Switzerland secured a historic spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, defeating Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes at Vancouver’s BC Place.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the Swiss, who reached the final eight for the first time since 1954. Ruben Vargas became the hero of the night, calmly slotting home the decisive spot-kick to end his nation's long-standing Round of 16 "curse," having been eliminated at this stage in four of the last five editions.
While the match remained deadlocked through regulation and extra time, Colombia came closest to scoring when Jhon Lucumi’s header struck the crossbar. The shootout swung in Switzerland's favor when goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saved Cucho Hernandez's attempt, following an earlier miss by Colombia’s Davinson Sanchez.
Despite a sea of yellow-clad Colombian supporters creating a hostile atmosphere, the Swiss remained composed. They achieved the feat even without breakout star Johan Manzambi, who was sidelined with a late knee injury.
Switzerland now moves to Kansas City for a high-stakes quarter-final clash against defending champions Argentina, who advanced after a dramatic comeback against Egypt. For Colombia, it is a heartbreaking exit for a side that had conceded only one goal throughout the tournament prior to this match.
