World Cup 2026 pages
Sports · World Cup 2026 · Quarter-final
Argentinavs
Switzerland
Saturday, July 11, 2026 · 9:00 p.m. ET · Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium), Kansas City, MO
Watch: FOX · Telemundo
Prediction
Argentina to advance. Scaloni's reigning champions have won all five matches — including a stirring comeback from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 — and Lionel Messi leads the tournament with eight goals. Switzerland reached a first quarter-final since 1954 the hard way, edging Colombia on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, and Murat Yakin's side defend stoutly behind Granit Xhaka. But Argentina carry far more firepower — Messi, Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez in reserve — and should have too much. Argentina by two, though the Swiss will make them work for it.
The case for Argentina
68% to winArgentina are the world champions, unbeaten and peaking at the right time — five wins from five, a rescue act against Egypt that showed their nerve, and Lionel Messi orchestrating everything with eight goals already. Behind him, Scaloni can call on Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez and a midfield of Mac Allister, De Paul and Enzo Fernández that controls tempo against anyone. Against a Switzerland side that has scored just once across its last two knockout games, Argentina's quality in the final third should be decisive.
The case for Switzerland
12% to winSwitzerland have made a habit of the improbable — clean sheets in normal time through the knockouts, a shootout won against Colombia, and a defensive structure under Murat Yakin that frustrates better sides. Gregor Kobel is in form, Granit Xhaka drives them from deep, and if they can keep it tight and drag Argentina into another tense, low-scoring night, penalties are a leveller they have already survived once. Beating the champions would be the upset of the tournament — but they are built to make it awkward.
Both cases written 2026-07-08, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 20% belongs to the draw.
Argentina 4-1-3-24-2-3-1 SwitzerlandAt this Stage
The champions against the survivors. Argentina have won all five games — a perfect Group J, Cabo Verde beaten in extra time, and a stunning recovery from 2-0 down to see off Egypt 3-2, Lionel Messi conducting it all with a tournament-high eight goals. Switzerland arrive from the opposite pole: goalless against Colombia for 120 minutes, then ice-cold from the spot to win a shootout and reach their first quarter-final since 1954. Murat Yakin's side do not concede easily and have Gregor Kobel and Granit Xhaka to lean on, but no one at this World Cup carries Argentina's firepower. Win in Kansas City and it is an Atlanta semi-final against Norway or England — and, for Argentina, another step toward defending the crown.
Round of 16
Quarter-final
Semi-final
The briefing
Storylines
- Argentina, the reigning champions, have won all five matches; Lionel Messi leads the tournament with eight goals after a comeback from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2.
- Switzerland have reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, edging Colombia on penalties after a goalless round-of-16 tie.
- Switzerland are without the injured Johan Manzambi (knee); Argentina come through with a largely clean bill of health.
- The winner meets Norway or England in an Atlanta semi-final on 15 July.
The coaches
Lionel Scaloni Argentina
Guided Argentina to the 2022 title and has them unbeaten again, built around Messi and a settled, tournament-tested spine.
Murat Yakin Switzerland
Switzerland's coach has them defensively resolute in a compact 4-2-3-1; took them to a first World Cup quarter-final since 1954 via penalties past Colombia.
Availability
| Johan Manzambi | Out — a knee injury has ruled the breakout midfielder out; Fabian Rieder continues at No. 10 | Sports Illustrated / RotoWire |
| Lionel Messi | Available — fit and in form, having scored twice in the comeback win over Egypt | ESPN / NBC match |
Availability drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Watch: FOX in English (free over the air, stream free on Tubi, or on Fox One) and Telemundo in Spanish (stream on Peacock or the Telemundo app). (FOX Sports / Telemundo World Cup quarter-final TV schedule (7 Jul 2026), as of 2026-07-08)
Weather: Arrowhead Stadium is open-air; a warm, muggy summer night in Kansas City is likely, with a specific forecast to be added closer to kickoff. (Venue note (open-air); NWS forecast to be confirmed, as of 2026-07-08)
Venue: Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium), Kansas City, MO, United States — FIFA strips sponsor names for the tournament; the everyday name is in parentheses.