Kansas City: Argentina faces Switzerland in World Cup quarterfinal

By Kwame Ofori — 11 July 2026 — 4 min read

Argentina’s path to the quarterfinals

Argentina, the reigning champions, are set to face Switzerland in a FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal match. The game will take place at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, on Saturday at 8pm (01:00 GMT on Sunday).

Argentina had a strong start in the group stage, topping Group J after victories against Austria, Jordan, and Algeria. However, their knockout phase performances have been less convincing. In the round of 32, they narrowly defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time. Their last-16 match against Egypt saw them come back from a two-goal deficit to win 3-2, a game that also drew allegations of officiating bias.

These recent performances have led to questions about Argentina’s ability to retain their title. The team has slipped from the top spot to number two in the FIFA rankings and is now fourth among the favourites for the tournament.

Switzerland’s quiet resurgence

Switzerland, on the other hand, has made a notable return to the quarterfinals, reaching this stage for the first time in 72 years. They topped Group B with an unbeaten record, securing wins against Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and drawing with Qatar. In the round of 32, they defeated Algeria 2-0, and then advanced past Colombia with a 4-3 victory in a penalty shootout.

The Swiss team is looking to avenge a World Cup defeat by Argentina in 2014. Swiss coach Murat Yakin expressed confidence, stating, “We’re up against the defending champions, which is a unique opportunity. At the same time, we’ve realised that Argentina are not invincible.” This sentiment reflects a belief within the Swiss camp that an upset is possible.

Switzerland midfielder Denis Zakaria acknowledged Lionel Messi’s brilliance but emphasized the team’s ability to identify and exploit weaknesses in the Argentine squad. He stated that while Messi is a difficult player to stop, the Swiss possess the quality and players to contain him. Forward Zeki Amdouni echoed this, noting that they have studied Argentina and believe they can find space to create opportunities.

Messi’s role and fitness

At 39 years old, Lionel Messi continues to be a central figure for Argentina. He has maintained a perfect scoring record in the tournament, finding the net in all five of Argentina’s matches so far. With eight goals, he is currently second in the Golden Boot race, tied with France’s Kylian Mbappe, who has played one more game.

Despite admitting fatigue after playing 120 minutes against Cape Verde and a demanding match against Egypt, Messi’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, has dismissed concerns about his workload. Scaloni stated that tracking data shows Messi is covering a similar distance as in previous tournaments and is in peak physical condition. He also affirmed Messi’s freedom regarding penalty duties and tactical positioning on the field, noting that the team adapts to his movements.

Scaloni highlighted Messi’s enduring goal-scoring instincts, remarking that his performance at 39 continues to defy expectations. He added that the team is motivated by the knowledge that this is likely Messi’s final World Cup. The winner of this quarterfinal match will advance to face either Norway or England in the semifinals in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Historically, Argentina and Switzerland have met seven times. Argentina has won five of these encounters, with two matches ending in a draw. Argentina also won both of their previous World Cup meetings: 2-0 in a group game in 1966 and 1-0 in the round of 16 in 2014, which was their last competitive fixture.

For the upcoming match, no injuries have been reported in the Argentina camp. However, Switzerland will be without Johan Manzambi and Jaquez due to knee and muscle injuries, respectively, while Aebischer is listed as doubtful. Manzambi, a 20-year-old breakout star for Switzerland, also missed their last game.

The Opta supercomputer predicts Argentina has a 57.1 percent chance of winning in regulation time, while Switzerland’s chances are estimated at 18.7 percent. There is a 24.2 percent probability of the game extending into extra time.

Argentina’s predicted lineup is (4-1-3-2): Martinez (goalkeeper); Molina, Romero, Lisandro, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister; Messi, Lautaro. Switzerland’s predicted lineup is (4-2-3-1): Kobel (goalkeeper); Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Vargas, Rieder, Ndoye; Embolo.

Source: aljazeera.com