Latin America Sports Daily for Saturday, July 11, 2026

Messi’s Argentina face surprise package Switzerland for a semi-final spot

Preview

Kick-off at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City is 9pm ET — roughly 10pm in Buenos Aires — for the last of this weekend’s four World Cup quarter-finals, with Argentina looking to end Switzerland’s remarkable run.

La Albiceleste needed a stunning turnaround to get here: trailing Egypt 2-0 with just over 20 minutes left, goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández turned the last-16 tie on its head in Atlanta.

Messi is now tied with France’s Kylian Mbappé on eight goals for the Golden Boot, and the 39-year-old captain has scored a record 21 World Cup goals in his career, including in six straight knockout matches.

Switzerland arrive having reached the quarter-finals for the first time since they hosted the tournament in 1954, edging past Colombia on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saving Cucho Hernández’s spot-kick before Ruben Vargas struck the winning penalty.

Whoever wins meets the Norway-England winner in Atlanta on Wednesday for a place in the final; the other semi-final pits France against Spain, who won their own quarter-final duel this week.

Haaland’s Norway chase history against England in Miami

Preview

Norway kick off at 5pm ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, appearing in a World Cup quarter-final for the very first time in the country’s history.

They arrive on the back of one of the tournament’s biggest shocks, having beaten five-time champions Brazil with both goals scored by Erling Haaland, who now shares the lead in the Golden Boot race.

England, meanwhile, reached this stage by eliminating co-hosts Mexico in the round of 16, one of three home nations — alongside Canada and the United States — dumped out of their own tournament.

The stakes for Latin American observers are indirect but real: the winner of this all-European tie will face either Argentina or Switzerland in Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta.

With Brazil already gone, plenty of neutral South American fans will be tuning in simply to see who Argentina, if they progress, would meet next.

Brazil’s World Cup ends early as Haaland stuns Ancelotti’s side

Result

Brazil’s tournament came to an abrupt halt in the round of 16, beaten by a Norway side inspired by Erling Haaland, who scored both goals in the upset.

The result was a blow for a Brazilian side built around hopes of a sixth World Cup star under coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose appointment had been billed before the tournament as central to that project.

Brazil’s exit means all three of the tournament’s co-hosts have also gone out early, with Canada eliminated by Morocco and both Mexico and the United States falling in the knockout rounds too.

For Brazilian fans, the immediate focus now shifts to domestic club football, with Flamengo — 2025 continental and Brazilian league champions — flying the flag in this year’s Copa Libertadores instead.

Colombia and Mexico’s exits complete a tough week for Latin America

Result

Colombia’s World Cup ended in Vancouver after a goalless 120 minutes against Switzerland, with the Swiss winning the resulting shootout to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.

Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was the shootout hero for Switzerland, saving a penalty from Cucho Hernández before Ruben Vargas converted the decisive kick to send Luis Díaz and his teammates home.

Mexico’s own campaign, meanwhile, finished at the hands of England in the round of 16, one of several co-host exits alongside Canada and the United States.

It has not all been bad news for underdogs this tournament, however — Morocco became the first African side to reach back-to-back World Cup quarter-finals by beating Canada 3-0 in Houston.

With Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and now Brazil out, Argentina stand as Latin America’s sole remaining representative in the knockout stages.

While the World Cup rolls on, the Copa Libertadores keeps South America’s club rivalries alive

Feature

Away from the World Cup spotlight, the 2026 Copa Libertadores — South America’s premier club competition — continues its long march towards a final at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on 28 November.

Flamengo arrive as defending champions after winning the 2025 title and the Brazilian league in the same year, and they will be chasing a fifth continental crown this campaign.

Argentina’s representative is Estudiantes de La Plata, who claimed their domestic Clausura crown — beating rivals Gimnasia and then edging Racing on penalties in the final — to book their Libertadores berth.

Palmeiras, beaten finalists in 2025, return hunting revenge and a fourth continental star, while Cerro Porteño fly Paraguay’s flag as one of the tournament’s most frequent, if still trophy-less, entrants.

For readers missing club football during the World Cup break, the Libertadores is a reminder that Latin America’s domestic rivalries never really pause.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

What time is Argentina vs Switzerland today and where is it being played?

Kick-off is at 9pm ET at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, broadcast on Fox in the United States with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Peacock.

It is the final match of the World Cup quarter-final round, following Norway against England earlier the same day in Miami.

Which Latin American nations are still alive at the World Cup?

Argentina are the only South American side left in the tournament, having reached the quarter-finals by beating Egypt 3-2 after trailing 2-0 in the round of 16.

Brazil, Colombia and Mexico have all been eliminated in the knockout rounds, with Colombia losing on penalties to today’s Argentina opponents, Switzerland.

What happens next if Argentina beat Switzerland?

A win sends Argentina into the semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday 15 July against the winner of Norway vs England, with the other semi-final between France and Spain played the day before in Dallas.

The final is scheduled for Sunday 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, kicking off at 3pm ET.