​Julian Alvarez delivered a moment of late drama as his unstoppable strike in the 113th minute propelled Argentina into the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, eliminating Switzerland from the tournament. The holders have not looked at their best across the knockout rounds, but they exhibited tenacity and resilience to clinch a place among the last four and extend their record of reaching the World Cup semi-finals.
Argentina emerged with a controlled, cagey start, and they managed to take the lead in the 10th minute through AlexisMac Allister. The captaincy and creativity of Lionel Messi were evident as the Barcelona talisman supplied his 10th World Cup assist with a precise corner that sparked the opening goal and underscored Argentina’s attacking intent. The early strike gave the South American giants confidence and a foothold in the match as they sought to build on their lead against a Swiss side eager to respond.
Murat Yakin’s team carried a renewed energy after the interval, and their persistence paid off when Dan Ndoye finished off a well-worked move, finishing the attack with a composed finish after linking up in a sharp one-two with former Wolfsburg defender Ricardo Rodríguez. The equalizer shifted momentum as Switzerland pressed for more, but their hopes were dashed when Breel Embolo picked up a second yellow card for a dive following a VAR review, reducing the Swiss to ten men and complicating their path to victory.
With the Swiss capitulating at the back and facing a numerical disadvantage, Gregor Kobel was forced to make a string of important saves as Argentina flooded forward. The Dortmund goalkeeper and his backline stood firm through a tense period of extra time, repelling the persistent Argentine attacks and keeping the scoreboard level as the clock wound toward a decisive moment.
That moment arrived when Alvarez struck a thunderous shot past the Swiss goalkeeper in the closing minutes of extra time, sealing a dramatic victory for Argentina. Lautaro Martinez then added a third to put the outcome beyond doubt, sealing a memorable triumph for the South American champions and extending Alvarez’s personal goal-scoring exploits on the world stage.
Despite being unable to prevent Messi from scoring in ten consecutive World Cup matches, Alvarez continued his impressive form, shattering Swiss hopes of reaching a first-ever semi-final. The Swiss boasted significant Bundesliga influence in this quarter-final, with five players from the German top flight featuring in the lineup, while seven more had previously plied their trade in Germany’s elite league. This experience-rich squad had reached their first World Cup quarter-final since 1938, highlighting Switzerland’s long-standing tradition of progress at major tournaments.
With the win, the World Cup semi-final picture is now complete, featuring the four highest-ranked teams according to FIFA’s historical coefficient, all reaching the last four of the tournament for the first time since the Round of 16 era began in 1986. The day’s results left France and Spain to contest the first semi-final, with Argentina and England lining up for the other last-four clash in what promises to be a historic duel between two storied football nations. This marks Messi’s first World Cup clash against England, adding an extra layer of narrative to what promises to be an unforgettable set of semi-finals. As the competition edges toward its conclusion, the narrative around Argentina’s quest for football glory continues to captivate fans and pundits around the world, with Alvarez’s late heroics a defining moment in this World Cup campaign.