Today, the round of 16 stage of the 2026 World Cup will conclude. In the first match of the day, the defending world champion Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will face Egypt, captain Mohamed Salah.
In the second duel of the night, Switzerland and Colombia will compete for a place in the quarterfinals. The winners will face each other in the final quarterfinal match on July 11.
The Argentina - Egypt match kicks off at 20:00.
The live legend of world football, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal bowed out after conceding a last-minute goal to Spain, which has increased the focus on Messi tenfold. This meeting is not just a battle for the quarterfinals but also the next major stage showdown between two football legends - Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah. Since the start of the tournament, Messi has been showing high productivity and is striving to lead his team to the championship once again. Salah, meanwhile, wants to bring his team to such an advanced stage of the World Cup for the first time in Egypt's football history.
Let’s take a look at the World Cup journey both countries have taken so far:
Argentina started the tournament as one of the favorites and has proven this on the field. In the group stage, they secured a confident victory over Algeria. However, they faced tough moments against Austria but still managed to come out victorious. In the last group match, they achieved another success against Jordan. The team advanced to the playoffs as the leader of Group J. In the round of 16, there was a dramatic duel against Cape Verde, in which everyone expected an easy win.
The African representative put up strong resistance against Argentina, but Messi and his teammates secured a 3:2 win, earning a spot in the round of 16. This match is considered Argentina’s toughest test in the tournament so far.
The African representative managed to advance from the group thanks to disciplined defense and counter-attack football. Especially, the goal they conceded in the final moments of the match against Iran caused a shocking situation; however, the subsequent annulment of this goal breathed life into the Egyptians, a moment world football will likely not forget for a long time. In the round of 16, Egypt faced Australia. The match ended 1:1 after regular and extra time. Egypt prevailed in the penalty shootout, making history by advancing to the round of 16. This is one of the most successful World Cups in Egyptian football history.
Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni has not yet fully overcome the shock of the Cape Verde game. Before the match, he stated that this World Cup is a tournament where favorites consistently falter and no opponent should be underestimated.
The Switzerland - Colombia match starts at 00:00.
On paper, this might be the most balanced match of the day. Both teams are among the most disciplined squads of the tournament, and small details could decide the outcome of the match.
Switzerland competed in Group B against Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar. The European representative advanced to the playoffs because of consistent performance. In the round of 16, they faced Algeria and confidently won 2:0 to advance to the round of 16. The team is known in the tournament for its defensive reliability.
Colombia competed in Group K against Portugal, Uzbekistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, advancing to the next round. In the round of 16, they narrowly defeated African representative Ghana. Colombia is noted as one of the teams with the fewest goals conceded so far in the tournament. Solid defense and fast counterattacks are their main strengths.
The main key points of the game are as follows:
Switzerland excels with disciplined defense, superiority in aerial duels, and set pieces.
Colombia stands out for its technical midfield, fast wing players, and ability to create chances through individual skills. There is a high likelihood that this match could extend to extra time and possibly even penalties.
Today’s main stars are undoubtedly Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah. Among them, Lautaro Martinez (Argentina), Granit Xhaka (Switzerland), Luis Diaz (Colombia), and James Rodriguez (Colombia) can also be included.
There are also interesting facts related to these games.
Argentina continues its pursuit to become world champion for the second consecutive time. Messi remains the main leader of his team in this World Cup and ranks among the most productive players of the tournament. Egypt has gained the opportunity to create such a great sensation for the first time in its history at this stage of the World Cup.
Switzerland is noted for its stable results in major tournaments in recent years. Colombia is considered to have one of the most reliable defensive lines in the tournament. //musavat.com