​Argentina edged Switzerland in another chapter of its astonishing World Cup journey, as Julián Álvarez produced an extra-time stunner that transformed a tense quarterfinal into a defining moment. The defending champions prevailed 3-1 after extra time on Saturday night in Kansas City, narrowly surviving a first-half scare when Dan Ndoye equalized and a VAR-reviewed red card left the Swiss with 10 men for the remainder of regulation and all of extra time. With the win, Argentina earned a semifinal showdown with England on Wednesday in Atlanta.
Argentina started with purpose, taking the lead in the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed in from a Lionel Messi corner. The crowd briefly erupted again when Switzerland struck back in the 67th minute through Ndoye, whose curling effort from a tight angle found the back of the net and quieted the stadium. Five minutes later, Breel Embolo was dismissed for simulation after a VAR review, forcing the Swiss to defend with a man down for the rest of regulation and through extra time.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Argentina couldn’t press home a second before the whistle, sending the match into extra time. It was Álvarez who would decide the tie. In the 112th minute, he unleashed a curling strike from outside the penalty area that beat goalkeeper Gregor Kobel at the far post, a moment few in attendance anticipated and one that instantly became a signature highlight of the tournament. Lautaro Martínez added a third in stoppage time of extra time, sealing the 3-1 victory and triggering wild celebrations on the Argentina bench.
Álvarez emerged as the indisputable match-winner, and his late-goal beauty instantly ranked among the tournament’s defining moments. His strike finally broke the deadlock and shifted the balance decisively in Argentina’s favor. Messi, though not scoring himself, played a pivotal role by setting up the opener and generating numerous chances that kept Switzerland’s defense under constant pressure. Mac Allister had already broken the stalemate with a precise header, and Martínez finished the job with a late, clinching strike.
The result underscored Argentina’s remarkable run, marking a historic quarterfinals performance as France prepared to face Spain in the other semifinal. It also continued a broader narrative: since FIFA rankings began in 1992, this World Cup semifinals feature the top four teams, a rare convergence that Argentina now advances into with a 12-match unbeaten streak in World Cup knockout play under Lionel Scaloni. The path ahead is formidable, as Argentina will meet England in Atlanta on Wednesday, a match set to feature two of the tournament’s most seasoned participants after England survived a dramatic extra-time clash with Norway earlier on Saturday, thanks in large part to two goals from Jude Bellingham.
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