At the Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, USA, the Czech Republic and South Africa drew 1-1 in a dramatic match. Michal Sadilek scored for the Czech Republic in the 6th minute. In the 81st minute, South Africa was awarded a penalty due to a handball in the penalty area by a Czech player. Teboho Mokoena leveled the score at 1-1.
Female referee Tori Penso and her two American assistants were in the spotlight as they are the first all-American refereeing team to officiate a men's World Cup match. Penso made history as the first American woman ever selected to referee a men’s FIFA World Cup match. The appointment also made Penso the second woman in history to serve as the main referee at the biggest men's football tournament on the planet, after Stéphanie Frappart at the 2022 World Cup.
In the subsequent match in Los Angeles (USA), the Swiss team defeated Bosnia & Herzegovina 4-1. The balanced game was maintained for over 70 minutes. In the 74th minute, Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi scored the opening goal. The Swiss players went on to score three more goals with strikes from Ruben Vargas (84’), Johan Manzambi (90’), and Granit Xhaka with a penalty in the 90+7th minute.
Bosnia & Herzegovina's only goal was scored by Ermin Mahmic in the 90+3rd minute. Manzambi became the youngest substitute to score a brace at the World Cup, at the age of 20 years and 247 days.
