The final two round of 16 matches take place today at World Cup 2026, with the remaining two quarter-final places up for grabs.
First up, holders Argentina face Egypt at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 5pm on Tuesday (UK time), before Switzerland take on Colombia at 9pm in Vancouver.
Here are the key World Cup 2026 stats ahead of today’s two games.
Key stats for Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia
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Argentina vs Egypt
- Argentina key stat: Lionel Messi could become only the sixth player to score in their opening five games of a World Cup after Just Fontaine (1958), Jairzinho (1970), Gerd Muller (1970), Rivaldo (2002), and James Rodriguez (2014).
- Egypt key stat: The Pharaohs are bidding to become only the fifth African country to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, after Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), Ghana (2010), and Morocco (2022 & 2026).
Argentina have won each of their last 10 matches, including all four games at World Cup 2026. Two of those wins this tournament have been against Algeria and Cape Verde, and if they go on to overcome Egypt in the last-16, it will be their ninth successive World Cup win against African countries.
Argentina have won five of their last six last-16 matches, the exception being a 4-3 defeat to France in 2018. Italy (1986) are the last defending champions to go out at this stage of the tournament.
The goals have been flowing for Argentina who could equal Uruguay’s record of scoring two or more goals in 11 straight World Cup matches. Lionel Messi has contributed seven of his country’s 11 goals this tournament, which puts him level with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race.
Those seven goals have been spread out across four games, giving Messi the opportunity to become only the sixth player to score in their opening five games of a World Cup after Just Fontaine (1958), Jairzinho (1970), Gerd Muller (1970), Rivaldo (2002), and most recently James Rodriguez (2014).
If Messi does score, he will draw level with Guillermo Stabile (8 goals in 1930) as the highest-scoring Argentinian at a single World Cup. It would also equal Mbappe’s eight goal haul from 2022, with no player scoring more than eight goals at a World Cup since Gerd Muller smashed in 10 for Germany back in 1970.
READ – Argentina vs Egypt: predictions, best bets, odds and stats
Egypt head into the round of 16 unbeaten after making history by defeating Australia on penalties to secure their first-ever World Cup knockout victory.
The Pharaohs now face their toughest challenge yet against reigning champions Argentina, though they’ll take encouragement from Cape Verde, who pushed the holders to extra time before eventually falling 3-2.
Victory would see Egypt become just the fifth African country to reach a World Cup quarter-final, following in the footsteps of Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), Ghana (2010) and Morocco (2022 & 2026).
Emam Ashour has scored twice at this year’s tournament and needs just one more goal to become Egypt’s outright top scorer in a single World Cup campaign.
Meanwhile, Mo Salah remains one goal shy of equalling current Egypt manager Hossam Hassan’s all-time national team record of 69 goals. Salah has also been one of the tournament’s standout creators, ranking second for chances created with 16.
Switzerland vs Colombia
- Switzerland key stat: The Swiss are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years when they hosted the tournament in 1954.
- Colombia key stat: Los Cafeteros have conceded only one goal so far; only Spain have conceded fewer (0).
Switzerland ended a long wait for another World Cup knockout victory by beating Algeria 2-0 in the last 32; their first since 1938. They now face the challenge of breaking a long-standing last-16 hoodoo, having been eliminated in each of their previous five appearances at this stage in 1994, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
In fact, the Swiss have not reached the quarter-finals for 72 years, with their last appearance in the last eight coming when they hosted the tournament in 1954.
Murat Yakin’s side head into the last 16 unbeaten, having won their last three matches after being held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Qatar in their opening game. Switzerland are also unbeaten in their last 10 competitive fixtures, a run stretching back to a 3-2 defeat against Spain in November 2024, which included an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
Johan Manzambi has contributed to five goals, scoring three himself so far. Another goal would see him become the first Swiss player to score four goals in a single World Cup since Josef Hugi (6) and Robert Ballaman (4) back in 1954.
READ – Switzerland vs Colombia: predictions, best bets and latest odds
Colombia have quietly impressed at the 2026 World Cup, topping a group that included Portugal before overcoming Ghana to reach the last-16 for the third time in their last three appearances. They are now aiming to match their best-ever World Cup finish by reaching the quarter-finals, a feat they achieved in 2014.
The Colombians head into the knockout stage on a nine match unbeaten run in competitive fixtures and have kept three consecutive clean sheets at the World Cup for the first time. They have conceded just once so far, with only Spain (zero goals) boasting a stronger defensive record.
They’ve not been shy in shooting either, accumulating a second-best 79 shots after the first four gameweeks, while they could become the first country since France in 1998 to have 20+ shots in four straight games.
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