Defending champions Argentina kept their FIFA World Cup 2026 title defence alive with a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals, booking a place in a mouthwatering semi-final clash against England.
Argentina started brightly and took the lead in the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed home a perfectly delivered corner from Lionel Messi, sending the Argentine supporters into celebration. Switzerland, however, refused to back down and gradually grew into the contest with disciplined defending and dangerous counter-attacks.
The Swiss found their reward in the 67th minute as Dan Ndoye fired home the equaliser, silencing the Argentine fans and setting up a tense finish. Just five minutes later, the match took a dramatic turn when Swiss striker Breel Embolo was shown a controversial red card after a VAR review for simulation, reducing Switzerland to ten men. The decision sparked protests from the Swiss bench and players, with coach Murat Yakin later expressing frustration over the dismissal.
Despite enjoying the numerical advantage, Argentina struggled to break Switzerland’s resilient defence in normal time. As penalties looked increasingly likely, the South American champions finally produced moments of brilliance in extra time.
In the 112th minute, Julián Álvarez unleashed a stunning long-range strike after cutting inside from the left, giving Argentina the breakthrough they desperately needed. With Switzerland forced to push forward in search of another equaliser, Lautaro Martínez sealed the victory in the closing stages of extra time with a clinical finish after a swift attacking move.
Lionel Messi once again proved decisive, registering the assist for the opening goal and constantly creating opportunities throughout the contest. While he did not find the scoresheet himself, the Argentine captain controlled the tempo whenever his side needed composure and guided the defending champions through one of their toughest tests of the tournament.
The victory keeps Argentina’s dream of retaining the FIFA World Cup alive—a feat no nation has achieved since Brazil successfully defended their title in 1962. More importantly, it sets up one of the biggest matches of the tournament as Argentina prepare to face England in the semi-finals, while the other last-four clash will see France take on Spain.
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