A quarter-final tie with holders Argentina or Egypt awaits the winner in what is the final fixture on Canadian soil.
Round of 16
Wednesday, 8 July | BC Place Vancouver
Kick-off time
04:00 (GMT+8)
The match
Belief is growing in the Switzerland camp after the Nati followed up their FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group B-topping campaign with an impressive 2-0 win over Algeria in the Round of 32. A side with World Cup quarter-final pedigree in 1934, 1938 and 1954, Switzerland have often struggled for consistency in the modern knockout era, but the Swiss clockwork is beginning to tick in North America. Twenty-year-old midfielder Johan Manzambi has emerged as one of the key cogs in Murat Yakin’s well-oiled machine, with the Freiburg star registering three goals and two assists so far.
Like Switzerland, Colombia are unbeaten in four matches at the 2026 World Cup. After wins over Uzbekistan and Congo DR, La Sele topped Group K with a goalless draw against Portugal – the only game they have failed to win or score in – before underlining their dark-horse credentials with a composed 1-0 victory against Ghana in the Round of 32. With just one goal conceded, Nestor Lorenzo’s men have been one of the tournament’s toughest nuts to crack, while the fearsome Luis Diaz and 2014 World Cup Golden Ball winner James Rodriguez provide the attacking magic capable of changing a game in an instant.
Switzerland possible starting XI
Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Ndoye, Manzambi, Vargas; Embolo
Colombia possible starting XI
Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Lerma, Puerta; J. Arias, James, Diaz; Suarez
Previous World Cup meetings
Colombia and Switzerland met for the first time in their final group-stage match at the 1994 World Cup. Hernan Gaviria and Harold Lozano scored at Stanford Stadium as La Sele signed off with a 2-0 win, though they still finished bottom of the group and were eliminated. Despite the defeat, Switzerland progressed to the knockout stage as runners-up behind Romania, with hosts USA also advancing.
What they said…
“You don’t always get to play a Round of 16 match at the World Cup. I’m thrilled and excited, as are all the players. We know this will be an intense match and these matches are usually decided by big players. If we hold our ground, play our style and put a lot of stress on the opponent then we will see what can happen.” Murat Yakin, Switzerland coach
“Switzerland are good in attack and defence. Their head coach has been with them for four or five years, I believe. They’ve been in two World Cups, some of them went to Qatar and they’re highly experienced. So it is going to be a tough match against a pretty good team. Jhon Cordoba has a torn muscle. Unfortunately, he will not be present for the rest of the tournament. We have lost him, but the rest of them are fully recovered.” Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia coach