Switzerland reaches World Cup quarterfinals with penalty win over Colombia, faces Argentina next

Goalless 120 minutes in Vancouver

The last round-of-16 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup produced few clear chances, as Switzerland and Colombia played out a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes at BC Place. Both sides managed only a handful of shots on target, with goalkeepers Gregor Kobel and Camilo Vargas largely untroubled. The clearest opportunity fell to Colombia in the 99th minute, when a header from a corner struck the crossbar. With no goals in regulation or extra time, the contest went to penalties.

Switzerland holds nerve from the spot

In the shootout, Colombia’s Sánchez hit the woodwork and Hernández had his effort saved by Kobel. Switzerland’s Akanji missed, but the Swiss converted their remaining kicks to win 4-3. The result sent the European side into the last eight, in front of 52,000 fans in Vancouver.

Quarterfinal lineup set

With Switzerland’s victory, the full quarterfinal bracket is now known. The matches, all listed in Greek local time (UTC+3), start with France against Morocco on 9 July at 23:00, followed by Spain versus Belgium on 10 July at 22:00. The weekend brings Norway against England on 12 July at 00:00, and the remaining tie: Argentina against Switzerland on 12 July at 04:00.

Messi’s Argentina up next for Swiss

Argentina advanced by beating Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16, and the 39-year-old Lionel Messi remains central to their campaign. Switzerland’s coach Murat Yakin will now prepare his team for the formidable task of stopping the Argentine captain. The winner of that quarterfinal will meet either Norway or England in the semifinals.