Can the magic ride continue for Lionel Messi or will Switzerland pull off an all-time World Cup shocker?
Defending champion Argentina heads into Saturday’s quarterfinal against Switzerland in Kansas City as a team living on the edge.
Lionel Scaloni’s squad survived a scare against Egypt, erasing a 2-0 deficit in the final minutes to escape with a 3-2 win. Messi, who leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals, remains the World Cup’s main event, but Argentina’s defense has looked vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the Swiss are navigating uncharted territory, reaching their first quarterfinal in 72 years after a penalty shootout win over Colombia. Losing top scorer Johan Manzambi to a knee injury severely damages the team’s chances.
Stay tuned for live updates:
Where to watch Argentina vs Switzerland
Watch every World Cup game with Fubo
What time is Argentina vs Switzerland game?
The matchup kicks off at 9 p.m. ET.
The quarterfinal match is being held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Seth Vertelney: Argentina 1-1 Switzerland (Argentina wins on penalties)
They can’t keep getting away with it, right? Argentina has barely escaped Cape Verde and Egypt in the knockout round, and an organized Swiss side should take them to the limit. In the end, Messi and Co. advance on penalties.
Jon Arnold: Argentina 2-0 Switzerland
Argentina certainly hasn’t been making it easy on itself or on star attacker Lionel Messi. Yet, stylistically this game may look more like the group match against Austria than the Cape Verde or Egypt contests. Advantage, Argentina.
Jesse Yomtov: Argentina 3-0 Switzerland
After being gifted the win against Egypt, Argentina bounces back with a big win in its incredibly easy path to the semifinal.
Victoria Hernandez: Argentina 2-1 Switzerland
I don’t think Argentina is going to repeat its title, but I also don’t think Switzerland is the one who is going to knock out Lionel Messi, especially without Johan Manzambi. La Albiceleste survives one more round.
Argentina lineup today
Lineups will be announced approximately an hour before kickoff
Full rosters for 2026 World Cup teams
Lineups will be announced approximately an hour before kickoff
- 8 goals – Lionel Messi, Argentina 🇦🇷
- 8 goals – Kylian Mbappe, France 🇫🇷
- 7 goals – Erling Haaland, Norway🇳🇴
- 6 goals – Harry Kane, England 🏴
- 5 goals – Ousmane Dembele, France 🇫🇷
Round of 16
- July 4: France def Paraguay – Philadelphia
- July 4: Morocco def Canada – Houston
- July 5: Norway def Brazil – East Rutherford
- July 5: England def Mexico – Mexico City
- July 6: Spain def Portugal – Arlington
- July 6: Belgium def USA – Seattle
- July 7: Argentina def Egypt – Atlanta
- July 7: Switzerland def Colombia – Vancouver
Quarterfinals
- July 9: France def Morocco – Foxborough
- July 10: Spain vs. Belgium – Inglewood
- July 11: Norway vs. England – Miami
- July 11: Argentina vs. Switzerland – Kansas City
Semifinals
- July 14: France vs. Spain – Arlington
- July 15: Norway/England vs. Argentina/Switzerland – Atlanta
Final
- July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Lionel Messi plays his club ball for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and Switzerland is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
- 2022: Argentina
- 2018: France
- 2014: Germany
- 2010: Spain
- 2006: Italy
- 2002: Brazil
- 1998: France
- 1994: Brazil
- 1990: West Germany
- 1986: Argentina
- 1982: Italy
- 1978: Argentina
- 1974: West Germany
- 1970: Brazil
- 1966: England
- 1962: Brazil
- 1958: Brazil
- 1954: West Germany
- 1950: Uruguay
- 1938: Italy
- 1934: Italy
- 1930: Uruguay
Argentina midfielder Enzo Martinez plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi has eight goals through five matches at the 2026 World Cup, breaking the all-time career World Cup scoring record in the process.
The Argentina vs. Switzerland World Cup quarterfinal kicks off at 8 p.m. Central Time.
Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka is 33 years old and spent the 2025-26 season with Sunderland in the English Premier League.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will be played Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Xherdan Shaqiri played in four World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022) for Switzerland but retired from the national team in 2024.
Shaqiri, now 34, plays for Swiss club FC Basel.
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