Switzerland edged past South American dark horse Colombia after a tightly contested match that went to a penalty shootout, advancing to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 in the shootout after the match finished 0-0 through regulation and extra time in the round-of-16 tie of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at Vancouver Stadium in Canada on Sunday.
It marks Switzerland's first appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal since the 1954 tournament, which the country hosted, ending a 72-year drought.
Now in the quarterfinals, Switzerland will face Lionel Messi's Argentina, which advanced by defeating Egypt 3-2.
The two teams battled fiercely throughout the 90 minutes. Colombia mounted relentless attacks centered on striker Luis Diaz, while Switzerland held firm with a strong defense led by Manuel Akanji.
Unable to settle the outcome in regulation time, the two teams went to extra time.
In extra time, Colombia seized the initiative in attack but repeatedly found itself out of luck in front of goal.
In the third minute of the first extra period, Colombia's Jhon Jáder Durán went down inside the penalty area, but after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, no foul was called.
Decisive scoring chances were repeatedly denied by the woodwork.
In the ninth minute of the first extra period, a powerful header from Jhon Jáner Lucumí off a corner kick by Juan Fernando Quintero struck the crossbar.
Two minutes later, a threatening shot from Hamilton aimed at the corner of the goal was blocked by a punch from goalkeeper Kobel.
Switzerland was not idle either.
In the 14th minute of the first extra period, substitute Zeki Amdouni fired a surprise shot from close range, but goalkeeper Vargas dove to parry it away, averting the danger.
In the end, the shootout separated the fortunes of the two teams. Colombia was on the back foot from the start when Davinson Sánchez, its second kicker, struck the post and missed.
Switzerland's third kicker Manuel Akanji sent his shot high over the bar, leveling the score at 3-3, but goalkeeper Kobel read the direction of Juan Camilo Hernández's shot correctly and saved it, rescuing his team.
With the score tied at 3-3, Switzerland's final kicker Ruben Vargas calmly slotted the ball into the left corner to seal the win.
