Argentina Beats Switzerland 3–1 After Extra Time
Argentina reached the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals after beating Switzerland 3–1 in extra time on Saturday, July 11. Julián Alvarez scored the winning goal in the 112th minute before Lautaro Martínez added a third in the final moments.
The defending champions will now face England on Wednesday, July 15, in Atlanta.
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Late Goals Send Argentina Past Switzerland and Into the Semifinals
Argentina Takes an Early Lead
Argentina opened the scoring in the 10th minute at Kansas City Stadium, also known as Arrowhead Stadium.
Lionel Messi sent a corner toward the front post. Alexis Mac Allister reached the ball and guided a header beyond Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
It was the first time Switzerland had fallen behind during the tournament.
Argentina controlled much of the opening half, but Switzerland stayed close. The Swiss side had allowed only three goals in its first five matches, and its defence gave Argentina little room near the box.
Switzerland Fights Back After Halftime
Switzerland played with more speed after the break.
The team forced Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to make several saves before Dan Ndoye tied the match in the 67th minute.
Ricardo Rodríguez moved the ball down the left side and found Ndoye in space. Ndoye sent his shot past Martínez to make it 1–1.
The goal gave Switzerland a lift, but the match changed again five minutes later.
Embolo Red Card Changes the Match
Breel Embolo went down during a challenge involving Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes.
The referee first gave Paredes a yellow card. After a video review, officials removed that card and gave Embolo his second yellow for simulation.
Embolo was sent off in the 72nd minute, leaving Switzerland with ten players.
The call was made under the mistaken-identity review rule, which allows video officials to step in when they believe the wrong player has been booked.
Swiss coach Murat Yakin strongly disagreed with the decision.
“This rule destroyed our game today, and it is incredibly painful,” Yakin said after the match, according to Reuters.
The ruling became one of the biggest talking points of the quarter-final. Switzerland had just tied the match and was starting to create more chances.
Still, the Swiss side did not fall apart.
Switzerland Holds On With Ten Players
Argentina pushed more players forward after the red card.
Mac Allister sent a late header wide, while Messi missed a chance during stoppage time. Switzerland stayed deep and blocked several shots near its goal.
The score remained 1–1 after 90 minutes, sending the match into extra time.
Argentina kept most of the ball, but the Swiss defence held firm for another 21 minutes. A penalty shootout began to look possible before Alvarez changed the match.
Alvarez Scores the Extra-Time Winner
Alvarez received the ball outside the penalty area in the 112th minute.
He sent a long-range shot into the top corner. Kobel stretched toward the ball but could not reach it.
The goal gave Argentina a 2–1 lead and brought a loud response from the Argentina supporters in Kansas City.
“We fought until the end, and finally the goals came,” Alvarez said after the win.
Lautaro Martínez added Argentina’s third goal in the 121st minute. Kobel stopped Thiago Almada’s first shot, but Martínez reached the rebound and put the ball into the net.
The final score looked comfortable, but the match was much closer than the two-goal gap showed.
Key Match Information
- Final score: Argentina 3–1 Switzerland after extra time
- Argentina scorers: Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Alvarez, and Lautaro Martínez
- Switzerland scorer: Dan Ndoye
- Red card: Breel Embolo was sent off after receiving a second yellow card
- Winning goal: Julián Alvarez scored in the 112th minute
Argentina’s Next Match
- Opponent: England
- Stage: 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal
- Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- What is at stake: The winner will advance to the World Cup final
Messi Helps Argentina Without Scoring
Messi did not score against Switzerland, ending his run of goals in nine straight World Cup matches.
He still played a key part in the win. His corner led to Mac Allister’s opening goal, and he helped Argentina create chances throughout the match.
Argentina has now survived three close knockout games.
The team needed extra time to beat Cape Verde before coming back from two goals down against Egypt. The quarter-final brought another test, but Argentina again found a late answer.
Switzerland’s Run Ends in the Quarter-Finals
Switzerland was playing in its first World Cup quarter-final since 1954.
The team came close to reaching the semifinals for the first time, even after going down to ten players.
Switzerland has now faced Argentina eight times without a win. Three of those meetings have taken place at the World Cup.
Yakin said he was proud of how his players handled the match.
“This team has so much passion,” he said. “Despite the fact we were one man down, we gave it all.”
Argentina Moves On to Face England
Argentina is now two wins away from keeping the World Cup title it won in 2022.
The last men’s team to win two World Cups in a row was Brazil, which lifted the trophy in 1958 and 1962.
Next up is England, which beat Norway 2–1 after extra time in its quarter-final.
The semifinal will also mark Messi’s first World Cup match against England. Both teams have needed late goals during the knockout rounds, so another close game could be ahead.
What are your predictions for the World Cup final? Do you think Argentina will get past England, and which two teams will play for the trophy? Share your picks in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Argentina beat Switzerland 3–1 after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final. The match was tied 1–1 after 90 minutes, with both teams scoring once in normal time.
Julián Alvarez broke the tie in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martínez added another goal in the 121st minute to seal Argentina’s place in the semifinal.
Alexis Mac Allister scored Argentina’s first goal in the 10th minute after meeting a corner from Lionel Messi. His early header gave Argentina a 1–0 lead.
Julián Alvarez scored the winning goal in the 112th minute with a long-range shot. Lautaro Martínez then scored in the 121st minute after following up on a saved effort from Thiago Almada.
Breel Embolo was sent off in the 72nd minute after receiving a second yellow card for simulation. The referee first booked Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, but VAR asked for a review.
After checking the replay, the referee removed Paredes’ yellow card and booked Embolo instead. Since Embolo had already been cautioned earlier, Switzerland had to finish the match with ten players.
No, Lionel Messi did not score in the quarter-final. His run of scoring in nine straight World Cup matches came to an end.
He still played an important role in the result. Messi supplied the corner that led to Mac Allister’s opening goal and helped create several chances as Argentina pushed for a late winner.
Argentina will face England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal on Wednesday, July 15, in Atlanta.
England reached the semifinal after beating Norway 2–1 after extra time. The winner of Argentina vs. England will move on to the World Cup final.
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