Last Updated on 08/07/2026 by TinHN Editor
Argentina vs Switzerland kicks off at 9:00pm ET on Saturday, July 11 (8:00pm local) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. It’s the last of the four World Cup 2026 quarterfinals, with the winner advancing to a semifinal against the victor of Norway vs England.
Road to the quarterfinal: Argentina’s back-to-back comebacks, Switzerland’s first appearance since 1954
Argentina’s route to the last eight has been anything but smooth. In the round of 32, the defending champions needed extra time to see off Cape Verde 3-2. Against Egypt in the round of 16, they faced an even sterner test, trailing 2-0 as late as the 67th minute before goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández in the final 20 minutes completed a 3-2 comeback win.
Switzerland’s path has been steadier: unbeaten in the group stage (a draw with Qatar, wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada), followed by a 2-0 win over Algeria in the round of 32. Their round of 16 tie with Colombia finished 0-0 after extra time, and Switzerland eventually prevailed 4-3 on penalties, with Rubén Vargas converting the winning kick. It’s Switzerland’s first World Cup quarterfinal appearance since 1954 — a historic milestone for Swiss football.
Squad and injury news
For Argentina, Nicolás González (ankle) and Nahuel Medina (physical discomfort) were monitored closely before the Egypt match but have since recovered and are available. Messi played the full 90 minutes in the last round with no apparent fatigue issues.
For Switzerland, breakout forward Johan Manzambi — one of the tournament’s most exciting young talents — left training early with fatigue before the Colombia match but recovered in time to play all 120 minutes. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel remains a key figure after his standout performance in the penalty shootout.
Tactical analysis: Argentina’s attacking firepower vs Switzerland’s compact defense
Argentina operate a 4-3-3 built around Messi’s individual creativity and set-piece quality — the winning goal against Egypt came from a Messi cross. However, Argentina’s backline has looked shaky in both knockout matches so far, giving opponents openings to exploit.
Switzerland are built on discipline and defensive organization, anchored by captain Granit Xhaka in midfield. Gregor Kobel has been one of the tournament’s standout goalkeepers, while center-backs Akanji and Elvedi form a well-drilled unit suited to a compact, counter-attacking approach.
Predicted lineups
Argentina (4-3-3): Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Mac Allister; Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez
Switzerland (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Rodriguez, Elvedi, Akanji, Zakaria; Freuler, Xhaka; Ndoye, Manzambi, Vargas; Embolo
Head-to-head history and an Opta model prediction
The two sides have met once before at a World Cup, in the 2014 round of 16, when Argentina won 1-0 after extra time thanks to an Ángel Di María goal — the only prior meeting between the nations at the tournament. According to the Opta supercomputer model, Argentina are given a 62.84% chance of advancing to the semifinal, with Switzerland at 37.16%.
How to watch
Argentina vs Switzerland airs live on Fox Sports (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) in the United States. Kickoff is 9:00pm ET on Saturday, July 11, 2026.