Argentina defeats Switzerland in extra time to secure World Cup semi-final against England

By Brian Otieno — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

Argentina advanced to the World Cup 2026 semi-finals after a 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in Kansas City. The win sets up a highly anticipated clash with England in Atlanta. The match saw Julian Alvarez score a decisive goal in extra time, following earlier goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martinez for Argentina, and Dan Ndoye for Switzerland.

The encounter began with Switzerland showing a positive start, but Argentina took the lead within the first 10 minutes. Alexis Mac Allister, left unmarked during a corner, headed the ball in after receiving a pass from Lionel Messi. Despite this early setback, Switzerland continued to press, with Breel Embolo having a notable chance in the first half that was thwarted by Lisandro Martinez and Emi Martinez.

Switzerland maintained their pressure into the second half. Dan Ndoye and Granit Xhaka both tested the Argentine goalkeeper. The sustained effort paid off in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye, after a one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez, scored from a tight angle to level the game.

However, Switzerland’s momentum was short-lived. Just five minutes after their equaliser, Leandro Paredes was initially booked for a foul on Breel Embolo. Under new mistaken identity rules, the VAR recommended a review, leading referee Joao Pinheiro to instead issue Embolo a second yellow card for simulation, resulting in his dismissal. This decision significantly impacted the game, leaving Switzerland with 10 men.

Both Messi and Mac Allister had opportunities to secure a win for Argentina before the end of normal time, but they were unable to convert, pushing the match into extra time. Switzerland managed to hold the reigning world champions at bay for the initial 15 minutes of extra time.

The deadlock was broken in the 112th minute when Julian Alvarez scored a stunning goal from 25 yards, finding the top right corner of the net. This goal restored Argentina’s lead and shifted the momentum decisively. As Switzerland pushed forward in the final moments, they left gaps in their defence. Lautaro Martinez capitalised on this, scoring a third goal deep into stoppage time in extra time after an initial shot from Thiago Almada was kept out.

Semi-final preparations

The victory means Argentina will now face England in the semi-finals on Wednesday in Atlanta. This will be the first competitive meeting between the two nations in 24 years. The other semi-final will see Spain play France on Tuesday.

This match marked the second time in three games that Argentina has been taken to extra time in the tournament. They were also pushed to extra time in the round of 32 by Cape Verde. Some reports suggest that the taxing nature of these extended matches could potentially affect Argentina’s performance against England.

However, England also required extra time to defeat Norway in their quarter-final match. This means both teams will enter the semi-final having played an additional 30 minutes in their previous fixtures, potentially levelling the playing field for the Wednesday night encounter in Atlanta.

Key moments from the match

• 10th minute: Alexis Mac Allister scores with a header after a corner from Lionel Messi, giving Argentina the lead.
• 32nd minute: Breel Embolo of Switzerland is denied a clear shot by a combined effort from Lisandro Martinez and Emi Martinez.
• 50th minute: Lisandro Martinez makes a crucial block to prevent a certain goal from Embolo.
• 67th minute: Dan Ndoye equalises for Switzerland, firing home from a tight angle after a pass from Ricardo Rodriguez.
• 72nd minute: Breel Embolo receives a second yellow card for simulation under new mistaken identity rules, leading to his dismissal.
• 112th minute: Julian Alvarez scores a stunning goal from 25 yards to restore Argentina’s lead.
• 120+1 minute: Lautaro Martinez adds a third goal for Argentina after Thiago Almada’s initial shot is saved.

The match concluded with Argentina’s 3-1 victory after extra time, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

Source: skysports.com