Latin America Sports Daily for Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Argentina face Egypt in Atlanta at noon ET — Messi’s push for back-to-back titles continues

Preview

The world champions close out the round of 16 today, taking on Egypt at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta from 1pm Argentine time — that is noon ET. For newcomers to this story: Argentina, la Albiceleste, are the reigning champions from Qatar 2022, and their captain Lionel Messi is chasing a second consecutive crown at the age of 39.

The route here has not been serene. Scaloni’s side laboured to a 3-2 win over Cape Verde in the round of 32, while Egypt reached this stage by beating Australia on penalties.

The prize is considerable. The winner advances to a quarter-final in Kansas City on Saturday 11 July at 9pm ET, and Messi currently shares the tournament’s Golden Boot lead on seven goals with Haaland and Mbappé.

With Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador and Paraguay already out, Argentina and Colombia are the last two South American — indeed Latin American — teams standing. For a continent that treats this competition as sacred, today is enormous.

Colombia take on Switzerland in Vancouver — winner gets Argentina or Egypt

World Cup

The day’s second tie sends the tournament north of the border: Colombia face Switzerland at BC Place in Vancouver from 4pm ET. Los Cafeteros — the coffee growers, as the national side is affectionately known — have quietly built momentum in this World Cup.

Colombia eliminated Ghana 1-0 thanks to a goal from Jhon Arias, while the Swiss beat Algeria 2-0 with strikes from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye. Arias, the winger adored in Colombia for his Fluminense exploits, has become the team’s talisman.

The bracket adds spice: the winner of this match will meet the victor of Argentina–Egypt in the quarter-finals. Should both South American sides win today, Saturday night in Kansas City becomes a full-blooded continental derby on North American soil.

Brazil’s inquest: Haaland’s late double, a missed penalty and Neymar’s farewell

Analysis

Sunday’s defeat is still reverberating across Brazil. Norway won 1-2 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Erling Haaland striking in the 79th and 90th minutes to overturn Brazilian dominance, and Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty came too late.

The margins were cruel. Bruno Guimarães had a first-half penalty saved by Nyland and Endrick squandered a one-on-one after coming off the bench, while Ancelotti was left explaining why Vinícius Júnior was not on penalty duty, saying Guimarães was judged the best option on the pitch.

The historical weight is heavy: this is Brazil’s worst World Cup showing since Italy 1990, when they also fell in the last 16. Folha de S.Paulo wrote that the dream of a sixth title in the United States had faded, and the Brazilian press has united in scrutinising Ancelotti’s choices.

The emotional coda came from the country’s record scorer. Neymar announced his international retirement after the defeat, telling reporters, “I started here and I finish here” — a reference to the MetLife Stadium, the very ground where the final will be played on 19 July.

Monday round-up: Spain edge Portugal at the death, Belgium demolish the hosts

Result

The Iberian derby in Dallas went the way of the European champions. Spain dominated Portugal but could not score until stoppage time, when Mikel Merino converted from Ferran Torres’s pass to win it 1-0 — and the defeat means Cristiano Ronaldo exits what he had said would be his last World Cup, after a record six appearances at the tournament.

In Seattle, the co-hosts’ dream died loudly. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and set up another as Belgium exposed America’s defensive frailties in a 4-1 win; Malik Tillman’s 31st-minute free-kick was the USA’s lone reply before Vanaken and Lukaku compounded the damage.

The quarter-final picture is nearly complete. Belgium will face Spain in four days at the Los Angeles stadium, France meet Morocco in Foxborough on Thursday at 4pm ET, and Norway play England in Miami Gardens on Saturday at 5pm ET.

Beyond the Mundial: Paraguay’s proud exit and the Libertadores waiting in August

Feature

Latin America’s World Cup story is not only about heartbreak. Paraguay — a nation of seven million that had not graced this stage in years — shocked Germany in the round of 32 before falling 0-1 to France in Philadelphia on Saturday 4 July; as ESPN’s veteran South America correspondent put it, Paraguay have already won, regardless of the result against France.

Club football, meanwhile, is warming up backstage. The Copa Libertadores round of 16 — South America’s Champions League equivalent — runs from 11 to 20 August, with second-placed group finishers hosting first legs.

The draw has produced genuine heavyweight collisions: Cruzeiro vs Flamengo, Palmeiras vs Cerro Porteño and Rosario Central vs Corinthians. The final is set for the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on 28 November, with Flamengo defending the title.

So whatever happens in Atlanta and Vancouver today, the South American season has a long, rich second act — and a continental champion still to crown in Uruguay.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

What time do Argentina and Colombia play today, and where can the winners end up?

Argentina vs Egypt kicks off in Atlanta at noon ET, and Switzerland vs Colombia follows in Vancouver at 4pm ET (1pm local).

The two winners collide: that quarter-final is scheduled for Kansas City on Saturday 11 July at 9pm ET (8pm local).

Why exactly did Brazil go out, and what did Neymar say?

Brazil wasted a stream of chances before Haaland’s double in the last ten minutes settled it 2-1, with Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty arriving too late for the five-time champions. A first-half penalty from Bruno Guimarães, saved by Nyland, proved pivotal.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer, announced his retirement from the national team after the match, saying “I tried, I tried… now it’s over”.

When does the Copa Libertadores restart after the World Cup?

The Libertadores round of 16 will be played between Tuesday 11 August and Thursday 20 August, with quarter-finals scheduled between 8 and 17 September.

The semi-finals run from 13 to 21 October, and the single-match final is on 28 November at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay.