Guwahati: Argentina booked a FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal against England after defeating 10-man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in their quarterfinal.
Julian Alvarez scored the decisive goal in the 112th minute with a long-range strike before Lautaro Martinez added a third deep into stoppage time of extra time as Argentina sealed victory.
Alexis Mac Allister had given the defending champions an early lead, heading home Lionel Messi’s cross in the 10th minute. Switzerland equalised in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye finished from close range to force extra time.
The turning point came in the 72nd minute when Switzerland were reduced to 10 men after Breel Embolo was sent off for a second yellow card following a VAR review.
Initially, Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro booked Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes after Embolo went down while contesting for a free kick. However, VAR intervened under the tournament’s new mistaken-identity review protocol, prompting the referee to overturn the booking and instead caution Embolo for simulation. The second yellow resulted in his dismissal.
Argentina pushed for a winner before the end of regulation. Lisandro Martinez came closest in stoppage time with an acrobatic effort that lacked the power to beat the goalkeeper.
Messi also missed a chance to restore Argentina’s lead when his attempted chip was saved. Although the assistant referee raised the offside flag, replays suggested the goal may have stood had it gone in.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 112th minute when Alvarez unleashed a powerful strike from about 25 yards that found the top-right corner.
Switzerland committed numbers forward in search of an equaliser late in extra time, leaving space at the back. Argentina capitalised through Lautaro Martinez, who finished a counterattack after Thiago Almada’s shot deflected into his path.
Argentina will face England in the semifinal in Atlanta on Wednesday after England defeated Norway following extra time. The other semifinal will see Spain take on France on Tuesday.
The defending champions are seeking to become only the third nation to successfully retain the FIFA World Cup after Italy and Brazil.