Argentina vs Switzerland Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Quarter-Final
Argentina have stumbled their way into the quarter-finals as they defend the FIFA World Cup with the South Americans now taking on a strong Switzerland side in Kansas City.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Argentina preview: Can’t keep Messi down
Argentina were staring down the barrel of elimination with just over ten minutes to go in their Round of 16 tie in Atlanta against Egypt. The Argentinians were 2-0 down with star man Lionel Messi on the periphery of things, having earlier missed a penalty.
He then, inevitably, produced a pinpoint cross for Cristian Romero to get one back before controlling a tough half volley to fire past Mostafa Shobeir to equalise. Enzo Fernandez’ smart header in stoppage time then gave Argentina their reprieve and progression into the last eight.
Prior to that, Argentina had been taken to extra-time by debutant minnows Cabo Verde in Miami. It even looked as though, after Sidny Lopes Cabral’s stunner to make it 2-2 in extra-time, that Cabo Verde had more energy and may pinch the win before Diney put through his own goal under pressure from Romero from a Messi corner.
Switzerland preview: Strong Swiss
Switzerland are often overlooked for playing a fairly conservative style of football and never having a moment or match to really win the hearts of neutrals but, under Murat Yakin, they have continued to steadily progress. Always on the periphery of the elite in international football, the Swiss are surely beginning to bang that door down.
They were knocked out by England and Spain in each of the last two UEFA European Championships in the quarter-finals on penalties, following famous wins against Italy and France respectively. Switzerland won first-round ties in 1934 and 1938 but had not won a knockout match until their two victories this summer, and they are now in the quarter-finals for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1954.
The Swiss didn’t revert to their traditionally conservative style but a lack of quality from both sides did lead to 120 goalless minutes against Colombia in the Round of 16 in Vancouver. However, despite Manuel Akanji’s missed penalty, the Europeans did defeat the South Americans in the shootout.
Argentina team news: A lack of width
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences…
Argentina have enjoyed major success in international football over the last half a decade but there are concerns that Lionel Scaloni has become too loyal to some of his stars and perhaps too conservative in building everything around Messi, albeit that is a fair thing to do given his form.
Their diamond shape against the Egyptians saw Leandro Paredes come in alongside Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister. One feasible tweak to make them more proactive is to bring in Nico Paz or Thiago Almada, likely for De Paul given Paredes’ strong performance against Egypt, but even that remains unlikely.
It can be argued that Lisandro Martinez was at fault for both of Egypt's goals last time out, so Scaloni does have the option of turning to ageing warrior Nicolas Otamendi in the heart of defence.
Having been named on the bench against Egypt, it also wouldn't be a surprise to see Facundo Medina come back in at left-back, with Nicolas Tagliafico dropping back out.
Predicted XI (4-1-2-1-2): E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Medina; Paredes; De Paul, Mac Allister; Fernandez; Messi, Alvarez
Unavailable:
Questionable: Medina (Fitness)
Switzerland team news: Manzambi injury
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences…
On the eve of their Round of 16 tie against Colombia, Johan Manzambi had to finish training early due to injury alongside Ruben Vargas and Djibril Sow. Manzambi was then not in the squad with Vargas and Sow both on the bench. Both did come on, with Vargas scoring their winning penalty in the shootout.
There would surely therefore be an expectation that Vargas comes back into the eleven but the absence of Manzambi is a major one, given how he has transformed the way in which the Swiss play in this tournament.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Vargas, Jashari, Ndoye; Embolo
Unavailable:
Questionable: Jaquez (Injured), Aebischer (Injured), Manzambi (Injured)
Argentina’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Cristian Romero ($4.9m) – Defender
Enzo Fernandez ($7.5m) – Midfielder
Lionel Messi ($10.0m) – Forward
Matchday 6 captain pick: Lionel Messi
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Lionel Messi
Free kicks: Lionel Messi
Corners: Lionel Messi
Switzerland’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Ricardo Rodriguez ($4.5m) – Defender
Ruben Vargas ($6.8m) – Midfielder
Breel Embolo ($7.5m) – Forward
Matchday 6 captain pick: Breel Embolo
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Granit Xhaka, Breel Embolo
Free kicks: Granit Xhaka
Corners: Ruben Vargas, Fabian Rieder
Key stats
- Argentina have won both their World Cup encounters with Switzerland, 2-0 in the 1966 group stage and 1-0 after extra-time in the 2014 round of 16. Overall, the South Americans are unbeaten in their seven meetings (W5 D2).
- Argentina are unbeaten in their last 11 FIFA World Cup matches (W9 D2), their longest unbeaten run in tournament history.
- Argentina are aiming to win six successive World Cup matches for the first time.
- Argentina have won nine of their last 11 knockout matches at the World Cup.
- Lionel Messi has scored in a record-extending nine successive fixtures at the FIFA World Cup.
- Lionel Messi has scored in six successive knockout-round matches dating back to 2022.
- Argentina have scored two goals or more in their last 11 World Cup matches, equalling Uruguay’s record from 1930-1954.
- Argentina have scored in their last 14 World Cup fixtures, the most successive games in which they have found the net at the global showpiece.
- Switzerland have reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.
- Switzerland are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time, having lost three times in the quarter-finals (1934, 1938 and 1954).
- Switzerland have lost only one of their last 19 international matches (W11 D7).
- Switzerland have kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since a five-match run spanning the 2006 and 2010 editions.
- Respective head coaches Lionel Scaloni (Argentina) and Murat Yakin (Switzerland) played against each other once in the UEFA Champions League, when Yakin’s Basel beat Scaloni’s Deportivo La Coruña 1-0 at home in the third match of the 2002/03 second group stage, Yakin’s brother Hakan scoring the winning goal. Scaloni took part in the return fixture in Spain a week later – another 1-0 home win – but Murat Yakin did not.
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Argentina vs Switzerland prediction
Argentina eased through what was a fairly soft group that contained Algeria, Austria and Jordan; while Switzerland won Group B, despite beginning with a shock 1-1 draw against Qatar in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Argentina have been involved in some real thrillers in the knockout stages and their five games have now consisted of 19 goals, conceding five in their last three matches. Switzerland have a lot of depth in the final third and they will believe they can get at the Argentinians here.
Backing against Argentina in any situation seems very risky, simply because of Messi. However, backing against their defence to be porous again is less risky, especially against a Switzerland side that are unlikely to be as wasteful and ineffective in the final third as they were against the Colombians.
Argentina vs Switzerland betting tip: Switzerland to score two or more goals
