Switzerland prepares for Argentina quarter-final clash at World Cup
11.07.2026
Switzerland is set to face Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, July 11, marking their first appearance at this stage of the tournament in 72 years. The match will take place at Kansas City Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the action live on FOX in English and on Telemundo and Peacock in Spanish.
Despite the historic achievement, the Swiss team acknowledges the formidable challenge posed by Argentina, particularly their captain, Lionel Messi. Switzerland midfielder Denis Zakaria described Argentina as the best team in the world and Messi as an outstanding player, but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete.
Swiss preparations and confidence
Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka admitted on Friday, July 10, that it would be difficult to stop Messi for the entire 90 minutes. However, he also highlighted the qualities of the Swiss squad, stating, “Few people talk about Switzerland’s qualities. However, you’ll see we have many qualities.” Xhaka emphasized that the team would demonstrate their capabilities on the pitch.
Zakaria echoed this sentiment, noting that while Messi is a key player, Argentina is not solely dependent on him. He stressed the importance of a collective effort to contain the opposing team. “We know that Messi is the best or one of the best players in the world, but in the end, Argentina are not only Messi. Other players are good and we know that we don’t have to be only focused on Messi,” Zakaria said.
Forward Zeki Amdouni also praised Messi but indicated that Switzerland has identified potential weaknesses in the defending champions. He stated, “We’ve studied them and we’ll continue to do so today. I think there is space, and if we’re here today, it’s because we can hurt them too.”
The Swiss team has had a strong run in the tournament, winning their group with victories over Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar. In the knockout stages, they eliminated Algeria with a 2-0 result in the Round of 32 and advanced past Colombia in the Round of 16 after a penalty shootout following a goalless draw.
Argentina’s path to the quarter-finals
Argentina, led by Messi and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, secured their spot in the quarter-finals after a dramatic comeback victory against Egypt, winning 3-2 in the Round of 16. Messi scored Argentina‘s second goal in that match and also provided an assist. This goal brought his total World Cup goals to 21, extending his lead as the top scorer in the competition’s history.
In this edition of the World Cup, Messi has scored eight goals, sharing the lead in the scoring charts. He also made history by becoming the first player to score in six consecutive knockout stage matches and in nine consecutive matches overall in the global competition. Additionally, the match against Egypt marked his 31st appearance in FIFA World Cup history, an unprecedented achievement.
Argentina had a perfect record in Group J, starting with a 3-0 win over Algeria, followed by a 2-0 victory against Austria, and a 3-1 win over Jordan. Their path to the quarter-finals also included a 3-2 win against Cape Verde in the Round of 16 prior to defeating Egypt.
This upcoming match will be the eighth encounter between Argentina and Switzerland in their history and their third at a FIFA World Cup. Argentina has remained unbeaten in their previous meetings, with five wins and two draws. Their past World Cup victories against Switzerland include a 2-0 group stage win in England in 1966 and a 1-0 win in the Round of 16 in Brazil in 2014.
Xhaka, who was part of the 2014 squad along with Ricardo Rodriguez, noted that the upcoming match is “completely different” from the 2014 encounter. Switzerland is prepared for a tough battle, with Zakaria stating, “We have to be prepared to sleep well and to be ready for the fight tomorrow.”
Messi has a decorated international career, having led Argentina to the 2021 and 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América titles and the 2022 CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions crown, in addition to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title. He holds the records for most caps (204) and most goals (125) for Argentina.
De Paul is participating in his second World Cup, having played a crucial role in Argentina‘s 2022 triumph. He was also a key figure alongside Messi in the 2021 and 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América and 2022 CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions victories. He has earned 91 caps for Argentina, scoring two times.
The quarter-final match between Argentina and Switzerland is scheduled for Saturday, July 11.
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Source: eu.usatoday.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.