Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in extra time, face England in WC SF
Synopsis
Argentina needed extra time and a Swiss red card to get past Switzerland 3-1 at Kansas City — but get past them they did. Alvarez's top-corner strike and Martinez's rebound tap-in set up the semi-final showdown with England at Atlanta, a fixture that barely needs an introduction. Argentina's 15-game World Cup scoring streak now stands as the fifth-longest in the tournament's history.
Key Takeaways
Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time at Kansas City Stadium on 12 July to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals.
Alexis Mac Allister headed Argentina ahead in the 10th minute from a Leo Messi corner; Dan Ndoye equalised for Switzerland in the second half.
Breel Embolo was sent off in the 72nd minute following a VAR review for diving, leaving Switzerland with 10 men .
Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez both scored in extra time to seal the victory.
Argentina have now scored in 15 successive World Cup games — the fifth-longest streak in tournament history.
Argentina face England in the second semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday.
Argentina advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium on 12 July, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez both netting after the break to seal the win against a side reduced to 10 men. Lionel Scaloni's side will now face England in the second semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday.
Key Developments
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 10th minute, heading home from a Leo Messi corner to give Argentina a narrow lead at the break. The first half was tight and combative, with most of the action concentrated in midfield rather than either penalty area.
Switzerland came out pressing after the interval, and Dan Ndoye levelled with a curling finish from the edge of the box to make it 1-1. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had earlier made two crucial saves to keep Argentina in it.
The Turning Point: Embolo's Red Card
The match shifted decisively in the 72nd minute when Breel Embolo was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card — confirmed by a VAR review — for diving in midfield. With the numerical advantage, Argentina controlled possession and came close through a bicycle kick from Lisandro Martinez, which Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saved brilliantly.
Extra Time: Alvarez and Martinez Seal It
In extra time, Alvarez broke the deadlock by cutting inside from left to right and burying a shot in the top corner from the edge of the box to restore Argentina's lead at 2-1. Martinez then capitalised on a rebound inside the area from a counter-attack to tap in and complete a 3-1 scoreline.
A Record-Extending Streak
The victory extended Argentina's run of scoring in consecutive World Cup games to 15 matches — a streak surpassed only by Uruguay (16 games, 1930–1962), Hungary (17 games, 1934–1962), and Germany and Brazil (18 games each). It underlines the team's remarkable consistency in the tournament's knockout stages.
What's Next
Argentina now prepare for a blockbuster semi-final against England at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday — a fixture loaded with history given the two nations' storied World Cup rivalry. The winner advances to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
Point of View
And Scaloni will know his side was made to work far harder than the 3-1 scoreline suggests. The England semi-final is a different proposition entirely: a settled, high-pressing side with no shortage of motivation against Argentina. Whether Messi can influence a match of that intensity across 90 or 120 minutes is the single biggest question heading into Atlanta.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Argentina vs Switzerland in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final?
Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 in extra time at Kansas City Stadium on 12 July . Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored in extra time after Dan Ndoye had equalised for Switzerland in the second half.
Who scored for Argentina against Switzerland?
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring with a header in the 10th minute. Julian Alvarez then netted in extra time with a top-corner finish, and Lautaro Martinez sealed the win by tapping in a rebound to complete the 3-1 scoreline.
Why was Breel Embolo sent off?
Breel Embolo received a second yellow card in the 72nd minute after a VAR review confirmed he had dived in midfield. His dismissal left Switzerland with 10 men for the remainder of the match, including extra time.
Who will Argentina play in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?
Argentina will face England in the second semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday. The two nations have a storied World Cup rivalry, making it one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament.
What is the significance of Argentina's 15-game World Cup scoring streak?
Argentina have now scored in 15 consecutive World Cup matches, the fifth-longest such streak in the tournament's history. Only Uruguay (16), Hungary (17), and Germany and Brazil (18 each) have recorded longer runs.
