Argentina secured a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland.
The reigning champions took the lead in the first half through Alexis Mac Allister, who converted a Lionel Messi corner with a powerful header. Switzerland responded after the break and Dan Ndoye equalized in the 67th minute, forcing the quarter-final into extra time.
The Swiss side showed great resilience throughout the match and created several dangerous opportunities, especially through Breel Embolo, Dan Ndoye and Granit Xhaka. Emiliano Martínez kept Argentina ahead with crucial saves, while Gregor Kobel also produced important stops to keep Switzerland alive. The Nati suffered a major setback when Embolo received a second yellow card in the 72nd minute, leaving his team with ten players for the final stages.
Argentina increased the pressure during extra time and eventually found the breakthrough through Julián Álvarez in the 112th minute after Gregor Kobel had resisted several attempts. Lionel Messi continued to create danger, and Lautaro Martínez sealed the victory in the 120th minute to complete the scoreline. Despite their brave performance, Switzerland could not recover, while Argentina moved into the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a tense battle.
