Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties after a goalless draw to set up a quarter-final with defending champions Argentina.
The two teams cancelled each other out in the final game of the last 16 – the final match to be played at the 2026 tournament outside the United States.
Both teams missed spot-kicks before Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel brilliantly saved Cucho Hernandez’s effort and Ruben Vargas scored the decisive penalty.
🇨🇭 2-2 🇨🇴
Kobel with a massive save and switzerland have another chance to lead
Colombia, once again backed by thousands of passionate fans in Vancouver, had conceded just once in their four games before Tuesday’s match and the Swiss had also proved difficult to break down.
The first action of note came in the 21st minute when Kobel was forced into a flying save to keep out Gustavo Puerta’s curling effort from the edge of the penalty area.
The Swiss stepped up a gear immediately after the first hydration break, with Camilo Vargas beating away a shot from Fabian Rieder before denying Dan Ndoye.
But the match was goalless at half-time, with two well-matched teams struggling for inspiration.
Switzerland started the second half on the front foot but Colombia also had their moments, with Luis Suarez lashing wastefully wide.
Both coaches made multiple changes in the second half but again struggled to create meaningful openings, with Colombia’s star winger Luis Diaz kept quiet.
Ndoye flashed a shot across goal in stoppage time but nobody was able to get on the end of it and the match was 0-0 at the end of normal time.
The game belatedly burst into life in the first period of extra-time. Colombia defender Jhon Lucumi headed against the bar from a corner in the ninth minute and Kobel kept out a fierce effort from Jaminton Campaz as the South Americans upped the tempo.
At the other end, Vargas dived to his left to beat away an effort from substitute Zeki Amdouni.
Campaz missed a glorious chance to win the game with five minutes of time left on the clock.
With nothing to separate the teams, the game went to penalties. Davinson Sanchez and Manuel Akanji missed from the spot before the decisive kicks.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
4 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties to reach World Cup quarter-finals
Switzerland 0
Colombia 0
Switzerland win 4-3 on penalties
Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties after a goalless draw to set up a quarter-final with defending champions Argentina.
The two teams cancelled each other out in the final game of the last 16 – the final match to be played at the 2026 tournament outside the United States.
Both teams missed spot-kicks before Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel brilliantly saved Cucho Hernandez’s effort and Ruben Vargas scored the decisive penalty.
Colombia, once again backed by thousands of passionate fans in Vancouver, had conceded just once in their four games before Tuesday’s match and the Swiss had also proved difficult to break down.
The first action of note came in the 21st minute when Kobel was forced into a flying save to keep out Gustavo Puerta’s curling effort from the edge of the penalty area.
The Swiss stepped up a gear immediately after the first hydration break, with Camilo Vargas beating away a shot from Fabian Rieder before denying Dan Ndoye.
But the match was goalless at half-time, with two well-matched teams struggling for inspiration.
Switzerland started the second half on the front foot but Colombia also had their moments, with Luis Suarez lashing wastefully wide.
Both coaches made multiple changes in the second half but again struggled to create meaningful openings, with Colombia’s star winger Luis Diaz kept quiet.
Ndoye flashed a shot across goal in stoppage time but nobody was able to get on the end of it and the match was 0-0 at the end of normal time.
The game belatedly burst into life in the first period of extra-time. Colombia defender Jhon Lucumi headed against the bar from a corner in the ninth minute and Kobel kept out a fierce effort from Jaminton Campaz as the South Americans upped the tempo.
At the other end, Vargas dived to his left to beat away an effort from substitute Zeki Amdouni.
Campaz missed a glorious chance to win the game with five minutes of time left on the clock.
With nothing to separate the teams, the game went to penalties. Davinson Sanchez and Manuel Akanji missed from the spot before the decisive kicks.
Switzerland will face Argentina in Kansas City on Saturday after Lionel Messi’s team earlier beat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta.
Switzerland last reached the quarter-finals when they hosted the World Cup in 1954.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
2026 world cup Colombia Penalties Shoot-out Switzerland World Cup