Colombia see off Ghana to head back to World Cup round of 16

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jhon Arias netted a goal off a precise cross from Luis Suárez early in the match, leading Colombia to a dominant 1-0 victory over Ghana at Arrowhead Stadium on a sweltering night. This win propels Los Cafeteros into the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Colombia is set to face Switzerland on Tuesday in Vancouver, British Columbia, in a critical matchup for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.

This victory marks only the second knockout-stage win for Colombia in World Cup history and their first since 2014, when they reached the quarterfinals in Brazil.

The match began with an early setback for Colombia, as forward Jhon Córdoba appeared to injure his groin. This prompted coach Néstor Lorenzo to substitute in Suárez, who was a standout player for Sporting CP.

Immediately impacting the game, Suárez played a key role in the 14th minute. Daniel Muñoz sent a ball to him, allowing Suárez to deliver a cross right in front of the Ghana goal. Arias was positioned perfectly to flick it past Ghana’s goalkeeper, Lawrence Ati Zigi, giving Colombia the lead.

Despite Colombia’s offensive prowess, Ghana struggled significantly, failing to register a single shot on goal, as Colombia secured their third consecutive shutout.

Veteran playmaker James Rodríguez, who previously scored both goals in a memorable victory over Uruguay during the 2014 quarterfinals, made his 10th World Cup start, tying him with Colombian legends Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincón for the most starts in tournament history. However, Rodríguez left the game at halftime due to injury.

The match kicked off at 8:30 p.m. local time amid oppressive heat, with temperatures reaching 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31.1 Celsius) and a heat index of 96. The hydration breaks, often a topic of debate, became vital as players battled through cramps and dehydration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.