Jhon Arias’ first-half goal proved decisive as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 on Friday night to book a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, where they will face Switzerland for a place in the quarter-finals.The South American side took control early on despite suffering an injury within the first few minutes. Forward Jhon Córdoba was forced off after appearing to be suffering from a groin problem, prompting head coach Néstor Lorenzo to introduce Luis Suárez to Sporting CP. The replacement pays immediate dividends.In the 14th minute, Daniel Muñoz released Suárez on the flank, and the forward delivered a dangerous low cross into the box. Arias timed his run perfectly, guiding the ball past Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi to give Colombia the only goal of the contest.Colombia continued to dominate the proceedings after the breakthrough and were about to increase their advantage. Luis Díaz thought he had doubled the lead midway through the second half, only for the offside flag to deny him. The winger later missed an excellent save from Ati Zigi, who ended the match with seven saves to keep Ghana within touching distance.Played in oppressive conditions at Arrowhead Stadium, where the temperature reached 31.1 degrees Celsius with a heat index of 96 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff, the game tested the physicality of both teams. Hydration breaks proved crucial as many players battled cramps and signs of dehydration throughout the night.Colombia entered the knockout stage in excellent form after navigating the group stage with wins over Uzbekistan and Congo, along with a draw against Portugal, while conceding just one goal. Their performances have already attracted praise from Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente, who described Los Cafeteros as real contenders for the World Cup title.The Colombian supporters also made the occasion a home atmosphere, filling the stadium with yellow before kick-off.Ghana, who exceeded expectations by advancing from a challenging group with England and Croatia after missing out on last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, struggled to create meaningful opportunities. 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 a last-16 showdown against Switzerland on Tuesday.