Switzerland v Colombia: World Cup 2026 last 16 – live | 2026 World Cup
Important events
For those of you waiting to see David Ospina in goal for Colombia, you will probably be disappointed. The 37-year-old former Arsenal goalkeeper is no longer No 1 in his country, although he is on the bench.
Camilo Vargas is Colombia’s first choice these days – at 37 years old, he is by no means a newbie but he has managed to replace Ospina. Vargas plays soccer for his club in Mexico and has a history – involving witchcraft, curses and a very spiritual mother-in-law. Read more in our player guide…
Colombia’s route to the last 16
Group K – P3 W2 D1 L0
Won 3-1 v Uzbekistan, Mexico City
Won 1-0 v DR Congo, Guadalajara
Draw 0-0 v Portugal, Miami
Last 32
Won 1-0 v Ghana, Kansas City
High scores
Daniel Muñoz 2
Luis Díaz, Jaminton Campaz, John Arias 1
Senior assistants
Luis Díaz, Juan Quintero, Gustavo Puerta, Juan Hernández, Luis Suárez 1
Switzerland’s route to the last 16
Group B – P3 W2 D1 L0
Drew 0-0 v Qatar, San Francisco Bay Area
Won 4-1 v Bosnia and Herzegovina, Los Angeles
Won 2-1 v Canada, Vancouver
Last 32
Won 2-0 v Algeria, Vancouver
High scores
Johan Manzambi 3
Breel Embolo, Rubén Vargas 2
Senior assistants
Breel Embolo, Johan Manzambi 2
Rubén Vargas 1
I don’t think I have to tell you who the dangerous men are… although there is no Manzambi today. Milan’s Ardon Jashari starts in his place.
Iván Barton was the referee who came out with that growling voice when he sent off Miguel Almirón for covering his mouth in the group stage, by the way … and that’s at least something to look forward to when we have a VAR update.
Lineups: James Rodríguez starts for Colombia
Both teams have veterans Rodriguez in the XI, Switzerland left-back Ricardo and James retained his place in Colombia after coming off at half-time in the previous round against Ghana.
in Switzerland (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Rieder, Jashari, Ndoye; Number.
Subs: Mvogo, Keller, Muheim, Widmer, Sow, Fassnacht, Vargas, Comert, Okafor, Amdouni, Amenda, Itten.
in Colombia ( 4-3-3 ): Vargas; Muñoz, Sánchez, Lucumí, Mojica; Puerta, Lerma, J Arias; Rodríguez, Suárez, Díaz.
Subs: Ospina, Montero, S Arias, Castano, Rios, Carrascal, Cordoba, Mina, Portilla, Ditta, Hernández, Quintero, Campaz, Machado, Gómez.
Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)
Team news coming soon but one man who will definitely not be involved this afternoon in Vancouver is Johan Manzambi. The Swiss star who emerged from the tournament – who scored three goals and provided two assists – is out due to a knee injury. Michel Aebischer and Luca Jaquez are also not fit to play.
‘Yellow fever’ has reached Vancouver! After Mexico City, Guadalajara, Miami and Kansas City, the mass migration of Colombians has reached its northernmost point.
José Orlando Asencio has been talking to a few of them, including a family trip across America in a minivan…
Argentina await the quarter-final winners on Saturday in Kansas City after a late comeback against Egypt, and Lionel Messi scored one and set up another before Enzo Fernández’s winner.
Scott Murray is about to keep it all together…
And Ed Aarons sums it up well…
Background
Hello and welcome to the last 16 of the World Cup – not much has happened, eh? Everything has gone well so far for Switzerland and Colombia, who topped their groups and advanced to the last 32 with little controversy. In Switzerland, they are looking to take the next step that often eludes them – reaching the quarter finals of the World Cup. Since reaching the last eight of their domestic competition in 1954, they have failed to clear the mark five times and were knocked out of this stage in 2014, 2018. again 2022.
As for Colombia, they are determined to emulate the class of 2014 – and they still have some of those faces hanging around. James Rodríguez is their captain but has struggled to make an impact in this final. Their run in the last 12 years was ended by hosts Brazil and there is no doubt that the quarter-final against Argentina on Saturday will be much appreciated. Their fans, as always, came out in droves.
The curtain is coming down on Canada’s involvement in the World Cup, as Vancouver Stadium hosts its final game of the tournament.
Kick-off is 1pm local time, 4pm EST, 9pm BST and 6am AEST. Let’s go.
