Manuel Akanji retires from penalty duties after Colombia miss
Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji has vowed never to take another penalty after his latest miss during the 2026 World Cup.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ardfern
Manuel Akanji has officially stepped down from penalty-taking duties for the Switzerland national team following a tense 2026 World Cup round of 16 match against Colombia. Despite the team's eventual shootout victory, the defender failed to convert his spot-kick, sending the ball well over the crossbar.
I told Murat Yakin after the game that this is the last penalty I will ever take in my career. It was a disaster. I changed my mind at the last moment before the strike because I had seen the goalkeeper dive to the left twice before. I decided to shoot a bit higher toward the center, but the ball went four meters over the goal. Manuel Akanji
This miss marks the third time the defender has failed to score from the spot in a major tournament shootout. He previously missed against England at Euro 2024 and Spain at Euro 2020.