Vargas seals Switzerland's first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954

Rubén Vargas steadied Switzerland when the knockout tie had become a test of nerve, then buried the decisive penalty to beat Colombia 4-3 and send his team into its first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954.

The Round of 16 match at BC Place in Vancouver ended 0-0 after 120 minutes on July 7, 2026, leaving the contest to be decided from the spot. Vargas, who plays for Sevilla and had entered the game carrying doubts about whether he could participate, stayed through the full 120 minutes and finished with the calmest kick of the night.

The shootout swung Switzerland’s way after Gregor Kobel denied Cucho Hernández, following Davinson Sánchez’s earlier miss when his effort hit the crossbar. Switzerland spent long stretches without clear chances, and Murat Yakin’s side relied on organization and composure when the margin narrowed to a single penalty.

Vargas said Switzerland had made history and deserved the victory, a view that matched the manner of the win more than any celebration after it. The result sent Switzerland into a quarterfinal against Argentina, while Colombia left Vancouver with James Rodríguez having reached a personal milestone as the country’s all-time leader in World Cup appearances.