Jhon Arias’ first-half goal proved decisive as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 on Friday night to book a place in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face Switzerland for a place in the quarter-finals.The South American side took control early on despite an injury problem in the opening minutes. Striker Jhon Córdoba was forced out of the team after appearing to have a major problem, forcing head coach Néstor Lorenzo to bring in Luis Suárez from Sporting CP. The replacement paid off immediately.In the 14th minute, Daniel Muñoz released Suárez down the flank, and the striker sent a dangerously low cross into the box. Arias timed his run perfectly, heading the ball past Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi to score Colombia’s only goal of the competition.Colombia continued to dominate proceedings after the breakthrough and came close to extending their lead. Luis DÃaz thought he had doubled the lead midway through the second half, but the flag in the backfield prevented him. The winger was later thwarted by an excellent save from Ati Zigi, who finished the match with seven saves to keep Ghana within reach.Played in oppressive conditions at Arrowhead Stadium, where temperatures reached 31.1 degrees Celsius with a heat index of 96 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff, the game physically tested both teams. Hydration breaks proved essential as several players battled cramps and signs of dehydration throughout the evening.Colombia entered the knockout stages in excellent form after getting through the group stage with wins over Uzbekistan and Congo, along with a draw against Portugal, with just one goal scored. Their performances have already been praised by Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente, who described Los Cafeteros as real contenders for the World Cup title.Colombian fans also turned the occasion into a home atmosphere, filling the stadium with yellow color long before the start of the match.Ghana, who exceeded expectations by advancing from a challenging group that included England and Croatia after missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations last year, struggled to create meaningful chances. Colombia’s organized defense and quick transitions repeatedly frustrated the Black Stars, limiting them to eight attempts on goal, none of which required a save from the Colombian goalkeeper.The win keeps Colombia’s impressive World Cup campaign alive as they prepare for their round of 16 clash with Switzerland on Tuesday.
