Julian Alvarez delivered a stunning long-range strike in extra time to send Argentina into the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, where they will meet England following a turbulent quarter-final clash in Kansas City.
The defending champions edged past a resilient Swiss side that had been reduced to ten men by a controversial VAR-assisted dismissal, with Lautaro Martinez sealing the result on the counter-attack in the closing stages. Switzerland, who had matched Argentina for much of the contest, were left to rue both the red card and a string of missed opportunities.
Alvarez Strikes Late to Break Swiss Resistance
With the scoreline level and the match heading toward a penalty shootout, Julian Alvarez produced the decisive moment — a curling effort from 25 yards that left Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel with no chance. The goal, coming deep in extra time, confirmed Argentina’s place in the last four and set up a blockbuster semi-final against England.
Lautaro Martinez then put the result beyond doubt when Switzerland pushed forward in search of an equalizer, leaving themselves exposed at the back. A swift counter-attack ended with Martinez slotting home to preserve Argentina’s World Cup campaign and their bid to retain the title they won four years ago.
VAR Drama: Embolo Dismissed for Simulation
The match’s pivotal moment arrived midway through the second half, when VAR intervened to overturn a foul decision that had initially gone in Switzerland’s favor. Breel Embolo appeared to be brought down near the halfway line by Leandro Paredes, who was shown a yellow card — but a review under the mistaken identity rule revealed that the Swiss forward had clearly gone to ground without contact.
The booking against Paredes was rescinded, and Embolo — already carrying a yellow card — was sent off, sparking fury among the Swiss players and staff. The dismissal proved decisive: Switzerland had been the superior side for long stretches and had just equalized five minutes earlier, but the numerical disadvantage ultimately proved too great to overcome.
Argentina’s Slow Start and Record-Breaking Firepower
Alexis Mac Allister had given Argentina an early advantage, flicking home from close range after Lionel Messi delivered a precise corner kick in just the tenth minute. Yet rather than building on that lead, the reigning champions allowed Switzerland to grow into the contest, and Dan Ndoye — the Nottingham Forest winger — leveled matters on 67 minutes with a composed finish through the legs of Emiliano Martinez after a neat one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez.
Despite the underwhelming nature of their performance — a pattern that has repeated itself across three consecutive matches at this tournament — Argentina’s attacking depth ultimately proved the difference. Emiliano Martinez was kept busy throughout, making saves from Ndoye, Embolo, and a long-range attempt by Granit Xhaka, while Lisandro Martinez tested Kobel with an acrobatic effort deep in injury time.
The victory extended Argentina’s remarkable World Cup scoring streak to 15 consecutive matches, and by netting more than once they set a new all-time record for scoring multiple goals in successive World Cup games — surpassing Uruguay’s historic run that spanned from 1930 to 1954. Messi, meanwhile, failed to find the net for the first time at this tournament, but still made history by becoming the first player ever to record ten assists across all World Cup appearances.
Switzerland’s Quarter-Final Curse Strikes Again
For Switzerland, the defeat extended a painful run of results at the knockout stage of major competitions. Having played six quarter-finals across the last eight major tournaments, they have now lost every single one — a record that underlines just how difficult it has been for the Swiss to translate strong group-stage performances into deep runs.
The absence of midfielder Johan Manzambi also weighed heavily on their campaign. After an impressive start to the tournament, he was sidelined for the final two matches with a knee injury, depriving Switzerland of a key creative outlet at the most critical stage.
Questions will also be raised about the refereeing standards applied to Argentina throughout the match. Of the 32 fouls committed across 90 minutes, 14 were by the South Americans — yet not a single yellow card was shown to an Argentine player until extra time, a disparity that drew sharp criticism from the Swiss camp.
Road to the Final: Argentina vs England
Argentina will now face England in the second World Cup semi-final, scheduled for 20:00 BST on Wednesday, 15 July in Atlanta. The winner of that encounter will advance to the 2026 World Cup final, where they will meet either France or Spain.
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