Switzerland reaches a World Cup quarterfinal for the first time in 72 years and faces Argentina

The key figure was goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who after years in the shadow of Yann Sommer had finally established himself as number one. Already during regular time the Dortmund-based custodian made several outstanding saves, and in the penalty shootout he denied, among others, the substituted Cucho Hernandez. After the match, Yakin said of his goalkeeper: «Er hat zwei, drei Big Saves gehabt. Das haben wir gewusst, dass er beim Elfmeter ein sehr, sehr guter Torhüter ist.»

Kobel himself was overjoyed with the victory and the team's reaction: «Ich bin überglücklich über die Mannschaft, wie sie reagiert hat.» For the 27-year-old, it was the culmination of a personal journey from understudy to Sommer to first-choice goalkeeper and now the hero of a historic evening. The club from Dortmund had placed their trust in him, and on the big stage he repaid that faith.

Vargas scores, Akanji falters

The decisive penalty for the 4–3 final score was converted by Ruben Vargas, after both sides had each used five takers. For Colombia, it was an evening on which several players cracked under the pressure. Colombian head coach Nestor Lorenzo analysed coolly: «Man bezahlt für seine Fehler.» He added: «Wir hätten ein Tor schiessen sollen.» His team had created chances over long stretches of the match, but in the end lacked the composure in front of goal.

For Switzerland, however, not everything went smoothly: Manuel Akanji missed a penalty for Switzerland for the third time – after 2021 and 2024, this was yet another failure from the spot. The defender admitted afterwards: «Mein Elfmeter war katastrophal, ich habe im letzten Moment die Entscheidung gewechselt», firing well over the bar. Nevertheless, the team kept believing, and Kobel's saves made him the matchwinner.

Despite the missed penalty, Akanji remained combative: «Die Challenge wird immer noch schwieriger, aber wir sind für die Challenge bereit.» The centre-back was already looking ahead to the next task, because in the quarterfinals Switzerland faces the world champions – and none other than Lionel Messi. Switzerland had last met the «Albiceleste» at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in the round of 16, losing 0–1, when Messi set up the winning goal.

A historic moment

Granit Xhaka, who led the «Nati» onto the pitch as captain, had described the match beforehand as a chance for a new beginning. After the victory, Xhaka spoke of a «historischer Moment» and pointed to the generational change in the squad. Indeed, behind Xhaka, Kobel and Akanji stands a group that had fallen short at the European Championships in 2016, 2021 and 2024 – now the team appears to have made peace with the major tournaments.

The historic evening also triggered a wave of excitement in Switzerland on social media. User «rueggclsudia87» wrote in relief: «Gut bin ich eingeschlafen, das wäre nichts für meine Nerven.» The account of the Swiss rock-pop band «Hecht» also reacted emotionally. Murat Yakin in particular was praised for his tactical approach: «Ein riesiges DANKE an Murat Yakin, der die Mannschaft perfekt eingestellt hat, und an jeden einzelnen Spieler auf dem Platz, der heute sein Herz gelassen hat», wrote user «deka069».

Ecstasy on social media

Yakin himself appeared visibly moved after the match: «Wir stehen hier in einem historischen Moment», said the man from Valais, who had carefully reshaped the squad over the past years. His relief was palpable, after the «Nati» had long been regarded as talented but lacking the consistency for the biggest stages. With their run to the quarterfinals, they have now put that narrative aside for the time being.

With the 4–3 penalty win, Switzerland continued their strong record in penalty shootouts. Back at Euro 2021, they had already won a shootout against France – the previous generation around Yann Sommer laid the foundations for the current crop. Now Kobel seamlessly continued that tradition and became the figure of hope for an entire football nation.

The fact that Switzerland reached the last eight without their established striker gave the evening a special character. Even without the number 9, the team found a way to score one more penalty than their opponents – despite having struggled at times against the aggressively pressing Colombians over the 120 minutes. The 0–0 after normal and extra time ultimately told the story of a match decided more by nerve than by moments of brilliance.

The outlook for the quarterfinal is clear from a Swiss perspective: in Argentina they face the title holders, led by Lionel Messi, who has shaped the «Albiceleste»'s fortunes for decades. At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Messi set up the winning goal in the round-of-16 clash with Switzerland; now the «Nati» get their chance at revenge. Coach Yakin announced that his side would take the fight to the opposition: they knew the size of the task, but they had earned their place in the quarterfinals.

Reunion with Argentina and Messi

Statistically, the victory marks Switzerland's fourth World Cup quarterfinal. After 1954, 2006 and 2014, the «Nati» have now reached the last eight for the second time since the turn of the millennium. At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Switzerland were the only team to be eliminated without converting a single penalty – that blemish has now been definitively erased.

On Sunday, then, comes the duel with Argentina, which means far more to Switzerland than just another round-of-16 highlight. It is the chance to upset one of the biggest football nations of the modern era and to extend this historic World Cup run. Should the «Nati» pull off another coup against Messi and company, the sensation would be complete – but the very fact of reaching the quarterfinals after 72 years is a triumph that will go down in Swiss sporting history.

Even during the 120 intense and not always thrilling minutes, Kobel had laid the foundations with his saves. At the end of the match there was a jubilant pile-up in the Vancouver stadium, where 52,497 spectators had watched the game and experienced a collective moment of relief on Tuesday evening. Referee Barton from El Salvador blew the final whistle after 120 minutes and the dramatic penalty shootout – and the Swiss bench stormed the pitch.

Statistics and outlook

The victory also gives the Swiss federation momentum for the challenges ahead. After years of investment in young players and patient coaching work, Yakin's project appears to be bearing fruit. «Etwas Schöneres kann man als Trainer nicht haben», summed up the man from Valais at the end of a memorable evening – capturing the mood of Swiss fans, who let their pride run free on social media: «Wir haben uns das verdient, danke Jungs.»