2026 World Cup: Overnight Sports Drama—A Star Is Sidelined
Bad news for Switzerland on the eve of their Round of 16 match against Colombia, scheduled for tonight at 10 p.m. Johan Manzambi will not be available for the match due to a knee injury. The injury occurred in the final moments of the last training session, during a scrimmage. After the session, the player underwent an MRI, the results of which confirmed he would be unable to take the field.
This is a massive blow for head coach Murat Yakin, who is forced to do without one of the Swiss national team’s key players. So far, Manzambi had stood out with three goals and two assists, establishing himself as one of the breakout stars of this World Cup.
Manzambi’s performance in this World Cup had been extraordinary right from his debut. He came off the bench in the match against Bosnia on the second day of Group B play, scoring two goals within minutes of entering the game and playing a decisive role in the 4-1 victory. In the 2-0 victory over Algeria in the Round of 16—which secured Switzerland’s spot in the Round of 16—Manzambi also played a pivotal role in the attacking trio behind Embolo.
Switzerland, which has already had to overcome a difficult start to this World Cup—including a shocking 1-1 draw against Qatar on the first matchday of Group B—now finds itself facing one of the tournament’s toughest challenges without its most in-form player. The Swiss, making their 13th World Cup appearance, had reached the round of 16 in each of the last three tournaments, only to be eliminated in the next round each time.
Colombia, for its part, heads into the match after securing its spot in the round of 16 as the last team to qualify, defeating Ghana 1-0 thanks to a goal by Jhon Arias. The Cafeteros dominated that match but squandered several chances to seal the win, keeping the result in the balance until the very end. Also worth noting is the injury to their starting forward, Córdoba, who was forced to leave the game against Ghana after just a few minutes—a situation shared by both teams, as they are both grappling with physical issues up front on the eve of this match.
As if that weren’t enough, Switzerland must also contend with the controversy surrounding the Balogun case, which has rocked the soccer world in recent hours. The Swiss Football Association had taken a clear stance, calling the decision to clear the American player “incomprehensible” in an official statement: “Until now, the principle was clear: any player sent off was automatically suspended for the next match. This rule applied equally to everyone and ensured clarity and consistency.” This tense atmosphere adds to the technical difficulties facing Yakin.
