FIFA World Cup 2026: Switzerland beat Colombia to reach quarter-finals
What's the story
Switzerland made history by qualifying for the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1954. They achieved this milestone after defeating Colombia 4-3 in a penalty shootout at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada. The match ended goalless after extra time, with both teams displaying strong defense throughout the game. Here are the key numbers.
Match highlights
Match summary and stats
Colombia had two golden opportunities to win the match in extra time, but both Jhon Lucumi and Jaminton Campaz failed to score. Lucumi hit the crossbar with a header while Campaz shot over the bar when he was one-on-one with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Despite missing their breakout star Johan Manzambi due to an injury sustained during training on Monday, Switzerland held their ground.
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A look at match stats
Switzerland and Colombia were neck-and-neck, with the former holding 48% possession. Meanwhile, Colombia had 15 attempts on goal, with just three on target. The match saw five yellow cards, including three for the Swiss side.
Next challenge
Switzerland achieve historic double
Switzerland have now won two knockout games in a single World Cup for the first time. As mentioned, the Swiss side reached its maiden World Cup quarter-final in 72 years. Before this, they choked at the Round of 16 five times. Switzerland will now face defending champions Argentina in the quarter-finals on Saturday. The Argentines claimed a dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt.
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Heartbreak for Colombia
On the other hand, Colombia were vying for their first FIFA World Cup quarter-final since 2014, when they finished fifth. Colombia, who lost their R16 clash in 2018, did not qualify for the 2022 edition.