Kansas City, Arrowhead Stadium – Argentina are through to the semi-final of the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup. The title-holder edged Switzerland 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-final. Alexis Mac Allister (10') and Julián Álvarez (112') scored for the Albiceleste, with Dan Assane Ndoye (67') briefly drawing the Swiss level. Argentina remain unbeaten throughout the tournament – five wins from five matches.
Early lead, late response
Switzerland started the brighter of the two sides, yet Argentina struck against the run of play: in the 10th minute, Alexis Mac Allister met a corner kick from Lionel Messi to head home at the far post for 1-0. The Swiss, who had collected three wins and two draws from their five matches in the tournament, refused to be discouraged and controlled long stretches of the first half. Just before half-time, Breel Embolo picked up a yellow card (44') – a warning that would prove significant.
Switzerland hit back in the second half: Dan Assane Ndoye, who had joined Nottingham Forest from Bologna for around £34 million in July 2025, made it 1-1 in the 67th minute with a low finish that squirmed beneath the goalkeeper after a pass from Ricardo Rodriguez. The equaliser changed the complexion of the match, but just five minutes later Switzerland lost a critical resource.
Red card as the turning point
In the 72nd minute, Embolo received his second yellow card for simulation and was shown a red card. Switzerland were forced to see out the remainder of normal time and the entirety of extra time with ten men – a structural disadvantage that is virtually impossible to compensate against opponents of Argentina's calibre. Both sides made a series of substitutions in the closing stages of normal time without another goal materialising.
Álvarez decides it in extra time
In the 112th minute, it was Julián Álvarez who settled the contest. After a pass from Lopez, the Atlético Madrid striker curled the ball from distance into the top corner – 2-1 to Argentina. Álvarez, who had scored four goals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and moved from Manchester City to Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2024, once again demonstrated his quality in knockout rounds. Switzerland, who had reached a World Cup quarter-final for the first time since 1954, could find no response. Argentina advance to the semi-final as title-holder, pursuing the goal of becoming the first nation in more than 60 years to defend the World Cup title.
