Switzerland vs Colombia Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Round of 16
This represents a simply brilliant opportunity for both Switzerland and Colombia as they bid for the quarter-finals of FIFA World Cup 2026.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Switzerland preview: Super Swiss
Murat Yakin led Switzerland to the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2024 and they were impressive throughout that campaign before continuing that at this summer’s tournament, having topped Group B ahead of co-hosts Canada with seven points collected.
In the Round of 16, the Swiss put in an impressive performance as they defeated Algeria by two goals to nil. Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye, with Johan Manzambi shining, were enough to ease past the North Africans in Vancouver.
Colombia preview: Entertaining Colombians
Nestor Lorenzo leads a Colombia side into the Round of 16 at FIFA World Cup 2026 in excellent form with the South Americans playing an entertaining style of football, rediscovering the form that saw them reach the final of CONMEBOL Copa America 2024.
The Colombians topped Group K, ahead of one of the pre-tournament favourites Portugal, before edging past the obdurate and difficult-to-beat Ghana by a goal to nil in the Round of 32 courtesy of a strike from former Wolverhampton Wanderers man Jhon Arias.
Switzerland team news: A few injuries
Switzerland will still be expected to name an unchanged side again here with Murat Yakin now settling on an eleven that has included Ruben Vargas and the excellent Johan Manzambi.
However, there were some concerns after training on Monday with Vargas and Manzambi, as well as Djibril Sow, leaving early with Yakin expressing concern over their fitness.
There have been concerns at right-back with Miro Muheim out and Silvan Widmer struggling for form so Denis Zakaria filled in there and performed well against Algeria. Luca Jaquez, who stepped in, is also now a doubt alongside Michel Aebischer.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Ndoye, Manzambi, Vargas; Embolo
Unavailable:
Questionable: Muheim (Fitness), Jaquez (Fitness), Aebischer (Fitness), Sow (Injured), Manzambi (Injured), Vargas (Injured)
Colombia team news: Jhon Cordoba out
After a frustrating group stage for Sporting CP striker Luis Suarez, he was then dropped for Jhon Cordoba but Suarez is now expected to come back into the side with Cordoba missing through for the rest of the tournament after going off just eight minutes into the contest with Ghana.
A flexible system that looks like a 4-2-3-1 as much as a 4-3-3 in-game with James Rodriguez floating, there doesn't appear to be a great need for Nestor Lorenzo to change anything else. James was taken off against Ghana but is fit for this one.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Lerma, Puerta; J. Arias, James, Diaz; Suarez
Unavailable: Cordoba (Injured)
Questionable:
Switzerland’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Ruben Vargas ($6.8m) – Midfielder
Johan Manzambi ($5.6m) – Midfielder
Breel Embolo ($7.5m) – Forward
Matchday 5 captain pick: Breel Embolo
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Granit Xhaka, Breel Embolo
Free kicks: Granit Xhaka
Corners: Ruben Vargas, Fabian Rieder
Colombia’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Daniel Munoz ($4.6m) – Defender
Luis Diaz ($8.1m) – Midfielder
James Rodriguez ($6.5m) – Midfielder
Matchday 5 captain pick: Luis Diaz
Set-piece duty
Penalties: James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz
Free kicks: James Rodriguez
Corners: James Rodriguez, Jhon Arias
Key stats
- Switzerland and Colombia have met once before at the FIFA World Cup, a 2-0 group‑stage win for Colombia in 1994. Overall, the South Americans have won two of their four meetings (D1 L1), most recently a 3-1 friendly victory in Miami in March 2007.
- Switzerland have won only one of their nine World Cup matches against South American teams (D2 L6). That was a 2-1 victory over Ecuador in the 2014 group stage.
- Both Switzerland and Colombia are chasing a place in the quarter‑finals, which would equal their best ever FIFA World Cup finish. Switzerland reached that stage three times — in 1934, 1938 and 1954 — while Colombia’s sole quarter‑final appearance came in 2014.
- Switzerland have lost their last five World Cup round of 16 ties.
- Switzerland have lost only one of their last 18 international matches (W11 D6).
- Switzerland have netted in six successive matches at the World Cup for the first time.
- Colombia’s only World Cup knockout round encounter with a European team was against England in the 2018 round of 16 when they exited via a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw.
- Colombia have prevailed in one of their three World Cup round of 16 ties. That was a 2-0 victory over Uruguay in 2014.
- Colombia have not conceded in the first half of their last seven FIFA World Cup fixtures.
- Colombia have scored in 12 of their last 13 World Cup matches.
- Colombia have won nine of their last 13 World Cup matches (D2 L2).
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
Switzerland vs Colombia prediction
Switzerland have a reputation for playing fairly dull and forgettable football but that hasn’t been the case under Yakin and especially with this squad.
They boast some excellent attackers, headlined by the emerging talent of Manzambi, and will be expected to continue to be strong in the coming years.
They face a Colombia side that play some great football, with the intensity and quality of their attack that consists of Luis Diaz, Jhon Arias and Luis Suarez, ahead of the creative James Rodriguez as well as flying full-backs Johan Mojica and Daniel Munoz.
This should be a really entertaining knockout match and both teams scoring seems a decent bet as they attempt to set up a quarter-final against either Argentina or Egypt.
Switzerland vs Colombia betting tip: Both teams to score
