Switzerland wrote one of the most important chapters in its football history by eliminating Colombia in a dramatic penalty shootout and securing its spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup—a stage it had not reached in 72 years.
The Swiss team played to a scoreless draw against Colombia during regulation and extra time, so the match had to be decided from the penalty spot. That’s when goalkeeper Gregor Kobel stepped up, stopping Cucho Hernández’s shot to tip the scales in Europe’s favor. Rubén Vargas then converted the decisive penalty kick that sealed Switzerland’s advancement.
The victory holds special significance for the Swiss, as they had not reached this stage since the 1954 World Cup, a tournament they hosted. Furthermore, they pulled off the feat despite the absence of young midfielder Johan Manzambi, who suffered an injury during Monday’s training session and was unable to play in the match.
The hero of the qualification was Rubén Vargas, who converted the penalty kick that sparked the Swiss celebration. The player was born and raised in Adligenswil, a municipality in the canton of Lucerne, and holds dual citizenship thanks to his family roots: his father is Dominican and his mother is Swiss.
On the other side, Colombia saw its World Cup run come to an end. The South American team was looking to match its performance from Brazil 2014, when it reached the quarterfinals, but this time they were eliminated in the Round of 16. The elimination also marked a bitter farewell to the World Cup for James Rodríguez, who was unable to keep Colombia’s dream alive at football’s premier tournament.
With this result, Switzerland will face defending champion Argentina in the quarterfinals. The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, after the Albiceleste staged a comeback hours earlier to defeat Egypt 3-2.
