switzerland's Johan Manzambi (9) celebrates after scoring during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Switzerland's Ruben Vargas (17) celebrates after scoring during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Soccer fans leave BC Place as Switzerland fans celebrate a win over Canada during a World Cup in Vancouver, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Fans cheer after the World Cup Group J soccer match between Algeria and Austria in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

SEATTLE (AP) — Down to its final last-gasp chances, Belgium came through with goals — three of them.

The Red Devils overturned a two-goal deficit with two scores in the final minutes of regulation time and then added a third in the final seconds of extra time to somehow claw back into the game and beat Senegal 3-2 Wednesday in the round of 32 at the World Cup.

Youri Tielemans scored the equalizing goal in the 89th minute and then converted from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time in extra time for the latest goal in World Cup history. He was fouled with only seconds to go and with a penalty shootout looming, and the referee awarded the spot kick after a video review.

“I do not want to interpret the decision. We all have different interpretations when it comes to awarding a penalty," Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. "I’d rather not comment, not interpreting the referee’s decision.”

The win for Belgium marked the second time in the last 11 World Cups that a team trailed by two or more goals in the knockout round and advanced. Belgium also did so in a 3-2 victory over Japan in the round of 16 at the 2018 tournament.

Many of the key players from that Belgium team, which finished in third place in Russia, were instrumental to Wednesday’s victory.

Striker Romelu Lukaku, who leads his nation in goals scored, came off the bench to get Belgium back into the match by scoring in the 86th minute, setting the scene for Tielemans to force extra time.

“It is a cruel loss, as we were good in the game," Thiaw said. "We had the advantage. We were leading 2-0. However a football match is not an 85-minute one. Belgium came back, and we were not able to deal with that ... We must congratulate Belgium as they progress.”

Belgium is back in the round of 16 for the third time in four tournaments. The team reached the quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals in 2018 but failed to get out of the group stage four years ago in Qatar.

The Belgians will next face either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday in Seattle.

Ismaïla Sarr scored his fourth goal of the World Cup, and one of the most beautiful of the tournament, to give Senegal a 2-0 lead in the 51st minute. He made a perfect first touch off his chest on a long ball from Moussa Niakhaté and then sent his shot past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Senegal, which was without goalkeeper Édouard Mendy because of a knee injury, took the lead on Habib Diarra’s goal in the 25th minute.

Courtois, who is playing in his fourth World Cup, then made three key saves to keep Senegal from increasing its lead.

It’s the second time this year Senegal has been hit with a late penalty in a big game.

In the Africa Cup of Nations final on Jan. 18, Senegal’s players left the field in stoppage time after having a late goal ruled out before Morocco was awarded a potentially game-deciding penalty. There were scuffles between rival players before Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led most of his players off the field.

They returned after about 10 minutes later and play resumed with Morocco midfielder Brahim Díaz having his penalty saved by Mendy. Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye then scored the only goal in extra time, but the victory was taken away in March by the governing body of African soccer and Morocco was awarded a 3-0 default victory.

In Wednesday's match, Senegal defender Pathé Ciss went down with an injury directly on top of the penalty spot in an apparent protest as his teammates argued with the referee. Ciss only moved once it was time for Tielemans to take the shot.

“Well, when the penalty was awarded, we had our own interpretation. We believed that there was no penalty," Thiaw said. "The players tried to challenge the decision. It’s their right. And, then the penalty was taken. And, this is why we were eliminated.”

Senegal had advanced to the knockout round as one of the best third-place finishers, ending up in that spot after playing in a tough group with two-time champion France and the Erling Haaland-led Norway.

Belgium players Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku both surprisingly came off in the 56th minute.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Senegal's Habib Diarra (21) scores their first goal past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, left, and Belgium's Brandon Mechele, right, during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Senegal's Ismaila Sarr (18) is congratulated after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Senegal's Ismaila Sarr (18) scores their second goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (9) celebrates scoring their first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Belgium's Youri Tielemans (8) celebrates after scoring during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)