The 2026 World Cup enters the final day of the Round of 16, where four teams will compete for the last two quarter-final berths. Defending champions the Albiceleste will lock horns with the Pharaohs, while European side Switzerland take on South American powerhouse Colombia.
Argentina vs Egypt: Messi vs Salah Epic Clash
Argentina sit 2nd in the FIFA Rankings with a total squad market value of €800 million. In the Round of 32, Argentina fought through 120 gruelling minutes and secured a 3-2 win over Cape Verde thanks to an own goal by Cape Verde’s Diniy from Romero’s header off a corner kick, booking their spot in the last 16.
Head coach Scaloni stated at the pre-match press conference that Nicolás González is doubtful with an ankle injury. Right-back Molina and left-back Medina both left the pitch early due to physical discomfort in the previous game against Cape Verde. On the bright side, Medina only suffered cramping, and Molina’s recovery is looking promising; both are expected to be fit for the Egypt fixture. If any last-minute setbacks arise, Tagliafico and Montiel are ready to step into the starting XI. Midfielder Paredes, who was called up after recovering from injury, is fully fit, and Scaloni confirmed he will feature in the starting lineup.
Scaloni’s Argentina primarily deploy a 4-4-2 formation. The centre-back partnership of Lisandro Martínez and Romero has proven rock-solid. With Paredes confirmed to start, the midfield quartet will likely consist of Paredes, Enzo Fernández, De Paul and Almada, with Lautaro Martínez and captain Messi leading the frontline.
Captain Messi remains Argentina’s undisputed talisman. He has scored in every single one of Argentina’s matches at this World Cup, bagging seven goals to sit joint-top of the scoring charts alongside Mbappé and Haaland. If Messi finds the net against Egypt, he will stand alone as the tournament’s leading marksman and become only the sixth player in World Cup history to score in five consecutive matches at a single finals. Upfront, Lautaro looked off-colour in the last game: he started for 63 minutes without registering a single shot, losing possession four times and being dribbled past on multiple occasions. In midfield, Enzo Fernández is the engine room of the side. He covered 14.74 km and played all 120 minutes in the previous tie. His relentless running is vital for an Argentina squad with an ageing core.
Egypt rank 24th in the FIFA Rankings, with a total squad value of roughly €110 million. They eliminated Australia via a dramatic penalty shootout in the Round of 32, claiming their first-ever knockout stage victory in World Cup history. Head coach Hassan sets his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Midfielder Racin returns from suspension to partner Ateya as the double pivot. Salah, Marmoush and matchwinner Ashour will lead the attacking line. At 34, Salah is Egypt’s creative heartbeat and spiritual leader. Though his explosive pace has faded compared to his peak, his link-up play remains Egypt’s most dangerous attacking weapon. Marmoush, the team’s most valuable player, is yet to score at this World Cup and carries plenty of pressure as a result.
Both Argentina and Egypt endured 120 minutes of extra time in their previous fixtures, leaving both squads fatigued. This clash will test not only tactical nous but also players’ stamina. Argentina hold a clear edge in overall quality and are likely to dominate possession, yet Egypt have gained immense resilience from their tough knockout battles. Stopping Messi and Salah respectively will be the top defensive priority for both sides. Fans wait with bated breath to see whether Salah can inspire Egypt to continue their historic run, or if Messi will steer the defending champions further into the competition.
Match Details
Kickoff time: 18:00 CET on July 7
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Referee: Clément Turpin (France)
Switzerland vs Colombia: Chocolate vs Coffee Beans – Battle for the Final Quarter-Final Spot
Switzerland occupy 15th place in the FIFA Rankings, with a total squad value of €330 million. They beat Algeria 2-0 in the Round of 32, ending an 88-year curse of seven consecutive knockout-stage defeats at the World Cup to secure their first knockout win in nearly a century.
Head coach Yakin favours a four-man backline; the only exception was their opening group game against Qatar, after which they stuck rigidly to four defenders. First-choice goalkeeper Koher guards the net, with the fixed centre-back pairing of Akanji and Elvedi. Left-back Ricardo Rodríguez has played every single minute of Switzerland’s four games, while the right-back slot will go to either Widmer or Zakaria. In midfield, Xhaka and Freuler anchor the side as defensive pivots, excelling at passing and interception, with Xhaka’s long-range shooting a key attacking outlet. Upfront, tournament standout Manzambi left training early and is a doubt to feature, as is Vargas, who also cut short his session. Coach Yakin confirmed the pair are still being assessed for fitness. If both are unavailable, Switzerland will lean heavily on Embolo and Ndaye, with Fabian Rieder and Ebecil also in line for minutes.
Switzerland’s game plan revolves around collective organisation, with tight defensive coverage across all three lines. They sit deep and launch sharp counterattacks exploiting the pace of their frontline. Their opening goal against Algeria came from a rapid transition initiated by captain Xhaka, with only four players committed forward to finish the move. Knowing Colombia boast elite attacking talents such as Díaz and Muñoz, Switzerland will almost certainly prioritise compact defence and counterattacks, refusing to grant Colombia wide open spaces.
Colombia sit 11th in the FIFA Rankings with a squad worth €300 million, meaning the two sides are closely matched in both FIFA ranking and market value. Colombia edged Ghana 1-0 via Arias’ strike in the Round of 32, keeping three successive clean sheets to hit top form.
Head coach Lorenzo deploys a fluid 4-1-2-3 system that morphs into a diamond midfield in possession. Lerma holds the base of the midfield, tasked with defensive screening and ball recovery. Puerta and Arias operate on the flanks, surging forward in attack while dropping back to support full-backs when defending. Captain James Rodríguez lines up as the playmaking No.10, his vision and through balls irreplaceable for Colombia’s attack. When the team drop back to defend, James remains high up the pitch as the side’s sole counterattack outlet, exempt from heavy defensive duties. Upfront, starting centre-forward Córdoba was forced off injured against Ghana and has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Lorenzo will turn to Sporting CP’s Luis Suárez to lead the line. Luis Díaz, the squad’s most valuable player, is Colombia’s primary attacking threat, blessed with blistering acceleration and ruthless finishing ability from the left flank.
The tie’s outcome may hinge on whether Colombia can carve open Switzerland’s compact defence through wide attacks. Díaz will continue to operate as the left-sided matchwinner, using individual dribbles and vertical runs to stretch the opposition backline and create space for teammates inside the box. Switzerland, meanwhile, will avoid open exchange and instead clog central passing lanes to stifle Colombia’s build-up, before launching rapid counterattacks led by Ndaye’s ball-carrying and Embolo’s physical presence. Notably, Switzerland have played their last two matches at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, making this their third fixture at the venue – granting them an advantage in pitch familiarity and fatigue management compared to Colombia. Whichever side prevails will equal their nation’s best-ever World Cup finish: Switzerland previously reached the quarter-finals in 1934, 1938 and 1954, while Colombia’s high-water mark was their 2014 quarter-final run.
Match Details
Kickoff time: 20:00 CET on July 7
Venue: BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, Canada
Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)
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Lamine Yamal sent Nuno Mendes to go prepare Portugal's bags so they won't miss their flight at full-time