Switzerland Reach World Cup Quarter-Finals After 72 Years

The win was a historic moment. Switzerland had not gone this far since they hosted the tournament in 1954. In the last three World Cups, they reached the round of 16 but always failed to go further. Coached by Murat Yakin, the team played without midfielder Johan Manzambi, who was injured in training the day before. The match brought together two very different styles: Switzerland preferred a disciplined, organised approach, while Colombia attacked more. Neither side could score, and both had only two shots on target. Colombia, who missed the 2022 finals, had last reached the quarter-finals in 2014.

Switzerland now face the defending champions, Argentina, who beat Egypt 3-2 in a dramatic late comeback earlier that day. The quarter-final will be played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. For Vargas, the hero of the shootout, the win felt especially sweet. He had also left Monday's training early but was fit enough to come on from the bench in stoppage time. The result extends a surprisingly deep run for a nation that has rarely gone far at a World Cup, and sets up a difficult test against one of the tournament favourites.