Argentina Beats Switzerland to Face England in World Cup Semifinals

Argentina Advances to World Cup Semifinals After Extra-Time Win Over Switzerland

A Hard-Fought Quarterfinal Victory

Argentina’s path to the final four was far from straightforward. The South Americans took an early lead in the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed in a cross from Lionel Messi. Despite the early advantage, Argentina struggled to maintain dominance, and Switzerland leveled the score in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye slotted home from close range. The match remained deadlocked through the end of regulation, forcing an additional 30 minutes of play. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 112th minute, when Julián Alvarez rifled a long-range effort from 25 yards into the top right corner. As Switzerland pushed forward in a desperate attempt to equalize, Argentina capitalized on the space left at the back. Deep into stoppage time of the second extra period, Lautaro Martinez sealed the 3-1 win following a counterattack led by Thiago Almada.

VAR Controversy and the Swiss Exit

The match turned on a controversial incident in the 72nd minute involving Switzerland forward Breel Embolo. Embolo was initially booked for simulation after appearing to dive to win a free kick. Following a VAR intervention, the referee changed his decision, resulting in a second yellow card for Embolo and his subsequent dismissal from the match. The departure of Embolo left Switzerland to play the remainder of the contest with ten men.

Messi’s Quest Continues

For Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old Argentina captain, the victory marks another step in his pursuit of a second consecutive World Cup title. While Messi did not find the back of the net against Switzerland—ending a streak of nine consecutive World Cup matches in which he had scored—he provided the decisive assist for Mac Allister’s opening goal. Argentina’s journey in the 2026 tournament has been characterized by resilience. In the Round of 16, the team staged a comeback against Egypt after falling behind 2-0, and they were previously pushed to extra time by Cape Verde in the round of 32.

Semifinal Stakes: A Historic Rivalry

The upcoming semifinal against England revives one of international football’s most storied rivalries. The two nations share a history of contentious encounters, including the 1966 World Cup, Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” moment in 1986, and David Beckham’s red card in 1998. The match also carries a modern narrative involving Inter Miami. Beckham, the owner of Inter Miami and a former England captain, has been a vocal admirer of Messi, who plays for his club. Despite their professional partnership, Beckham is expected to support England in the semifinal. As Argentina prepares to face England, they remain in the hunt to become only the third nation in history to successfully defend a World Cup title, following in the footsteps of Italy and Brazil.

Tournament Summary: Argentina’s Path to the Semifinals

| Stage | Opponent | Result | | :— | :— | :— | | Round of 32 | Cape Verde | Won (After Extra Time) | | Round of 16 | Egypt | Won 3-2 | | Quarterfinals | Switzerland | Won 3-1 (After Extra Time) | | Semifinals | England | Upcoming (Wednesday) |

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