​Defending champions Argentina will meet England in the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating ten-man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time, with Julian Alvarez delivering a decisive long-range strike to seal progress. The opening goal came early, as Alexis Mac Allister headed home from a cross delivered by Lionel Messi in the 10th minute at Kansas City Stadium, giving Argentina the lead and setting the tone for a tense match. Yet the performance that followed did not match the early promise, and Switzerland deservedly drew level in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye converted from close range after a well-worked move.
The match took another dramatic turn when Breel Embolo of Switzerland received a second yellow card for simulation in the 72nd minute, a decision that sparked controversy. The on-field call was reviewed by VAR to determine whether Leandro Paredes had been wrongly booked for a previous incident—an application of a new VAR rule introduced for the tournament. Embolo appeared to embellish a contact to win the foul, and Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro altered the decision, sending Embolo off and leaving Switzerland with a mountain to climb.
Argentina pushed forward in search of the late winner during regulation time, nearly finding it with a last-gasp effort from Lissandro Martinez. He flung himself at a loose ball in the box and unleashed a scissor-kick, but the opportunity lacked the power to beat the Swiss keeper. Messi himself came close to breaking the deadlock when he found himself through on goal in a one-on-one situation, but his chipped attempt was saved. The assistant referee signaled offside on the play, though replays suggested that a goal might have stood, potentially giving Messi his ninth goal in six appearances at the tournament.
The drama did not end in 90 minutes, as Alvarez emerged as the decisive threat for Argentina. He produced a stunning long-range drive from 25 yards in the 112th minute, curling a shot into the top-right corner to restore the lead and shift the balance of the match once more in Argentina’s favor. In the dying seconds of extra time, as Switzerland pushed men forward, Lautaro Martinez seized a counter-attacking opportunity and slotted home deep into stoppage time to make it 3-1, capping a counterattack initiated by Thiago Almada, whose initial shot deflected kindly into Martinez’s path.
With the victory, Argentina advance to the semifinals to face England in Atlanta on Wednesday. The other semifinal will see Spain take on France, the team Argentina defeated in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, on Tuesday. Historically, only Italy and Brazil have defended World Cup titles, adding extra significance to this edition’s chase for back-to-back glory.
The path to this milestone has been demanding for Argentina, who also endured extra time in the round of 16 against Cape Verde, underscoring the stamina and resilience required to navigate the World Cup knockout format. England, for their part, required extra time to overcome Norway in a tightly contested quarterfinal, and the looming prospect of Messi’s continued genius looms large for the English defense. The 39-year-old captain’s persistence and flair keep him in the conversation as a possible match-winner in Atlanta, where Argentina will attempt to extend their hold on the tournament’s most coveted prize.