Read for 2 minutesUpdated: July 8, 2026 04:46 AM IST
Switzerland overcame Colombia in a dramatic penalty shootout in Vancouver on Wednesday, with 120 minutes of football unable to separate the two teams. Switzerland’s reward for surviving the penalty shootout in the last 16 games will be a quarter-final against defending champions Argentina on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Colombia’s match against Switzerland went to penalties as neither side could score in the 90 minutes or the 30 minutes of extra time that followed.
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Here’s how the Colombia vs Switzerland penalty shootout played out
Colombia took a 1-0 lead. Juan Quintero successfully converts the penalty!
Switzerland 1-1: Granit Xhaka scores. Vargas gets a hand to the ball, but it still goes in!
Colombia miss, so still 1-1: Davinson Sanchez sends his kick thudding into the crossbar!
Swiss lead 2-1: Amdauni lands his kick in the corner. What peace!
Columbia scores, 2-2: It was nearby. Jaminton Campaz’s shot is anticipated by the Switzerland keeper, but he can’t keep it out despite a faint touch.
Miss Switzerland! 2-2 after 3 penalties: Manuel Akanji sends his penalty skyward!
Miss Colombia again! Cucho misses as his penalty is saved!
Switzerland lead 3-2: Cedric Itten Score! Clinical penalties!
Colombia stay in race at 3-3: Luis Diaz successfully converted the penalty after a stuttering run. Quietly curls his penalty into the corner!
Switzerland in the quarterfinals! Ruben Vargas scored a penalty to send the Swiss into the last eight
Just hours before the Colombia v Switzerland match, Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 3-2 win over Mo Salah’s Egypt, when the defending champions were trailing 0-2 at one stage.
The Colombia vs Switzerland match was the final match of the ongoing World Cup being played in Canada. Mexico’s final has already been played meaning all the remaining matches from the quarter-finals onwards will be played in the USA.
The game also made James Rodriguez the most capped Colombian of all time. Meanwhile, Colombia became the only nation out of the 48 nations in the World Cup to play in all three host countries.
Colombia kept their record of not conceding a goal in the first half of eight World Cup matches intact.
Switzerland have not reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup since they played the hosts for the prestigious tournament in 1954.
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Missing was Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi, who was injured in training on Monday.
Meanwhile, Colombia last reached the quarter-finals at the 2014 World Cup, but lost to hosts Brazil.
Gustavo Puerta had Colombia’s first good chance in the 21st minute when a shot from distance was pushed away by Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
The Swiss had a chance in the 30th when Fabian Reeder’s burst on Camilo Vargas, who knocked the ball down. A few minutes later, Vargas deflected Dan Ndoye’s second attempt.
(with input from AP)