Switzerland v Colombia LIVE: Swiss break Colombian hearts in penalty shootout to reach World Cup last 16 | OneFootball

Ruben Vargas blasted the winning spot kick for Switzerland as they beat Colombia 4-3 ⁠in a penalty shootout to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

The first 120 minutes finished 0-0 following a tense, tactical battle low on quality with few genuine chances for either side, although Colombia’s Jhon ‌Lucumi did hit the bar with a header in extra time.

Davinson ⁠Sanchez’s penalty in the shootout smashed the crossbar and Cucho ‌Hernandez saw his spot-kick saved, while Manuel Akanji fired Switzerland’s third penalty well over before Vargas held his nerve to slot home the crucial spot-kick

And Argentina now await in the quarter-finals in Kansas City on Saturday after the reigning world champions came from 2-0 down to dramatically beat Egypt 3-2 earlier today.

Switzerland edge Colombia in dramatic penalty shoot-out to set up World Cup quarter-final with Argentina

Ruben Vargas converted his penalty and Switzerland advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals with a 4-3 shootout win over Colombia after a scoreless draw on Tuesday.

Switzerland will next face defending champion Argentina on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 earlier in the day.

Switzerland had not reached the quarterfinals of a World Cup since hosting the tournament in 1954. And the Swiss were shorthanded Tuesday without young midfielder Johan Manzambi, who was injured in training on Monday.

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Chris Wilson8 July 2026 00:37

Gianni Infantino’s Trumpification of Fifa will have repercussions well beyond this stained World Cup

There’s an axiom in American politics that has formed the title of a bestselling book: “Everything Trump touches dies.”

US Soccer duly saw the ultimate pride before a fall. After Donald Trump had boasted about his intervention in the Folarin Balogun case, it only ended up informing – and infusing – a humiliating defeat for the USA.

There’s an argument that the 4-1 defeat to Belgium might actually have been the best thing for Fifa, given the crisis that was engulfing the body over the previous 36 hours, and that’s probably true in the short term. Belgium don’t have the incentive to pursue action in the same way as if Balogun had scored the winner in a US victory.

Gianni Infantino’s Trumpification of the World Cup only leads to one thing

Donald Trump’s intervention in the Folarin Balogun furore has opened the Fifa president to his most fierce criticism yet, writes Miguel Delaney, and may pave the way for more bitter ‘lawfare’ in football

Chris Wilson8 July 2026 05:00

How Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Martinez and Portugal became the World Cup’s biggest disappointment

When Roberto Martinez was manager of Belgium, a witticism often voiced was that his fate would be determined by the technical director of the Belgian FA: a certain Roberto Martinez. Whether or not he is trigger-happy, Martinez may have sacked himself now. "I came to Portugal to win the World Cup and I ​think that, without winning it, there's no point in continuing," he said after Portugal departed the tournament without ever threatening to win it.

They were held by the Democratic Republic of Congo, mustering a lone shot on target. They were the worse side in drawing with Colombia. They may not have been the better one in edging past Croatia. Their elimination by Spain felt deserved, in part for the lack of ambition they demonstrated. And they were only facing Spain because their mediocre performance in the group stage cost them a seemingly easier route deeper into the tournament.

How Ronaldo, Martinez and Portugal became the World Cup’s biggest disappointment

A squad that promised plenty delivered little in North America – with Martinez’s refusal to leave out Ronaldo a massive misstep

Chris Wilson8 July 2026 04:00

Fox Sports pundits Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas clash during intense Balogun red card debate

Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas were engaged in a tense argument over Fifa’s handling of Folarin Balogun’s suspension during Fox Sport’s World Cup 2026 coverage.

The United States forward was handed a reprieve by Fifa after President Donald Trump intervened and encouraged Fifa President Gianni Infantino to review the one-game suspension after a sending off against Bosnia.

Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee pointed to article 27 of their Disciplinary Code to suspend Balogun’s one-match ban for a period of 12 months, while also fining the player and the USMNT $40,000 between the two parties, despite Uefa accusing the world governing body of “crossing a red line”.

Fox pundits Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas clash during intense Balogun debate

The Fox Sport pundits disagreed over Fifa’s handling of Folarin Balogun’s suspension after a red card against Bosnia, with President Donald Trump intervening

Chris Wilson8 July 2026 03:00

Argentina’s act of escapology highlights the problem with Enzo Fernandez

Enzo Fernandez was airborne. His header looped and then nestled in the Egypt net. An act of Argentinian escapology was a glorious goal that is destined for a place in folklore in his homeland. The comeback of champions was sealed by Fernandez; 2-0 down after 78 minutes, 3-2 up after 94.

Whether or not it enables Argentina to retain the World Cup, it should at least prove the defining moment of the midfielder’s tournament. Because, until now, it came off the field, in the form of a Comunicado Oficial, a Real Madrid statement denying everything. “The club wishes to state that it has not made any efforts, either directly or indirectly, aimed at signing the aforementioned player and, furthermore, has no intention of pursuing such an operation,” they said.

Argentina’s act of escapology highlights the problem with Enzo Fernandez

Enzo Fernandez’s goal has salvaged Argentina’s World Cup hopes and his own personal tournament, with Richard Jolly detailing how his Chelsea future is complicated in comparison to his role for his country

Chris Wilson8 July 2026 02:00

The rare England quality that makes for tense World Cup matches – but could see them go all the way

Amid an epic World Cup night of high emotion at the Azteca, where the exhaustion of the England players was only superseded by the euphoria, Thomas Tuchel also felt a quieter sense of satisfaction.

The pure football coach in him couldn’t but appreciate the ability of his players to think in the moment.

It was quite a notable point amid all the natural talk about the joy, the stakes, the spectacle, the heart, the pride.

Chris Wilson8 July 2026 01:45

That’s bad karma for you, Mr President, as United States crash out of World Cup to defiant Belgium

After all the controversy and commander-in-chief-led skullduggery, here came the great American fall from grace. Following the whackiest of all lead-ups to a World Cup knockout match, one statement outdoing the next, an aggrieved Belgium outfit firmly made their statement on the pitch to knock the United States out of the World Cup on Monday evening.

That’s what you call bad karma, Mr President.

And it felt fitting that Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who took Donald Trump’s call to arms, was present in his VIP seat to watch on. The extraordinary debacle surrounding the removal of Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban, rendering him available for this match, had cast a dark cloud over the sporting integrity of this World Cup. It was an unprecedented type of political interference, meddling with on-field decisions on a global stage. Sometimes, though, sport has its own way of providing poetic justice. And in the Seattle heat, it was a dish best served cold.

That’s bad karma for you, Mr President, as United States crash out of World Cup

United States 1-4 Belgium: After all the pre-match shenanigans, an anonymous Folarin Balogun was outshone by Belgium striker Charles De Ketelaere, who scored twice, as poetic justice was a dish best served cold in Seattle

Chris Wilson8 July 2026 01:30

'Argentina the happier side'

“Today Switzerland weren't overly impressive. I expected far more from the Swiss in this game,” says South American football expert Tim Vickery on BBC.

“The fact that the Swiss have gone the full 120, I think Argentina are the happier side,” he added.

Chris Wilson8 July 2026 01:15