Kansas City, Jul 12 (V7N) — Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over 10-man Switzerland at Arrowhead Stadium, setting up a blockbuster showdown with England.
After a tense 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time, Switzerland resisted relentless Argentine pressure for much of extra time despite being reduced to 10 men. However, Lionel Scaloni's side finally broke through in the closing stages to secure a memorable victory.
Argentina made a perfect start, taking the lead in the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed home from a Lionel Messi corner.
Switzerland fought back after the break and restored parity in the 67th minute through Dan Ndoye, keeping the contest finely balanced.
The Swiss suffered a major setback in the 72nd minute when Breel Embolo was sent off, forcing them to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. Even with the numerical advantage, Argentina struggled to break down Switzerland's disciplined defence throughout the rest of normal time and much of extra time.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 114th minute, when Julián Álvarez unleashed a stunning long-range strike from around 25 yards to give Argentina a 2-1 lead, silencing his recent critics with a moment of brilliance.
Deep into extra-time stoppage time, Lautaro Martínez capitalized on Switzerland's desperate push for an equaliser, finishing a swift counterattack to seal a 3-1 victory for the reigning world champions.
The victory sends Argentina into a second consecutive World Cup semi-final, where they will face England in one of the tournament's most anticipated matches. Lionel Scaloni's men will now aim to overcome the Three Lions and secure another place in the World Cup final.
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