Riyad Mahrez confirmed retirement from international football after Algeria lost 2-0 to Switzerland at the World Cup in Vancouver. Breel Embolo and Dan
Ndoye scored in each half. The result sent Switzerland into the round of 16, where Murat Yakin's side will meet Colombia or Ghana after a controlled and efficient knockout performance.
Switzerland limited Algeria across the match and created the clearer chances. Switzerland had 11 shots and produced 2.52 expected goals, while Algeria managed eight attempts for 0.73 expected goals. The North African side struggled to turn possession into danger, and Switzerland's disciplined display ensured Algeria could not repeat earlier group-stage comebacks.
Mahrez left the pitch knowing this World Cup match would close an international career spanning 119 caps and 40 goals for Algeria. At 35 years and 131 days, Mahrez became the second-oldest African player to start a World Cup knockout tie, one day after Senegal's Idrissa Gueye started against Belgium aged 36 years and 278 days.
"Our aim was to go through, and I think it was a game we could have won," Mahrez said afterwards. "But we conceded twice from mistakes and, at this level, you can't get away with it. There are always positives to take away; we did manage to get out of the group stage, but we conceded too many goals to aspire for more. This was my last match with Algeria. "
The victory extended Switzerland's campaign and also altered their World Cup history. They ended a run of seven consecutive knockout-stage matches without a win at the tournament, with that sequence reading one draw and six defeats. Their previous knockout victory dated back to 1938, when Switzerland defeated Germany 4-2. Switzerland also won three matches at a single World Cup for the first time.
🚨🇩🇿 OFFICIAL: Riyadh Mahrez announces his retirement from international football, he’s told BeIN Sports.
85 G/A in 119 games for Algeria. 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/LHXmn2lBvG- Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 3, 2026
Yakin praised Switzerland's work without the ball, highlighting the collective structure that restricted Algeria. "It was a very good defensive performance. In every single phase during the match, we defended solidly. We didn't allow any chances. I'd like to praise my entire team, because they did have to suffer, and I think that they scored just at the right moment. I think that we really deserved to move into the next round of this tournament. It was important to score at that momentit was a lucky punch, but after that, I think that we dominated on the pitch, and I'm really happy with the overall performance because we played against very strong individual players. "
Asked about a possible preference between Colombia or Ghana in the next round, Yakin refused to look too far ahead. "There are no easy opponents. Everything has to work out perfectly for us, tactically, football-wise, and the intensity has to be there as well, every single detail. Right now, we're just very happy about this moment. " Algeria missed a chance to equal their 2014 run to the round of 16, while Switzerland now carry historic momentum into the quarter-final chase.
