Defending champions Argentina beat ten-man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in Kansas City to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, where they will now face England on Wednesday in Atlanta.
Alexis Mac Allister gave Argentina an early lead, heading in a cross from Lionel Messi in the 10th minute at Kansas City Stadium. Argentina failed to build on that advantage in the period that followed, and Switzerland deservedly drew level in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye finished from close range to make it 1-1.
The Swiss suffered a setback in the 72nd minute when Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation. The decision followed a VAR review that examined whether a booking initially given to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes had been a case of mistaken identity, a new rule introduced for this tournament.
Replays showed Embolo appeared to dive to win a free kick, and referee Joao Pinheiro reversed his original call, sending off the Switzerland forward instead.
Argentina Push for Winner in Normal Time
Argentina searched for a second goal for the remainder of regulation time and came close with almost the last action of the period, when Lisandro Martinez attempted a scissor-kick from a loose ball inside the box, though the effort lacked the power to beat the goalkeeper.
Messi also had a chance when he broke through one-on-one, but his chipped attempt was saved. The assistant referee’s flag went up for offside, and while replays suggested the goal may have stood, it would have been Messi’s ninth of the tournament in six appearances.
With the score still tied at 1-1, the match moved into extra time. Julian Alvarez settled the contest in the 112th minute with a long-range strike from 25 yards that flew into the top corner, restoring Argentina’s lead.
Switzerland pushed players forward in search of an equaliser during the closing stages, leaving gaps at the back that Argentina exploited late in stoppage time. Lautaro Martinez capitalised on a counterattack started by Thiago Almada, whose initial shot deflected into his teammate’s path, to score a third and confirm the win.
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Argentina Face Extra-Time Test Once Again
Argentina now advance to face England in the semi-final, a run that has twice pushed them beyond 90 minutes at this tournament, following an earlier extra-time win over Cape Verde in the round of 32. England also needed extra time to beat Norway on Saturday, setting up a semi-final between two sides carrying similar physical demands into the next round.
Messi, at 39 years old, continues to feature prominently for Argentina and remains capable of producing decisive moments as the tournament progresses.
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Spain and France Meet for Other Semi-Final Spot
The winner of Wednesday’s semi-final between Argentina and England will face either Spain or France, who play their own quarter-final on Tuesday. Argentina defeated France in the final of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Only two nations have successfully defended a World Cup title in the competition’s history, Italy and Brazil, a statistic that adds further significance to Argentina’s continued progress in North America this summer.
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