The Path to the Quarterfinals
The 2026 World Cup action continues this Tuesday with the final two fixtures of the Round of 16. With the tournament intensity ramping up, here is a preview of the upcoming matchups for Day 27.
Argentina vs. Egypt
Argentina remains on a mission to become the first nation to successfully defend its World Cup title since Brazil achieved the feat in 1962. After surviving a tense 3-2 extra-time victory against Cape Verde in the previous round, Lionel Messi and his teammates face a disciplined Egyptian side.
Lionel Messi has been in exceptional form, finding the net in every one of Argentina's four matches so far. He is currently competing in a high-stakes race for the Golden Boot, aiming to surpass Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, arrives at this stage after securing a historic victory over Australia via penalty kicks. The Egyptian defense has proven to be a difficult nut to crack, conceding only one goal in each of their four tournament games.
Switzerland vs. Colombia
Colombia enters this contest with a formidable defensive record, having maintained clean sheets in their last three outings against DR Congo, Portugal, and Ghana. While their defense is solid, their offense has been more measured, scoring only twice across those same three matches.
The team will face a tactical challenge following an injury to striker Jhon Córdoba, who suffered a left adductor tear in the match against Ghana. Consequently, the burden of creativity and ball retention will fall on Luis Díaz and Luis Suárez.
For Switzerland, this marks their fourth consecutive appearance in the Round of 16. Following a 2-0 victory over Algeria, they are now looking to break a long-standing dry spell. As noted in historical records, the Swiss have not reached the quarterfinals since they hosted the competition in 1954. Their scoring efforts have been balanced, with Johan Manzambi leading the charge with three goals, supported by two goals each from Breel Embolo and Rubén Vargas.