Swiss forward Johan Manzambi climbs from lower‑division to World Cup in 18 months

Johan Manzambi, a 19‑year‑old Swiss striker, moved from Germany’s fourth division to SC Fribourg’s first team in early 2025, scoring his debut goal against Mönchengladbach and quickly becoming a regular starter. His performances earned the attention of Swiss national coach Murat Yakin, leading to a call‑up for the United States tour where he starred against Mexico and the United States.

In the World Cup qualifiers Manzambi came off the bench to score twice against Sweden, helping secure Switzerland’s passage to the 2026 tournament. A three‑match Bundesliga suspension in February 2026 followed a violent incident, but he returned to score a long‑range strike versus Bayern Munich and shone in the Europa League, being named the competition’s revelation after a strong showing against Braga. At the 2026 World Cup he entered as a substitute, then scored a four‑goal haul against Bosnia, solidifying his place in the national squad.