Vancouver [Canada], June 25: A successful strike from veteran Hassan Al Haydos just before half time raised hopes of a spirited Qatar comeback but later fortune failed to favour Al Annabi as a second-goal attempt from Pedro Miguel ended up in the ball getting deflected of the bottom left post before Bosnia and Herzegovina went on to win 3-1 in the final game in Group B of FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Seattle Stadium on Wednesday.
Qatar bowed out in the group stage while Bosnia, who sit third and have high hopes of reaching the next round with four points.
Co-hosts Canada qualified for knock-out stages for the first time but lost out on top spot and a Vancouver last-32 game to Switzerland after a 2-1 defeat.
Second-half goals from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi meant the Swiss finished top of Group B on seven points and the Canadians ended up in second spot on four, above Bosnia and Herzegovina on goal difference, despite Promise David's goal.
The best eight out of the 12 third-placed teams go through to the first knock-out round in the expanded 48-nation tournament. The third-placed rankings will only be confirmed at the end of the group stage.
Goals from Bosnia's youngest ever World Cup player, 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, and an own goal by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada looked to have put the Bosnia in the box seat.
However, Qatar made a game of it when Al Haydos pulled one back late in the first-half.
Ermin Mahmic then put the game beyond Qatar when he scored for the second successive match in the 80th minute.
Bosnia flew out of the blocks as soon as the whistle went, testing Abunada twice inside the first four minutes.
First Abunada denied Ermedin Demirovic's fierce drive and then he tipped away Ivan Sunjic's shot.
Bosnia's dominance finally paid off but it was not to be 40-year-old talisman Edin Dzeko who broke the deadlock but the sublimely-talented teenage left wing.
Abunada was unable to do anything about Alajbegovic's screamer from outside the area, after he had beaten two players.
The youngster was mobbed by his team-mates and once they had trotted back to the halfway line he stood and milked the moment, putting a finger to his lips.
Dzeko, winning his 150th cap, came more and more into the game and not wishing to have his thunder stolen by the new kid on the block he played an integral role in their second five minutes later.
His shot took a wicked deflection off Al Brake and then Abunada on its way into the net.
Dzeko was well into his stride now and he broke clear a few minutes later, his shot beating Abunada but rebounding off the post.
Bosnia's earlier sprightliness dipped in the heat and it was the doyen of Qatari football al- Haydos who repaid coach Julen Lopetegui's faith in slotting home in the 42nd minute.
The Bosnian defence failed to learn from that and in time added on they had the far post to thank for keeping their noses in front as Pedro Miguel's shot came back off it.
Al Haydos's World Cup, and perhaps his distinguished international career, ended in tears as he trudged disconsolately off the pitch injured in the 55th minute.
Chances were few and far between until Esmir stole in from the right wing and came close to emulating Alajbegovic's effort but Abunada turned it away for a corner.
Bosnian frustration gave way to ecstasy when Mahmic prodded the ball home and ripped off his shirt in celebration and the 21-year-old was booked for doing so.
In Vancouver, Breel Embolo missed a gilt-edged chance on 10 minutes for the Swiss but the first half was largely scrappy, which suited the sides given a draw put them both through.
But right at the start of the second half, Vargas found space at the far post to control a cross and finish into the bottom corner.
Freiburg's much-hyped playmaker Manzambi then fired in on 57 minutes with a shot Maxime Crepeau should have saved.
"We had a lot of fun, I scored a goal, I saw a good set-up today in the team," Manzambi said.
BC Place had suddenly fell silent but the hosts still have reasons to be pleased, especially with David's superb finish on 76 soon after coming off the bench. They pushed for a leveller, but it was all too late.
Canada, watched again in the stadium by Prime Minister Mark Carney, racked up their maiden World Cup point in the opening 1-1 draw with the Bosnia.
Now they are celebrating a first knock-out qualification in their third men's World Cup, even if top spot would have been extra important given it would have meant staying in Vancouver against a third-placed team from Group E, F, G, I or J on July 2.
Instead Switzerland stay in Vancouver and Canada will go to Inglewood in Los Angeles County to play the second side in Group A on Sunday.
Canada's progression guarantees that all three co-hosts are in the last 32, with Mexico and the United States already having qualified.
Source: Qatar Tribune
