Argentina reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals after a tense 3-1 victory over Switzerland after extra time in their quarterfinal clash at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The defending champions were pushed hard by a disciplined Swiss side, but late goals from Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez finally settled the contest.
The match began with Switzerland showing confidence and defensive organisation. The Swiss had reached the quarterfinals through structure, compact lines and strong goalkeeping, and they started with the same approach against Argentina. They looked to slow the tempo, block central passing lanes and deny Lionel Messi space between the lines.
Argentina gradually took control of possession and began to stretch Switzerland through wide movement and quick combinations. Their breakthrough came in the first half when Alexis Mac Allister put Argentina ahead. The goal came after a corner delivered by Messi, with Mac Allister reacting sharply to give the South American champions a 1-0 lead before halftime.
Switzerland, however, refused to fade. They remained compact after the break and waited for moments to attack with more directness. Their equaliser arrived in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye found the net to make it 1-1. The goal changed the emotional rhythm of the game and gave Switzerland belief that another major knockout upset was possible.
The match then became increasingly tense. Argentina continued to dominate the ball, but Switzerland defended with discipline and forced the world champions to work for every opening. A major turning point came when Breel Embolo was sent off after a video review, leaving Switzerland with 10 men at a critical stage of the match.
Despite the numerical advantage, Argentina could not find a winner before the end of normal time. Switzerland fought with determination and pushed the game into extra time, but fatigue and the red card eventually began to show.
The decisive moment came in the 112th minute. Julián Álvarez collected the ball in space and struck a powerful long-range effort that finally broke Swiss resistance and put Argentina 2-1 ahead. With Switzerland forced to chase the game, Argentina found more space in the closing stages.
Lautaro Martínez then sealed the victory with a late finish, making it 3-1 and confirming Argentina’s place in the semifinals. Although Messi did not score, his influence on the opening goal and Argentina’s attacking rhythm remained important throughout the match.
From a tactical perspective, Argentina’s win was built on patience, pressure and squad depth. Switzerland showed discipline and resilience, but playing with 10 men in extra time proved too difficult.
With this result, Argentina advance to the semifinals, where they will face England. Switzerland exit the tournament after a proud campaign, but Argentina’s late quality and knockout experience carried them through another demanding test.