The Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City hosts a Round of 32 encounter freighted with personal history on Friday night, as Carlos Queiroz leads Ghana against the Colombia side he managed between 2019 and 2020. The winner will meet Switzerland in the last 16, after the Swiss eliminated Algeria earlier in the day. Colombia advanced as Group K winners without losing a match, while Ghana squeezed through as one of the best third-placed teams from Group L, setting up a contest that, viewed from both continents, carries sharply different expectations.

Colombia’s group campaign, analysed across South American media, was built on defensive solidity and controlled possession. Néstor Lorenzo’s team beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and DR Congo 1-0 before a goalless draw with Portugal in which they created the clearer chances. Across three matches they conceded only once, and the performances of Luis Díaz, James Rodríguez and the overlapping full-back Daniel Muñoz – who scored in both victories – have been singled out. Lorenzo has publicly resisted the favourite’s label, telling reporters his side must remain cautious, but the data firm Opta gives Colombia a probability of victory above 60 per cent, and betting markets in the region reflect a similar confidence.

Ghana’s path was less linear. A 1-0 win over Panama, a disciplined 0-0 draw with England and a 2-1 defeat by Croatia left them on four points, enough to progress. African outlets note that Queiroz, appointed only in April after Otto Addo’s dismissal, has instilled a more compact defensive structure. Forward Antoine Semenyo credited the Portuguese with making the team “hard to break down”, and captain Jordan Ayew said the squad has “been growing in the tournament”. Queiroz himself has framed the match as a “duty to Africa”, pointing out that only Morocco have so far reached the last 16 from a record nine African group-stage qualifiers.

The Queiroz subplot dominates the pre-match narrative in Colombian and Ghanaian coverage alike. Thirteen members of Colombia’s current 26-man squad were called up during his tenure, which ended after a 6-1 qualifying defeat in Ecuador. Queiroz has declined to cast the fixture as personal revenge, stating it was “an honour” to coach Colombia, but he has also said his side will “exploit their weaknesses”. Colombian analysts note that his intimate knowledge of players such as James Rodríguez and Dávinson Sánchez could influence Ghana’s tactical approach, which is expected to feature a deep defensive block and quick transitions through Semenyo and Jordan Ayew.

Kick-off is at 20:30 local time. The knockout format leaves no margin for error, and both camps have acknowledged the shift in pressure. Lorenzo has reminded his squad that “any small mistake leaves you out”, while Ayew insisted Ghana are “ready for the challenge”. The winner will carry not only a place in the last 16 but also, for Ghana, the chance to match their 2010 quarter-final run, and for Colombia, the opportunity to equal their best World Cup performance from 2014.