Argentina vs Switzerland: Holders vs History
The last quarterfinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup might be its best story. Argentina, the defending champions, against Switzerland, who have just reached their first World Cup quarterfinal in 72 years. One team defending everything, one team with nothing to lose — and kickoff timed so that Buenos Aires watches at dinner while Zurich sets an alarm for the small hours. Here's the history, and how to call both countries when it's decided.
La Albiceleste: three stars and counting
Argentina's World Cup record reads like a highlight reel of the sport itself. Champions in 1978 at home, in 1986 in Mexico behind the untouchable Diego Maradona, and in 2022 in Qatar, when Lionel Messi finally lifted the one trophy that had escaped him, in a final for the ages against France. Add losing finals in 1930 (the very first World Cup), 1990 and 2014, and Argentina have played in more finals than almost anyone. They arrive in this quarterfinal as holders — no team has retained the trophy since Brazil in 1962, and Argentina intend to be the ones who break that spell.
There's history between these two sides, too: in the round of 16 in 2014, Ángel Di María's goal in the 118th minute broke Swiss hearts moments before a penalty shootout. Twelve years later, Switzerland get their shot at revenge — two rounds deeper into the tournament.
The Nati: back in the last eight after 72 years
Switzerland's golden age at World Cups came early: quarterfinals in 1934, 1938 and 1954 — the last of those as tournament hosts, when they lost a delirious 7–5 match to Austria in Lausanne that remains the highest-scoring knockout game in World Cup history. Since then the Nati became the tournament's great almost-team: round-of-16 exits in 1994, 2006 (eliminated without conceding a single goal, on penalties against Ukraine), 2014, 2018 and 2022. Breaking that ceiling at last makes this Swiss side already immortal at home — and a squad drawn from four language regions has the whole country, from Geneva to St. Gallen, awake at 3 a.m. for it.
How to call Argentina: +54
Argentina's country code is +54, with one famous quirk: mobile numbers take an extra 9 between the country code and the area code. A Buenos Aires mobile is +54 9 11 2345-6789; the same city's landline is +54 11 2345-6789 — no 9. The 11 is Buenos Aires; Córdoba is 351, Rosario 341. Save Argentine mobiles with the 9 included and they'll work everywhere, including in eFon. Live per-minute rates are on the Argentina rates page.
How to call Switzerland: +41
Switzerland uses +41. Domestic numbers start with 0, which you drop internationally. Mobiles start with 7 (+41 78 123 45 67); landlines carry the area code — Lausanne 21, Basel 61, Zurich 43 (+41 21 234 56 78). The same format covers all four language regions. Current prices are on the Switzerland rates page.
A 3 a.m. match — and the cheapest way through it
The time-zone geometry of this one is brutal for Europe and perfect for South America: played in the United States, the match hits Buenos Aires in prime evening (Argentina runs on UTC−3) and Switzerland in the dead of night. That means two waves of calls: Argentines across Europe — including the huge community with roots in Italy — calling home at a perfectly civilised Buenos Aires hour, and bleary-eyed Swiss fans comparing notes at dawn. Either way, eFon keeps it cheap: clear per-minute rates to any Argentine or Swiss number, up to 90% less than dialling directly on a mobile-operator plan, over any Wi-Fi or data connection. And if you're in the American stands yourself, the eFon travel eSIM handles your data while the app handles the calls home.
The other quarterfinals
- France vs Morocco: the World Cup rematch
- Spain vs Belgium: a 40-year World Cup rematch
- Norway vs England: a quarterfinal for history
Holders or history-makers — someone's story ends on Sunday morning. The calls that follow don't have to cost a fortune. ⚽