Football, at its cruelest, comes down to a single moment. On July 7, 2026, that moment belonged to Gregor Kobel.
The Swiss goalkeeper dived to his right and stopped Cucho Hernández’s spot kick at BC Place in Vancouver, keeping the penalty shootout level at 2-2 before Switzerland eventually converted enough to win 4-3 and advance to the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals.
Colombia had battled through 90 minutes of regulation and an additional 30 of extra time without either side finding the net.
How the shootout unfolded
The sequence of penalties was tight all the way through. Both sides converted their first two attempts, setting the stage for Hernández’s crucial third kick.
