Argentina win 3-1 after extra time to reach the semi-finals in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final.

The quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 pitted Argentina against Switzerland at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. With a place in the semi-finals at stake, both sides entered the match aware that any mistake could end their tournament.

How it unfolded

The opening stages were dominated by Argentina. In the 10th minute, Alexis Mac Allister rose to meet a Lionel Messi corner, heading the ball from the left side of the six-yard box into the bottom right corner to give Argentina an early lead. The Argentine side continued to press, while Switzerland struggled to find rhythm.

Just before the break, Switzerland’s Breel Embolo was shown a yellow card in the 44th minute for a bad foul, marking the first booking of the match.

Switzerland responded in the second half. In the 67th minute, Dan Ndoye struck a right-footed shot from a difficult angle on the left, beating the Argentine goalkeeper and restoring parity at 1-1. The goal came from a through ball supplied by Ricardo Rodríguez, signalling Switzerland’s resurgence.

Ten minutes later, the match took a dramatic turn when Embolo received a second yellow card in the 72nd minute, resulting in a sending-off. The Swiss side were reduced to ten men for the remainder of the game, forcing them to defend deeper and limiting their attacking options.

Regulation time ended level at 1-1, sending the tie into extra time. The first period of extra time saw Argentina’s Thiago Almada booked in the 97th minute for a bad foul, followed immediately by Lautaro Martínez receiving a yellow card in the 98th minute for a similar offence. Both cautions came as the hosts sought to regain control.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 112th minute of extra time when Julián Álvarez unleashed a right-footed shot from outside the box that curled into the top right corner. The Argentine striker was set up by José Manuel López, whose incisive pass proved decisive.

Two minutes later, José Manuel López was shown a yellow card in the 114th minute, his second booking of the match.

In the dying moments of extra time, Argentina sealed the victory. In stoppage time of the second extra-time period (120'+1'), Lautaro Martínez completed a fast break with a right-footed finish from the centre of the box, sending the ball to the bottom right corner and making the score 3-1.

The match concluded after extra time, with Argentina emerging as the clear winners.

Standout performers

  • Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring with a well-timed header, assisted by Lionel Messi.
  • Lionel Messi provided the decisive cross from the corner that allowed Mac Allister to lead the early goal.
  • Dan Ndoye rescued a point for Switzerland with a clinical finish from a Ricardo Rodríguez through ball.
  • Ricardo Rodríguez created the equaliser with an accurate pass that split the Argentine defence.
  • Julián Álvarez scored the go-ahead goal in extra time, finishing a José Manuel López assist.
  • José Manuel López contributed both an assist for Álvarez and was involved in the build-up to the first goal.
  • Lautaro Martínez capped the extra-time period with a late strike, securing the win for Argentina.

Match facts

  • Final score: Argentina 3-1 Switzerland (after extra time)
  • Scorers:
    • 10' Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) – assist Lionel Messi
    • 67' Dan Ndoye (Switzerland) – assist Ricardo Rodríguez
    • 112' Julián Álvarez (Argentina) – assist José Manuel López (extra time)
    • 120'+1' Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) (extra time)
  • Bookings:
    • 44' Breel Embolo (Switzerland) – yellow card
    • 97' Thiago Almada (Argentina) – yellow card (extra time)
    • 98' Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) – yellow card (extra time)
    • 114' José Manuel López (Argentina) – yellow card (extra time)
  • Sending-off: 72' Breel Embolo (Switzerland) – second yellow, dismissed
  • Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

What it means

Argentina’s 3-1 victory after extra time sends them into the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026, while Switzerland’s defeat ends their tournament at the quarter-final stage.