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Switzerland and Colombia will face off in the round of 16 of the on Tuesday, July 7, in a , Canada, with the hope of keeping their dreams of lifting the trophy alive.
Both teams reach this stage after confidently advancing through the Round of 32 without losing a single match in the tournament.
Switzerland eliminated Algeria on July 2 with a decisive 2-0 victory at BC Place in Vancouver, thanks to goals from Breel Embolo (minute 10) and Dan Ndoye (minute 46). This result carries historical significance: it is the first time in five World Cup appearances that the Swiss national team has advanced past the knockout stage in a World Cup.
In the group stage, Switzerland finished at the top of Group B with seven points, with a total of seven goals scored and three conceded: a 1-1 draw against Qatar, a 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a 2-1 win against Canada.
Colombia, for its part, defeated Ghana 1-0 on July 3 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with a goal from Jhon Arias in the 13th minute. The forward is establishing himself as one of the standout players of the tournament and ranks in the top 10 of the most effective players in the 2026 World Cup.
The coffee growers had led Group K undefeated with seven points: a 3-1 victory against Uzbekistan, a 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and a goalless draw against Portugal.
The history between both teams is limited. The only precedent in a World Cup dates back to the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when Colombia defeated Switzerland 2-0 on June 26 of that year, with goals from Hermann Gaviria and Harold Lozano. In the total of four matches played between the two nations, Colombia has two victories compared to one for Switzerland and one draw.
The match on Tuesday, July 7, will be just the second encounter between these teams in a World Cup. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
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