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For nearly 80 minutes, it looked like the defending world champions were heading home.

Argentina trailed Egypt 2-0 entering the 78th minute of its Round of 16 match, with Lionel Messi having already missed a first-half penalty and live betting markets pricing La Albiceleste as massive underdogs.

But in a stunning finish, Argentina scored three unanswered goals in a 13-minute span to complete one of the greatest comebacks in FIFA World Cup history, and one of the biggest live betting turnarounds ever seen in sports.

Egypt stunned Argentina early when Yasser Ibrahim scored a header in the 15th minute, marking the first time Argentina had trailed in a World Cup match since its opening game of the 2022 tournament against Saudi Arabia.

Argentina had a chance to respond before halftime, but Messi’s penalty was saved, allowing Egypt to take a lead into the half. The Pharaohs then doubled their lead in the 67th minute via a Mostafa Ziko counterattack goal. 

With just over 10 minutes remaining, the defending champions looked like they were heading for an early exit. 

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Until everything changed.

Cristian Romero scored in the 79th minute, finishing a Messi assist to cut the deficit to one. 

Four minutes later, Messi delivered the equalizer himself, sending the match into chaos. 

Then, in stoppage time, Enzo Fernández completed the miracle, scoring in the 92nd minute to give Argentina an improbable 3-2 victory and send the defending champions into their second straight quarterfinals.

The win was historic in several ways:

• According to Opta, Argentina had just a 0.6% chance of winning in 90 minutes, just before Cristian Romero made it 2-1.
• It was the first time Argentina had ever come back from a two-goal deficit to win a World Cup match.
• Argentina became the first team since Belgium’s 3-2 comeback over Japan in the 2018 Round of 16 to erase a two-goal deficit and win a World Cup match in regulation.
• Argentina became the first team ever to win a World Cup match in 90 minutes after still trailing by two goals in the 78th minute.
• It was also just the fourth time in World Cup knockout-stage history that a team rallied from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

The comeback was just as incredible from a betting perspective.

Before kickoff, Argentina was a heavy favorite at -290 on the moneyline and -750 to advance, while Egypt was +900 to win and +510 to reach the quarters. 

By the 78th minute, those odds had completely flipped.

Argentina’s live moneyline climbed as high as +2500 at Caesars Sportsbook, while its odds to advance reached +575.  

According to Caesars, one bettor placed $200 on Argentina at +2500, cashing a $5,000 win after the historic comeback. 

So, where does that compare to some of the other greatest comebacks in sports history? 

While those odds were extraordinary, they still fall just short of the biggest live betting comebacks on record. 

One of the largest still remains the 2022 Minnesota Vikings, who trailed the Indianapolis Colts 33-0 at halftime before rallying to win 39-36 in overtime after live odds reached +4000 on DraftKings. 

Other legendary betting comebacks include the 2017 New England Patriots overcoming the infamous 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI after reaching roughly +1600-2000 live, and the 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars, who came back from 27-0 against the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round, after being listed around +2500 in-game.

Meanwhile, soccer has produced its share of unforgettable comebacks as well. 

Barcelona’s famous “Remontada” against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2017 Champions League reportedly saw live odds to advance climb to around +5000 before three late goals completed the impossible, while Liverpool’s miraculous 2005 Champions League final comeback from 3-0 down in the first half against AC Milan carried odds near +10000 to lift the trophy after the first 45 minutes of play. 

Argentina’s comeback migt not top that list numerically, but considering the stage, the defending champions’ elimination hanging in the balance, and the fact that all three goals came in a 13-minute period, it will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest betting comebacks in World Cup history.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates will have to try to stay in postseason contention without rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin.

The club placed the 20-year-old rising star on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday due to an issue with the knuckle on the ring finger on his left hand. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Griffin is expected to miss 8-10 weeks.

Griffin, who made his major league debut in April before signing a lengthy extension, injured the finger in the early portion of a victory over Washington on Sunday. He remained in the lineup and finished with two hits before a postgame exam detailed the extent of the injury.

Tomczyk said the injury was to the sagittal band, which stabilizes the ring finger. Griffin will keep the hand in a splint for about six weeks before resuming baseball activities.

The injury is the second significant setback for Griffin during a promising rookie season. He missed most of June with a strained right forearm.

“He’s really been a big part of our success,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “I think for him to learn through this, too, every single player goes through injuries. He’s just had a couple tough ones at the beginning. I know he’ll be stronger after going through it.”

When healthy, Griffin has been a revelation for the Pirates, looking every bit the franchise cornerstone they hoped he’d be after selecting him in the first round of the 2024 draft. Griffin is hitting .276 with five homers, 25 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 59 games.

Jared Triolo will primarily fill in at shortstop for Pittsburgh, which entered Tuesday at 46-45 and in the middle of a large swath of National League teams in the postseason mix.

Griffin joins an increasingly crowded injured list that includes center fielder Oneil Cruz and first baseman Spencer Horwitz.

Pittsburgh called up infielder Jack Brannigan from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Griffin’s spot on the roster.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the first time that the tournament has had a halftime show at the final. 

FIFA announced back in May that Madonna, Shakira and BTS would be the headliners taking center stage in a spectacle best fit for a global audience.

And just like the Super Bowl halftime show, fans can wager on how the performance will unfold.

Here are the latest odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 7.

World Cup Halftime Odds

BTS First Song

Which song will BTS perform first in their halftime set? (Getty Images)

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Hooligan: +170 (bet $10 to win $27 total)
IDOL: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Into the Sun: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Run BTS: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Dynamite: +430 (bet $10 to win $53 total)
SWIM: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)

Shakira First Song:

Waka Waka (This Time For Africa): +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Hips Don’t Lie: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Loca: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Acrositico: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
La Tortura: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Soltera: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)

Special Musical Guests To Appear On Stage

Could “Everything Hallelujah” singer Justin Bieber make a special appearance as a musical guest? (Getty Images)

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Burna Boy: -160 (bet $10 to win $16.25 total)
Chris Martin (Coldplay): -125 (bet $10 to win $18 total)
Justin Bieber: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)
Beyoncé: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
The Weeknd: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Sabrina Carpenter: +430 (bet $10 to win $53 total)
Alejandro Fernandez: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)

Madonna First Song

“Vogue” was one of the first songs Madonna performed during her Super Bowl halftime set back in 2012. (Getty Images)

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Bring Your Love: -125 (bet $10 to win $18 total)
I Feel So Free: +195 (bet $10 to win $29.50 total)
Nothing Really Matters: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Like A Prayer: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Vogue: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
La Isla Bonita: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)

Total Songs

Under 8.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
Over 8.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)

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Inevitable is such a special word.

It is the definition of the unavoidable, the inescapable, something where, no matter what you try and do, you simply cannot prevent the outcome. It is the wall of fate crushing against you, without hope or desire.

But the word inevitable is also about the eternal because it is the ultimate act of strength that lives forever in the psyche of the recipient, knowing that what’s about to happen, will indeed occur and not only can you not stop it, you will never forget it. 

That’s Lionel Messi. Eternal. Inevitable. 

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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The Argentina captain led his team to a remarkable, almost unbelievable comeback as the defending champion was 2-0 down against a heroic Egypt and achieved the ultimate remontada. 

It was the performance of a man who, at 39 years old, does not know how to end a chapter. But I will also say that, Messi aside, this was also about his teammates and how their intoxicating efforts to unite and overcome adversity shined through. Messi was their hero, but this victory took an army to support him. 

More on that in a moment. 

On Tuesday in Atlanta, Egypt and Mohamed Salah — a legend in his land and beyond — fought like warriors and had this been a fairer story, perhaps we would have seen them as victors. 

Hossam Hassan’s side deserved something out of this grueling battle. And there is an argument to be made about its disallowed goal and how it should have stood based on the run of play. But regardless, Egypt did score again and created a 2-0 lead, thanks to some mesmerizing counter-attacking work from the aforementioned Salah and Haissem Hassan, who quite literally gave it his all. 

Then there’s the talking point of the actual performance. Argentina, once again — just like Cape Verde poetically highlighted and exploited — was not good. It lacked so much fluidity, and Messi was also struggling against a resilient defensive line and missed a penalty attempt, making him the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties in a single tournament (outside of shootouts). 

Egypt, leading 2-0, was staring at only 10 minutes remaining until it could reach its greatest ever victory and a historic spot in the quarterfinal stage. It could almost open the doors to the promised land. It was there for the taking, and had it ended in such a manner, no one would have criticized the win. We would have accepted the outcome, even Argentinians. 

Mohamed Salah and Lisandro Martinez batted for possession during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) –>

In fact, it was already accepted as towards the latter stages of the match, before Argentina scored the first goal, you could practically hear a pin drop from the Argentina faithful. They had almost understood the outcome. They had welcomed the ending. 

Argentina was about to lose its right to defend its World Cup. 

But that’s not how Messi operates. He doesn’t accept a script he doesn’t author, and once again, as consistent as the sunrise or the sounds of an ocean, the inevitable happened. 

He rose.  

After dazzling inside the box over and over again in the second half, albeit with no outcome, the first uppercut finally came through in the 79th minute, as his assist for Cristian “Cuti” Romero’s goal became the first sign of life. 

The crowd stood again, screaming and chanting, knowing life had returned.

The inevitable was slowly creeping behind the door. 

Four minutes later, the ball pinged around inside the box, and Gonzalo Montiel rescued it to find Leo, who smashed it in after bouncing off the crossbar. This is when the stadium actually vibrated and shook with a pulsating heart as Argentina was level. 

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The narrative of the story is also about the heroes we don’t remember, and that includes Leandro Paredes, who made a crucial stop from an Egyptian counter. Moments later, Lautaro Martínez found Enzo Fernández for the winner, and just like that, Argentina had climbed the mountain and planted its flag. 

The whistle blew. An emotional Messi began to cry. His teammates rallied around each other, consoling his emotions and celebrating his accomplishments. 

Messi’s tears were not just about the physical and mental extremities that were necessary in order to create this incredulous evening of pure magic. The tears also represented the fact that he was still alive, both at this World Cup and in the arms of his beloved Argentina.  

The emotion represented the exhaustion as we all witnessed, once again, an unforgettable match. A tale for the ages. A story that will continue as Lionel Scaloni’s side continues to defend its title. 

By the end, the sentiment was so beautifully vivid for every Argentinian and most notably, Lionel Messi. By the end, they tossed him in the air to celebrate a victory that will live with them forever.

If you ask me, I think that the tears, the emotions, the sacrifice, the undying raw display of tired catharsis — all of it is just the proverbial residue of something much stronger at play: the inevitability of Lionel Messi.

Argentina vs Egypt Highlights 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Round of 16

Check out the full game highlights between Argentina and Egypt in the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. Announced by Derek Rae and Rob Green.

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On July 19, after 103 matches have been played, only two teams will remain standing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Those two nations, each chasing soccer immortality, will meet at New York New Jersey Stadium in what is expected to be one of the biggest sporting events ever held in the United States.

So which countries are most likely to make it all the way to the title game?

Let’s take a look at the latest odds to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 7.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

To Reach World Cup Final 

France: -115 (bet $10 to win $18.70 total)
Argentina: +135 (bet $10 to win $23.50 total)
England: +155 (bet $10 to win $25.50 total)
Spain: +160 (bet $10 to win $26 total)
Norway: +490 (bet $10 to win $59 total)
Switzerland: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Morocco: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Belgium: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)

Here’s what to know about this oddsboard:

Rematch Favored: France andArgentina are favored to face off in the final yet again, after duking it out in 2022 in Qatar. But La Albiceleste got quite the scare on Tuesday, trailing 2-0 against Egypt nearly 80 minutes into the match. However, Argentina scored in the 79th minute, in the 83rd minute and then again in stoppage time to pull off the all-time comeback, winning 3-2 to keep its repeat hopes alive. As for France, it grinded out a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the Round of 16, in what surely could be considered the chippiest match of the entire tournament.

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Erling Haaland. Harry Kane. Kylian Mbappé. Lionel Messi. Lamine Yamal. The sheer amount of star power between the eight teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals is hard to comprehend, but easy to watch and enjoy.

These teams aren’t here to have fun, though. The teams left standing — Argentina, Belgium, England, France, Morocco, Norway, Spain and Switzerland — have convinced themselves that they have a chance of lifting the World Cup trophy, and some for the first time in their country’s history. From here on out, it’s all business.

Here are the key storylines for every team heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals:

France vs. Morocco

Kylian Mbappé Can Join All-Time Greats With Another World Cup

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

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At 27 years old, Mbappé has already made 103 appearances for France and scored 63 goals. He’s the country’s all-time leading goalscorer.

This is his third World Cup. The first two ended by winning the tournament and a runner-up finish. Another run to the final would put him among the best ever, and it would also likely keep him close to Messi in the race to be the leading goalscorer in the tournament’s history.

If France wins the World Cup this year, Mbappé will be the one lifting the trophy. It would be a three-tournament run that very few players in history can match.

Can Morocco Become The First African Nation To Reach A Final?

(Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

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Morocco made history in 2022 when it became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal. Next for the Atlas Lions would be to make it to the final game.

Morocco is through to the quarterfinals after beating the Netherlands in the round of 32 and then Canada in the round of 16. In both matchups, they have clearly been the superior team.

Next for Morocco is a rematch of that semifinal against France. Striker Ismael Saibari left the win over Canada with an injury, but the team is hopeful he will be available to face France.

Morocco will be the underdog against Les Bleus, but it has as good a chance than any team in the tournament to pull off an upset. Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi scored twice against Canada, while playmaker Brahim Diaz and right back Achraf Hakimi combined for the three assists. Morocco has the quality to win.

Spain vs. Belgium

How Long Can Spain Go Without Conceding A Goal?

(Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) –>

Spain is known for its impressive possession-first game, featuring one of the best midfields in the world. So far, though, it’s the defense that has been the star of the tournament.

La Roja has played five games at this World Cup, and it is yet to concede a goal. The back line of left back Marc Cucurella, center backs Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsí, right back Pedro Porro and goalkeeper Unai Simon have played all 180 minutes of the knockout stage together, and the unit might be impenetrable.

Simon has gone 609 minutes without conceding a goal at the World Cup, which is the longest streak ever by a goalkeeper.

Next up is Belgium, which has scored nine goals in its last two games against New Zealand and the United States.

Last Stand For Belgium’s Old Guard

(Photo by Jan De Meuleneir / Photo News via Getty Images) –>

Thibaut Courtois is still one of the best goalkeepers in the world at 34 years old; Romelu Lukaku is showing he can still score goals at 33; Kevin De Bruyne can still pick a pass at 35; while even winger Leandro Trossard is still one of the best playmakers at the tournament at 31.

Lukaku is coming off the bench and still making an impact, while De Bruyne didn’t feature against the USA. This is a new-look Belgium team, but it’s still synonymous with its veteran stars.

Facing Spain will be Belgium’s toughest test yet. After an impressive comeback against Senegal and dominant display against the USA, the Red Devils will be confident. To win, though, it will need its veterans to lead the way, potentially with Lukaku having to make a key contribution off the bench.

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Norway vs. England

Who Can Stop Erling Haaland?

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Man, Viking, Monster — call him what you want, as long as you call him the most dominant striker on this planet, and possibly others. The only player that comes close? The player that will be starting opposite of him in the quarterfinal, Harry Kane.

But Kane can’t stop Haaland; he can only hope to cancel out his goals with his own. So who can? Marc Guéhi, his teammate at Manchester City? Ezri Konsa, who held Haaland scoreless in their lone Premier League meeting last season? Or will it be Jordan Pickford, who Haaland scored three goals against last season?

The answer will be some combination of the three, because though many have tried, there is no one person that can stop Haaland.

Is It Actually Coming Home?

(Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP via Getty Images)

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England has been here before: a talented team with a good head of steam heading into a quarterfinals matchup it should win. And yet, the last time it made the final was in 1996, the only time it won the tournament, and the last time it won a title in any major tournament. Will this year be any different?

Thomas Tuchel is certainly hoping so. The England coach made some controversial decisions with his roster selection, and so far, it hasn’t come back to haunt him. But a loss to Norway — a team ranked 14 spots below it in the FIFA rankings — would change all of that.

Knockout Tournament Tuchel: the floor is yours.

Argentina vs. Switzerland

Messi Has Chance To Make History As World Cup-Winning Captain

(Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images) –>

If the FIFA World Cup was a video game, Lionel Messi would have beaten it — platinumed it. He’s the tournament’s all-time leadiner in goals and assists, he’s won the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player twice, and, in 2022, he finally lifted the trophy after besting Kylian Mbappé and France in arguably the greatest final of all time.

Now? Messi is after his second — and likely last — World Cup title. If he pulls it off, Messi will become the first player in World Cup history to win two World Cups while wearing the captain’s armband, and Argentina will become first back-to-back men’s World Cup champions since Brazil 64 years ago.

It’s more than just bragging rights on the line; it’s World Cup immortality.

Can Switzerland Reach The Semis?

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) –>

Despite not being a world soccer power in the modern era, Switzerland has reached the quarterfinals three times: 1934, 1938 and 1954. However, it has never gotten over the hump, failing to advance in all three of its appearances. Yes, an argument can be made that Switzerland advancing to the quarterfinals over a World Cup dark horse in Colombia is an accomplishment in itself, but Switzerland won’t be thinking that way — certainly not after Argentina was nearly upset itself in the round of 16.

Write Switzerland off at your own risk.

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A Round of 16 for the ages just finished up at the 2026 World Cup. Next up is a loaded quarterfinal (airing on FOX and FOX One). Here’s where the World Cup bracket stands.

Who’s Left in the 2026 World Cup?

Quarterfinalists

• Morocco
• France
• Norway
• England
• Spain
• Belgium
• Argentina
• Switzerland

England’s thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico, Norway’s upset of Brazil, & previewing USA vs Belgium

Lalas & Mosse recap England-Mexico, Norway-Brazil, Balogun’s red card, and preview USA-Belgium.

How Many Teams are Left in the World Cup?

There are 8 teams left vying for the World Cup title.

UNREAL COMEBACK Messi & Argentina Score THREE Second-Half Goals to Defeat Egypt

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Argentina scored three goals in the second half to defeat Egypt 3-2.

Who’s Been Eliminated in the 2026 World Cup?

Eliminated in the group stage

• South Korea
• Czechia
• Qatar
• Scotland
• Haiti
• Turkey
• Curaçao
• Tunisia
• Iran
• New Zealand
• Uruguay
• Saudi Arabia
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Uzbekistan
• Panama

Eliminated in the round of 32

• Netherlands
• South Africa
• Germany
• Sweden
• Japan
• Ivory Coast
• Ecuador
• DR Congo
• Austria
• Croatia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Senegal
• Cape Verde
• Australia
• Algeria
• Ghana

Eliminated in the round of 16

• Canada
• Paraguay
• Brazil
• Mexico
• Portugal
• United States
• Egypt
• Colombia

How to Watch the World Cup

Every remaining match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup airs on FOX, with everything streaming live and on demand on FOX One.

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After 120 scoreless minutes and a tense penalty shootout, Switzerland became the final team to advance to the quarterfinals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as it outlasted Colombia. 

BC Place Vancouver was a sea of yellow as it was firmly behind Colombia, and the large crowd watched both teams play fantastically defensively on Tuesday afternoon. 

Both Colombia and Switzerland came into this tournament with one knockout win in their respective histories. Colombia’s win came in 2014 against Uruguay, while Switzerland’s came over Germany in 1938. After wins in the round of 32, both teams had the chance to make this the undisputed best World Cup in their country’s history.

In the end, that went to Switzerland, which has been on a steady rise over the past decade and will now get to face reigning champions Argentina in the quarterfinals.  

Here are my four takeaways from Tuesday’s match:

1. Extremely Tight Defense

Tuesday’s match was relatively gritty, as neither side scored over 120 minutes of play. (Photo by Christopher Morris/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) –>

Both Colombia and Switzerland were playing well heading into this game, with each team winning its respective group (both teams were 2-1-0 in group play) followed by impressive victories in the round of 32. The heart of success for each team had been its defensive discipline and shape. 

Combined with the high amount of respect the teams had for each other, it made for a very cagey start with each team quick to revert into defensive shape whenever possession was lost. The game needed an individual moment of brilliance, but neither team seemed willing to take the risk of committing many players into the attack. Colombia’s Gustavo Puerta had the first real chance of the game in the 21st minute when he forced a big save from Gregor Kobel.

The game began to open slightly after the first half hydration break. Colombia’s Camilo Vargas was forced to make a pair of saves from Swiss wingers Dan Ndoye and Fabian Rieder just after the half-hour mark. 

In the second half, Colombia began to push a little further up, and head coach Néstor Lorenzo made offensive substitutes in the 66th and 83rd minutes. Switzerland had slightly more space to operate but was unable to create in the first 90 minutes. 

As is the case with low-scoring games, it is not just about defense. There was also a failure for players to step up and make the big play that no one saw coming. Switzerland clearly missed Johan Manzambi, who suffered a knee injury in the team’s final training session. The 20-year-old versatile Freiburg attacker has been Switzerland’s best player over the past three games with three goals and two assists. 

The game finished 120 minutes with just three shots on goal for Colombia and two for Switzerland. 

2. Not Many Mistakes 

Switzerland vs Colombia Extended Highlights 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Round of 16

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This is hardly the first time that a World Cup match was very defensive, but what made this game very different is that there were just very few mistakes by either team. Teams completed passes inside their own half to avoid gifting the opponents golden chances. There were not many teams that gave dangerous set pieces; defensive clearances were effective in getting the ball from danger. 

Credit for this is due to the exceptional play of the central defenders for both teams. Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji and Nico Elvedi, along with Colombia’s Davinson Sánchez and Jhon Lucumí, were all excellent and handled everything that came their way. Lucumí nearly broke the deadlock in extra time when his header rattled the crossbar in the closest opportunity of the game. Meanwhile, the Swiss backline was able to neutralize Luis Díaz, who is one of the best wingers in the world.

Oddly enough, the worst miss in the game came in the 115th minute when the game’s most experienced and dependable midfielder Swiss captain Granit Xhaka, flubbed a clearance and gifted Jaminton Campaz a golden chance, which was then shot over the bar. 

3. Confident Swiss Penalty Takers

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When the game went to penalties, it was completely up for grabs, but Switzerland converted four of five attempts with confidence. The only Swiss player who missed was Manuel Akanji, who had a great game in central defense. This time, his Swiss teammates were able to bail him out after he missed a shootout attempt in a loss to England in the knockout stage at UEFA Euro 2024. 

Throughout extra time, it seemed as if Switzerland was the team that was more comfortable with the game going to a shootout. That was a bold strategy, and it paid off as Granit Xhaka, Zeki Amdouni, Cedric Itten and Rubén Vargas all looked strong with their attempts. 

4. Best Swiss Team In History

Murat Yakin has helped Switzerland reach new heights in his time as its head coach (Photo by Jared C. Tilton – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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With its run to the quarterfinals, this is the best Swiss team in the program’s history, and this run has been a long time coming.

Head coach Murat Yakin has been the architect of the team’s success, which has seen it as one of Europe’s most improved teams in the past two decades. Now in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, Yakin has Switzerland playing consistently well in major tournaments. 

Switzerland performed brilliantly in World Cup qualifying, as it didn’t lose a game. The Swiss also scored 14 goals and conceded just twice during qualifying.

Yakin took over in 2021 and led the team to qualification for the 2022 World Cup. At the World Cup in Qatar, Switzerland advanced to the round of 16. At Euro 2024, Switzerland took it another step further in defeating reigning champions Italy in the round of 16 before losing to England in a shootout in the quarterfinals. 

Yankin has opted for experience in building his team, and against Colombia, no outfield player in the starting lineup had fewer than 31 caps. 

Despite a poor start to the tournament against Qatar, Yakin has his team playing well and as a manager, he has done a fantastic job taking his team to the next level. 

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The U.S. men’s soccer team’s run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on a damper note, but the United States Soccer Federation is feeling incredibly grateful for the support the squad received during its run to the round of 16.

A day after its elimination from the World Cup, the United States Soccer Federation released a statement in English and Spanish thanking American fans for their support during the tournament.

“When we asked, ‘why not us?’ you answered,” the federation wrote. “You filled stadiums. You brought the game into your homes, bars, parks and communities across the country. Every time our players stepped onto the field, they carried your support with them. Wearing the crest is a privilege, and hearing your voices throughout this tournament is something we will never forget.”

The tournament, which marked the first men’s World Cup to be played in the United States since 1994, saw one of the three host nations have one of its best World Cup runs ever. The USA won three matches in a men’s World Cup for the first time in its federation’s history, as the Americans also won Group D before their round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Still, the USA’s tournament ended in far too familiar fashion. With its 4-1 loss to Belgium, it marked the third straight appearance that the U.S. men’s soccer team has lost in the round of 16 at the World Cup. As a result, the USA is still seeking to reach the quarterfinals at the men’s World Cup for the first time since 2002. 

So, the federation’s statement also focused on the future development of the roster and the national program as it looks forward. 

“We will learn from this, the federation wrote. We will get better to compete with the world’s best. And we will keep doing the work because that’s what this team and this country expects of us.”

But the USA’s run also brought record enthusiasm to soccer across the country. As the statement noted the high turnout at stadiums, viewing parties, and public spaces throughout the tournament run, viewership for the team’s matches on FOX also set records.

The enthusiasm from the fans also helped them build a unique bond with the team. And what better way for the federation to close out its statement with a lyric that built a bond between the fans and the team? The statement finished with a nod to the team anthem this tournament:

“Country roads, take us home. We’ll see you there.”

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The final day of round of 16 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was nearly the day Lionel Messi stepped away from the tournament forever. That didn’t end up being the case, and he was a big part of the reason.

Here is the best from Day 27 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

BEST OF THE DAY

Moment Of The Day

Messi Moves On

From now on, every match of the FIFA World Cup could be Lionel Messi’s last at the tournament, and that reality is starting to set in for the 39-year-old superstar, who was visibly overcome with emotion when Argentina completed its 3-2 comeback over Argentina on Tuesday in the round of 16. He doesn’t want this journey to end, and he and his teammates are doing everything in their power to make sure that it doesn’t.

Goal Of The Day

Lionel Messi

Winger

Argentina

Even after 21 goals, it doesn’t get old watching Lionel Messi score at the World Cup. This one was extra special, with Argentina chasing an equalizer to keep its repeat hopes alive another day. Next up: Switzerland.

Assist Of The Day

Some assists are impressive because of their distance traveled, or where they end on the pitch; Haissem Hassan’s assist is impressive because he, through a serires of dribble moves, made a goal scoring opportunity out of nothing.

Save Of The Day

Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Ahmed Shobeir would have loved to leave Atlanta Stadium with a win, and a first-ever quarterfinals appearance for his country. It didn’t happen. As a consolation prize, he leaves the tournament with the story of how he saved a penalty from the greatest player to ever play the sport, and at a crucial time in the match.

Argentina vs. Egypt

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• Argentina came back from a two-goal deficit for the first time ever to win a match at the World Cup. It is the first team to come from two goals behind to win a World Cup game in 90 minutes since Belgium beat Japan 3-2 in the 2018 Round of 16.
• Argentina was trailing as of the 78th minute, the latest any team has ever been two or more goals down in a World Cup match, and came back to win without going to extra time (3-2).
• Argentina has now made consecutive World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1986 and 1990.
• Argentina has now won a team-record 12 straight games and is unbeaten in 11 straight World Cup games, also a new team record. It has won 19 of its last 20 matches vs. non-European teams at the World Cup.
• Argentina has scored multiple goals in 11 straight World Cup matches, tying the longest such streak ever (1930-54 Uruguay).

Argentina vs Egypt Extended Highlights 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Round of 16

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Switzerland vs. Colombia

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• Switzerland reached its first World Cup quarterfinals since 1954. This is the first time that Switzerland has advanced in two consecutive knockout stage matches at the World Cup. Switzerland will play Argentina in the quarterfinals on July 11 in Kansas City.
• Entering today, Switzerland had only participated in one penalty shootout ever at the World Cup, and failed to convert in all three attempts in that match (2006 Round of 16 vs. Ukraine).
• Switzerland has lost once in their last 19 games overall (12W-6D-1L), falling only to Germany 4-3 in a March friendly.
• Colombia has exited the World Cup in the Round of 16 in its two appearances at the tournament (2026 and 2018). This was Colombia’s second penalty shootout ever at the World Cup, also failing to advance in the 2018 Round of 16 vs. England.
• Colombia is now unbeaten in eight straight World Cup games (5W-3D-0L) the longest unbeaten run in team history.

Switzerland vs Colombia Extended Highlights 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Round of 16

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