Colombia squares off against Switzerland in World Cup Round of 16 at BC Place

Colombian fans have transformed Vancouver's downtown into a sea of red, yellow, and blue ahead of the Round of 16 clash between Colombia and Switzerland at BC Place Stadium on July 7 at 1 p.m.

The celebration has been palpable across the city. Colombian players — including left-back Johan Andrés Mojica Palacio of Spain's La Liga and midfielder Juan Camilo Portilla of Brazil's Club Athletico Paranaense — danced from the balcony of the Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown to the roar of fans below. Smoke bombs cast the colors of the Colombian flag into the air as legions of supporters cheered from the streets.

For Vancouver, this will be the seventh and final men's World Cup match on home soil. BC Place has already hosted six matches, with Switzerland competing for a third time at the venue. FIFA's pitch manager Dale Frith reported that Switzerland has been "very happy, very complimentary" with the stadium and playing surface throughout the tournament.

The match stakes are high: the winner advances to the quarterfinals, while the loser is eliminated from the tournament.