Argentina have advanced to the World Cup 2026 semi-finals following a 3-1 victory against Switzerland in a quarter-final match that extended into extra-time. The win sets up a semi-final clash against England.
The match, played at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, saw Alexis Mac Allister give the defending champions the lead. However, Dan Ndoye equalised for Switzerland, bringing the score to parity. The game remained tight, leading to extra-time.
Dramatic Extra-Time and Controversial Decision
The extra-time period proved decisive and dramatic. A controversial VAR check resulted in Breel Embolo receiving a second yellow card for simulation, leaving Switzerland with ten men for more than 45 minutes, including the entirety of extra-time. Embolo was seen leaving the pitch visibly upset.
With a numerical advantage, Argentina capitalized. Julian Alvarez scored a crucial goal in extra-time, putting the Albiceleste ahead. This goal was described as a stunning effort, curled into the top right corner from outside the left of the box.
Lautaro Martinez then added a third goal for Argentina, sweeping up an Argentine counter-attack to solidify their lead. This final goal confirmed Argentina’s passage to their sixth World Cup semi-final.
The match marked Argentina’s second consecutive close encounter, having previously secured a 3-2 comeback win against Egypt in the Round of 16. Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, was a key player for Argentina, though in this particular quarter-final, he received significant support from teammates like Alvarez, especially in extra-time.
Road to the Semi-Finals and Upcoming Fixtures
Argentina’s journey to the quarter-finals included victories over Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), Jordan (3-1) in the group stage, and then Cabo Verde (3-2) and Egypt (3-2) in the knockout rounds. They have won all their games in regulation time prior to this quarter-final.
Switzerland, despite their defeat, had an unbeaten run leading up to this match. Their path included a 4-2 win against Croatia, a 0-0 draw with Ghana, and a 2-0 victory over Panama in the group stage. In the knockout rounds, they beat DR Congo 2-1 and Mexico 3-2.
The semi-final stage of the World Cup 2026 is now set. The final four teams are France, Spain, England, and Argentina. France and Spain are scheduled to play on Tuesday, July 14, at 8pm BST. Argentina will face England on Wednesday, July 15, also at 8pm BST.
All four semi-finalists are currently ranked within the top four of FIFA‘s rankings. This year’s tournament features an expanded format with 48 participating nations and a total of 104 games, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. The World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, with the final scheduled for July 19.
The quarter-finals took place on July 9, 10, and 11, followed by the semi-finals on July 14-15. The third-place playoff is set for July 18.
Fans in the US could watch the match live on Fox or Telemundo, or via streaming services such as DirecTV, Fox One, Fubo, Peacock, Sling, and YouTube TV. Globally, the match was available for free on platforms like BBC iPlayer/ITV in the UK, RTE Player in Ireland, SBS in Australia, M6 in France, ZDF in Germany, RTBF in Belgium, Servus TV in Austria, RTVE in Spain, CazéTV on YouTube in Brazil, NRK in Norway, and NOS in the Netherlands. The quarter-final match between Argentina and Switzerland kicked off at 9:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 11.
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Source: uk.pcmag.com
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
