Argentina vs Switzerland - prediction, team news, lineups | World Cup 2026

After surviving a immense brace of scares, Argentina's rubric defence volition proceed connected Saturday, erstwhile they conscionable Switzerland successful the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.

Closing successful connected a 2nd consecutive crown, La Albiceleste tin publication a semi-final day against either England oregon Norway by beating an unfancied Swiss broadside successful Kansas City.

Match preview

Having extricated themselves from a sticky concern against World Cup debutants Cape Verde successful the archetypal knockout round, Argentina managed to excavation their mode retired of an adjacent deeper hole last clip out.

Last-16 opponents Egypt led 2-0 with 11 minutes near connected the clock, but a brave fightback - and immoderate arguable VAR calls - saw Lionel Scaloni's broadside wholly crook the necktie connected its head.

From the brink, Argentina stormed backmost with goals by Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi - who gained redemption for earlier missing a punishment - and Enzo Fernandez, leaving their fans with a acquainted feeling of ecstasy.

It was La Albiceleste's 12th consecutive triumph since past September, and they present basal conscionable 3 much from different sensation of planetary glory.

While Messi and co person surely showed immoderate signs of ageing, their diagnostic operation of accomplishment and grit has taken them this far.

Since losing their opener to Saudi Arabia astatine Qatar 2022, Argentina are unbeaten successful 11 World Cup matches - portion scoring astatine slightest doubly each clip - and that represents their champion specified streak.

History is besides connected the South Americans' side, having won some large tourney meetings with Switzerland - 2-0 successful 1966, past 1-0 8 years agone successful Brazil.

Including those World Cup contests, Switzerland person ne'er beaten Argentina successful 7 erstwhile attempts, summing up the size of their task.

Aiming to scope a first-ever semi-final - they past reached the quarters connected location ungraded successful 1954 - the Swiss person proved coagulated if not spectacular truthful far.

Murat Yakin's men kicked disconnected their run with a dismal gully against Qatar, but they responded by beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 and doling retired a 2-1 decision to tourney co-hosts Canada. 

Having qualified for the knockout signifier arsenic Group B winners, Switzerland past eliminated Algeria earlier progressing past Colombia connected penalties. 

Following a drab goalless draw, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was their leader successful Vancouver, arsenic a tense shootout ended 4-3.

An experienced pragmatist, Yakin sets up his broadside to prioritise defence implicit attack, and that attack has borne fruit: Switzerland are yet to way astatine immoderate constituent crossed this full World Cup campaign, including qualifiers.

Now 1 of six European teams near successful the last eight, they indispensable decision the reigning champions to interruption marque caller crushed for Swiss football.

Argentina World Cup form:

W W W W W W

Argentina signifier (all competitions):

W W W W W W

Switzerland World Cup form:

D W W W W

Switzerland signifier (all competitions):

D D W W W W

Team News

Despite missing from the punishment spot twice, Messi is inactive up successful a adjacent Golden Boot contention with 8 goals truthful far, and Argentina's inspirational skipper volition pb them retired again this weekend.

Either Julian Alvarez oregon Lautaro Martinez - the second of whom acceptable up a precocious victor for Fernandez against Egypt - volition spouse the archetypal antheral to people successful six consecutive World Cup knockout matches.

Another duel for enactment volition instrumentality spot astatine left-back, wherever Facundo Medina and Nicolas Tagliafico proceed their combat for 1 place.

While Scaloni should person a afloat acceptable squad, Yakin has concerns implicit 3 players: Michel Aebischer, Luca Jaquez and potential Premier League people Johan Manzambi.

The second had forced his mode into the starting lineup and scored 3 goals earlier missing Switzerland's past 16 necktie with a genu injury; AC Milan's Ardon Jashari took his spot and could beryllium retained.

Leading the enactment up front, Breel Embolo has been straight progressive successful 13 goals crossed his past 17 planetary appearances. 

Though helium failed to grounds a changeable and managed conscionable 1 interaction successful the absorption container against Colombia, the Rennes striker should spot disconnected contention from Zeki Amdouni and Cedric Itten.

Argentina imaginable starting lineup:

E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, La. Martinez

Switzerland imaginable starting lineup:

Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Jashari, Xhaka, Freuler; Ndoye, Embolo, Vargas

We say: Argentina 2-1 Switzerland

It has been a rocky roadworthy done the knockout rounds, but Argentina person besides demonstrated heavy reserves of resilience and an undimmed quality to excavation deep.

One of the tourney favourites according to Sports Mole's World Cup betting guide, the South American giants tin bushed a coagulated Swiss broadside and stride person to retaining the trophy.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.