Holders Argentina face Switzerland at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City in the early hours of Sunday morning (2am UK time).
The countries draw swords in a battle to reach the semi-finals of World Cup 2026, where they will face either England or Norway.
Here are the key World Cup 2026 stats to look out for in this intriguing quarter-final match.
Argentina vs Switzerland Stats
Messi milestones
- Lionel Messi is bidding to extend his record scoring streak to 10 successive World Cup matches.
Lionel Messi continued his extraordinary World Cup campaign by scoring in Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt. The goal means he has found the back of the net in all five matches at the 2026 tournament and has now scored in nine consecutive World Cup appearances, stretching back to Qatar 2022.
That goal also saw Messi draw level with Guillermo Stabile’s long-standing record of eight goals for Argentina at a single World Cup, set in the inaugural tournament in 1930. One more against Switzerland would see Messi become his country’s outright record-scorer at a single World Cup.
The milestones do not stop there. Another goal would also see Messi equal Ademir’s South American record of nine goals at a single World Cup, set for Brazil in 1950. Should he score twice, he would become the first player to reach 10 goals at a single World Cup since Germany legend Gerd Muller in 1970.
Argentina’s winning run
- Argentina are seeking their 13th successive win in all competitions.
Argentina’s win over Egypt stretched their winning run to 12 matches in all competitions, five of which have been at the World Cup.
La Albiceleste will now be hoping it’s not unlucky 13 when they take on the Swiss.
They are also unbeaten in 11 World Cup matches since a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the 2022 tournament.
Argentina’s scoring streak
- Argentina can become the first country to score two or more goals in 12 consecutive World Cup matches.
The goals have been flowing for Argentina who equaled Uruguay’s record of scoring two or more goals in 11 straight World Cup matches.
They can now go one better and set a new outright record by scoring two or more goals against Switzerland, although it’s worth noting that the Swiss haven’t conceded 2+ goals in a competitive game since November 2024.
Switzerland ready to make history
- Switzerland are bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
Switzerland banished their round of 16 curse to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years after they held their nerve to see off Colombia on penalties.
The Swiss now have history in their sights as they bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time ever, and can take confidence from being the only country yet to fall behind in any of their 11 matches across qualifying and the 2026 tournament.
Switzerland’s Argentina hoodoo
- Switzerland are bidding to beat Argentina for the first time ever, having failed to win any of the prior seven meetings (D2 L5).
Standing in Switzerland’s way are the holders Argentina, who they’ve never beaten before.
That’s right, Switzerland have failed to win any of the seven clashes between the countries, drawing twice and losing five times.
Two of those defeats have come at the World Cup, featuring a 2-0 defeat in the group stages of 1966 and an extra-time 1-0 loss in the last-16 of 2014.
Manzambi eyes Swiss duo
- Johan Manzambi (3) needs one more goal to 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.
Johan Manzambi leads the way at the top of Switzerland’s goalscoring charts with three goals this tournament, plus two assists.
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.
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