​Argentina surged ahead of Switzerland late in extra time on Saturday when Julián Álvarez produced one of the World Cup’s finest goals to date. Álvarez struck in the 112th minute in Kansas City, breaking a 1-1 deadlock in the quarterfinal. The Atlético Madrid forward received a pass on the edge of the area and unloaded a powerful right-footed shot into the top corner, leaving Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel with no chance. With Switzerland reduced to ten men and seeking a late equalizer, Argentina added a crucial insurance goal through Lautaro Martínez in the 121st minute, sealing a 3-1 victory.
Argentina will advance to face England in the semifinal on Wednesday, July 15, in Atlanta. The 2026 World Cup is the largest edition in history, and USA TODAY is deploying reporters across all 16 host cities in three countries to cover 48 teams competing for the trophy. Sign up for our World Cup: Extra Time newsletter to receive updates each morning, and join our WhatsApp channel for the latest headlines delivered straight to your messages. All games in the United States are broadcast on Fox and FS1, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo throughout the tournament and streaming on Peacock. Get to know Team USA 2026 and the athletes behind the games.
The World Cup operates as a single-elimination tournament once the knockout stage begins. The 32 remaining teams are placed in a bracket, and the field halves with each successive round until a champion is crowned. The only exception to the straight knockout format is that the two semifinal losers will compete in a third-place playoff before the final.
Upcoming fixtures (local times TBD) include: July 4: France vs Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; July 5: England vs Mexico in Mexico City; July 6: Belgium vs USA in Seattle; July 7: Argentina vs Egypt in Atlanta; July 7: Switzerland vs Colombia in Vancouver; July 9: France vs Morocco in Foxborough; July 10: Spain vs Belgium in Inglewood; July 11: Norway vs England in Miami; July 11: Argentina vs Switzerland in Kansas City; July 14: France vs Spain in Arlington; July 15: England vs Argentina or Switzerland in Atlanta; July 19: Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY and has been updated for clarity and SEO relevance. The match showcased Julián Álvarez’s decisive intervention, underscoring Argentina’s late-game resilience and tactical poise as they push toward what could be an even more storied run in the 2026 World Cup.