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Major League Soccer

·9 July 2026

By Justin Ruderman

As Lionel Messi and Argentina train at Sporting Kansas City’s facility ahead of Saturday’s FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against Switzerland, few individuals have a more personal connection to the occasion than Raphael Wicky.

The Sporting KC head coach, a former Switzerland international who represented his country at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, now watches from the sidelines as several of his former players—managed by his ex-teammate—aim to achieve Switzerland’s most historic victory at Kansas City Stadium (9 pm ET | FOX, Telemundo, Peacock).

“I believe this is probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, games in Switzerland’s history—playing against Argentina with Messi; it’s a massive occasion,” Wicky told MLSsoccer.com this week.

“Our team has developed tremendously over the past decade and gained immense experience. At club level, these players compete in top-tier teams every weekend under pressure. As a national side, they’ve also grown through major tournaments—be it the Euros, which is a huge competition with top nations, or World Cups.”

He added, “We have a very experienced squad, and I truly believe they have a real chance to progress further. It’s one match, and in football, anything can happen.”

Wicky’s ties to the current Swiss team run deep, as expected from a former national player.

He shared the pitch with current Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin and later overlapped with him in coaching roles at FC Thun. Beyond that, Wicky has previously coached 10 members of Switzerland’s current World Cup squad—connections that make him uniquely invested in this campaign.

“It’s wonderful to see and follow their journeys,” Wicky said. “For instance, Breel Embolo—I coached him when he was just 16 at FC Basel’s under-18 side. After six months, I told the academy director, ‘He’s too good to stay with me.’ Though he could have helped me win matches, player development comes first. That happened with several others too. It’s special to have been part of their growth, as they were of mine.”

Indeed, Wicky’s influence extends to many others. With Christian Fassnacht, Cedric Itten, and Fabien Rieder at BSC Young Boys in 2022–23, he guided the team to a domestic league and cup double and secured UEFA Champions League qualification.

During his time at FC Basel in 2017–18, he told then-defender and current Inter Milan star Manuel Akanji, “The way you play and your potential remind me of Vincent Kompany,” as Basel reached the Champions League Round of 16 for only the third time in their history.

“It’s just gratifying to see,” Wicky reflected. “I’m truly pleased that they’re enjoying such great careers and experiencing what I once did as a player. Representing your country at a World Cup is the pinnacle of football.”

This generation now has a chance to achieve something unprecedented—leading Switzerland to its first-ever World Cup semifinal. The nation last reached the quarterfinals over 70 years ago, in 1954, when they hosted the tournament and defeated Italy twice before falling to Austria. This time, however, the challenge is even greater.

Ranked No. 19 by FIFA, Switzerland face the No. 1 team in the world—the reigning world champions led by Inter Miami CF icon Lionel Messi. Wicky knows better than most how formidable that task will be—his 75th and final international cap came in a 1-1 draw against Messi and Argentina in 2007.

“I remember that match vividly,” Wicky recalled. “Messi was just 19, but already playing at a different level. You could feel it. That Argentina squad was full of world-class talent, but Messi stood above them all.”

He continued, “There are no words for Messi—his World Cup journey, his entire career. Every year we’re amazed again. We just have to cherish watching him while he’s still playing. Competing against or even witnessing athletes like him is extraordinary.”

This World Cup, Messi leads all scorers with eight goals, setting a new all-time World Cup record with 21 in total.

“There are hardly words to describe his consistency,” said Wicky. “When I faced him in 2007, and now nearly two decades later, he’s still doing the same. It’s unbelievable.”

Switzerland now aim to end that era of dominance—potentially in what could be Messi’s final international match—by beating the defending champions in their fourth World Cup quarterfinal appearance.

“It’s something that’s never happened before,” Wicky said. “To reach the semifinal and defeat the world champions led by, in my opinion, the greatest player ever—that would be incredible.”

Wicky’s connections to this quarterfinal don’t stop there. The training base chosen by Argentina for this World Cup also happens to be Wicky’s daily workplace.

Argentina, one of four teams based in Kansas City during the tournament, have been training at Sporting KC’s Compass Minerals National Performance Center, allowing Wicky to reconnect with former FC Basel teammate and Argentina assistant coach Walter Samuel.

“It’s been amazing,” said Wicky. “For Kansas City, hosting six matches and serving as a base for four national teams is remarkable. You can sense the city’s pride—it’s something special. For us, sharing facilities with Argentina has been a great experience.”

While there hasn’t been much direct interaction between the squads, Sporting KC are preparing for a major challenge of their own—a rivalry clash against St. Louis CITY SC when Major League Soccer resumes on July 16 (8:30 pm ET | Apple TV).

Sporting KC are currently rebuilding their roster and aiming to climb the Western Conference standings in Wicky’s debut season at the helm.

“It’s exciting to get back into competitive action, especially with a rivalry match against St. Louis—it’ll be a fantastic atmosphere,” said Wicky. “We’re in a rebuilding phase, starting a new era for the club. I’m encouraged by our new signings, even though some aren’t fully fit yet. I believe the club is heading in the right direction. It’ll take time, but we’re ready to compete now. The future looks bright.”