Argentina reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the early hours of Sunday after a dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over a resilient Switzerland at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Two goals in the additional 30 minutes, from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, finally settled a quarter-final that the defending champions had struggled to control for long periods.
Argentina made the perfect start when Lionel Messi delivered a pinpoint corner in the 10th minute and Alexis Mac Allister glanced a header into the far corner. Switzerland, appearing in the last eight of a World Cup for the first time since 1954, refused to fold and drew level in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye finished off a swift counter-attack set up by Ricardo Rodriguez, silencing the heavily pro-Argentine crowd.
The complexion of the match changed just after the hour when Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation following a video review, leaving Switzerland to play more than 50 minutes with ten men. Even so, the Swiss defended heroically, and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel produced a series of important saves to keep the scores level and force the tie into extra time, with Argentina managing few clear efforts on target across the 90 minutes.
The extra period is where Argentina's quality and their numerical advantage told. In the 111th minute Alvarez curled a precise finish into the top corner to restore the lead, and in the closing seconds Lautaro Martinez bundled home a rebound to make it 3-1 and put the result beyond doubt. The late flurry gave the scoreline a comfortable look that the balance of the contest had not always suggested.
The Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro oversaw a bad-tempered and physical encounter that at times threatened to boil over, particularly after the Embolo dismissal. Argentina, chasing back-to-back world titles, will take heart from their resilience even as their coaching staff acknowledge that the performance left room for improvement against stronger opponents to come.
The victory sets up a blockbuster semi-final against England in Atlanta on Wednesday, a meeting rich in history between two of the sport's traditional powers. For Switzerland, defeat ends a landmark campaign that included a penalty shootout win over Colombia in the round of 16, and Murat Yakin's side depart the tournament having earned widespread admiration for their spirited stand a man short.
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