---
title: "Switzerland Beat Colombia on Penalties to Reach the World Cup Quarterfinals"
description: "Switzerland reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in decades, beating Colombia in a penalty shootout in Vancouver after a goalless 120 minutes. It was the Swiss team's first-ever shootout win at a World Cup, and it sets up a last-eight tie with the defending champions, Argentina."
category: "Sports"
category_url: https://newsparlor.com/category/sports
author: "Lucas Silva"
published: 2026-07-08T01:18:00.000Z
updated: 2026-07-08T01:18:00.000Z
canonical: https://newsparlor.com/article/switzerland-beat-colombia-on-penalties-to-reach-the-world-cup-quarterfinals
tags: ["world-cup-2026", "switzerland", "colombia", "penalties", "argentina"]
---
# Switzerland Beat Colombia on Penalties to Reach the World Cup Quarterfinals

Switzerland reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in decades, beating Colombia in a penalty shootout in Vancouver after a goalless 120 minutes. It was the Swiss team's first-ever shootout win at a World Cup, and it sets up a last-eight tie with the defending champions, Argentina.

Switzerland are through to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in more than 70 years, having beaten Colombia in a penalty shootout after a tense, goalless round-of-16 tie in Vancouver. For a country long haunted by its record from the spot, it was a breakthrough as much psychological as sporting.

## Decided from 12 yards

Neither side could break through across 90 minutes and extra time, sending the match to penalties, [ESPN reported](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49301381/switzerland-overcome-penalty-curse-oust-colombia-world-cup). There the goalkeeper Gregor Kobel became the hero, making the crucial save, while Colombia were undone by a miss off the crossbar. Switzerland held their nerve at the end, with Ruben Vargas converting the decisive kick to win the shootout and send his team through.

## Breaking a curse

The win carried extra weight because Switzerland had never before won a penalty shootout at a World Cup, their only previous attempt ending in defeat to Ukraine in 2006. The manager, Murat Yakin, said afterward that the team had "finally broke the curse," a nod to years of near misses in these moments. For Colombia, it was a cruel way to go out, unbeaten in normal time yet eliminated on the finest of margins.

## Argentina next

The reward is daunting: a quarterfinal against Argentina, the holders, who came from two goals down to beat Egypt on the same day. Switzerland will go into that match as underdogs against a side built around Lionel Messi, but a team that has just exorcised its shootout demons, and reached its first quarterfinal in generations, will fancy its chances of causing a scare. Whatever happens next, this Swiss side has already given its supporters a night they will not soon forget.

## Sources

- [Switzerland overcome penalty curse to oust Colombia at the World Cup](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49301381/switzerland-overcome-penalty-curse-oust-colombia-world-cup)
- [Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties to set up an Argentina quarterfinal](https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/17/285023/289288/400021535)