Swiss President Guy Parmelin has urged the nation's football fans to become the "12th man" as Switzerland prepares to face Colombia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash on Tuesday night.
In a social media post from Mexico, where he is attending the tournament, Parmelin encouraged supporters to wear red and white and participate in the #NatiChallenge campaign to rally behind the team. "Tonight at 10 PM, Switzerland isn't just watching - it's playing with all its heart. Do like I'm doing here in Mexico for the World Cup round of 16 against Colombia: Wear something red and white and post it with #NatiChallenge. Let's be the 12th man together," Parmelin wrote on X.
High-Stakes Knockout Encounter
Switzerland and Colombia will face off in a high-stakes Round of 16 match, with the winner advancing to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Swiss side reached the knockout stage after an impressive group-stage campaign, while Colombia progressed with consistent performances to secure their place in the last 16.
Both teams are aiming to continue their World Cup journey, with a quarter-final berth at stake in the knockout clash. Switzerland's last World Cup knockout win came in 1954, when they hosted the tournament and won a playoff to advance from the group stage after finishing level with Italy, according to the FIFA website.
Switzerland's Ambition After Historic Win
Switzerland forward Dan Ndoye expressed the team's determination after their Round of 32 victory over Algeria. "We know that what we did today is special but we want more. We are happy today and tomorrow we will think about the next step and the next game, the next opponent," Ndoye said.
Ndoye described the victory as historic for the nation. "It feels great, really great. It was really important for us to win today. We wrote one page of history for our nation and we hope we will continue like that because this is what we have dreamt about that. Not just the players, but the country has been dreaming about this and we want to continue to make them dream," he added.
