Mexico has a new World Cup hero: The three stars of Day 8

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Another day is in the books for the World Cup, and as we started the second match day for teams, we’ve started to see the pressure rise across the combatants in North America.

While some rose to the occasion, others wilted under the lofty expectations following the opening round.

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Here are the three stars who defined the day at the World Cup.

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 18: Johan Manzambi #9 of Switzerland celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Los Angeles Stadium on June 18, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

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Bronze Star: Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)

When 20-year-old wunderkind Manzambi is on the bench for Switzerland, the Swiss look like an entirely different team: passive, ineffective, lukewarm. But once the young star got onto the field in Los Angeles on Thursday against Bosnia & Herzegovina, he turned into the game’s main character, scoring twice in exciting fashion. If the Swiss want to make any sort of run this tournament, it feels like Manzambi will need to be at the head of their often maligned attack.

Manzambi is the future of the Swiss national team, and that’s a good thing.

Silver Star: Jonathan David (Canada)

Things can change quickly at the World Cup.

After their first game, Jonathan David was a near pariah for his home country. He kept missing crucial chances in the box for Canada versus a beatable Bosnia squad, and the home Canadians had to leave with a draw. On Thursday, though, he went from outcast to national icon, scoring a hat trick for his team as they won their first game in men’s World Cup history. Canada showed no mercy against Qatar, beating them 6-0 and, for all intents and purposes, booking a spot into the Round of 32.

Gold Star: Raúl Rangel (Mexico)

How do you beat someone who scored a hat trick?

Single-handedly be the difference between your team possibly finishing third in the group and outright winning it with a game to go.

South Korea had the perfect opportunity on a cross in the closing minutes of Thursday’s game to tie it and push things into scary territory for Mexico next week, but Rangel came up huge with several saves in the span of a few seconds to keep the lead and win the game for his country.

No team has a bigger home field advantage than Mexico does at the high altitudes of Estadio Azteca, and now a team will need to beat them there if they want to make it to the Round of 16 of the World Cup.

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