Argentina Defeats Switzerland to Reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals

Kansas City, Missouri — July 12, 2026

Defending champions Argentina are through to the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Switzerland 3–1 in an entertaining quarterfinal that required extra time at Kansas City Stadium.

The victory sends Lionel Scaloni’s side into a blockbuster semifinal clash against England as Argentina continues its quest to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles.

Argentina made a bright start and took the lead in the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed home from a Lionel Messi corner kick, giving La Albiceleste early control of the match. Switzerland, however, refused to back down and remained organized defensively while looking for opportunities on the counterattack.

The Swiss found their breakthrough in the 67th minute as Dan Ndoye equalized, setting up a tense finish to regulation time. Moments later, Switzerland’s hopes suffered a major setback when Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card after a VAR review determined he had simulated a foul, reducing his side to 10 men for the remainder of the contest.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Switzerland defended resolutely and pushed the match into extra time, frustrating Argentina for long stretches and raising the possibility of another dramatic penalty shootout.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 112th minute when Julián Álvarez unleashed a spectacular long-range strike that beat goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and restored Argentina’s lead. As Switzerland committed players forward in search of another equalizer, Lautaro Martínez sealed the victory in stoppage time of extra time by converting a rebound to make it 3–1.

Lionel Messi, appearing in what is expected to be his sixth and final FIFA World Cup, once again played an influential role by creating chances throughout the evening, including the corner that led to Argentina’s opening goal. Although he did not score, the veteran captain remained at the center of Argentina’s attacking play as his team secured another hard-fought knockout victory.

For Switzerland, the defeat ended an impressive tournament that included a penalty shootout victory over Colombia in the Round of 16 and the nation’s first World Cup quarterfinal appearance since 1954. Despite playing much of the second half and extra time with 10 men, the Swiss earned praise for their disciplined and resilient performance against one of the tournament favorites.

Argentina will now turn its attention to England, with a place in the FIFA World Cup final at stake. The semifinal promises to be one of the tournament’s marquee matchups, featuring two footballing giants with aspirations of lifting the trophy on July 19.

With France, Spain, England, and Argentina making up the final four, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its decisive stage, setting the scene for a thrilling conclusion to football’s biggest tournament.

Sources

• Reuters
• FIFA
• Associated Press