Argentina edge Switzerland after extra time to book England World Cup semi

KANSAS CITY, United States (AFP) — Argentina needed extra time to get past 10-man Switzerland 3-1 on Saturday, with Julian Alvarez producing a spectacular finish that sent the holders into a World Cup semi-final against England.

Argentine supporters filled much of Arrowhead Stadium and were on their feet early, as Lionel Messi teed up Alexis Mac Allister for the opening goal in the 10th minute. Dan Ndoye equalised for Switzerland around the middle of the second half, but the contest swung again soon afterwards when Breel Embolo received a second yellow card for diving and was dismissed.

Through extra time the Swiss kept absorbing pressure until Alvarez bent a superb effort into the top corner in the 112th minute. Lautaro Martinez then added a late third.

“We had to suffer a lot but we knew they were a physical team,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “We had many difficulties. Sometimes we couldn’t find the solutions, but today we had luck on our side because one of their players was sent off.”

The result at Arrowhead Stadium means the four highest-ranked sides in the FIFA listings will meet in the last four of the 2026 finals. Argentina remain without defeat across their last 12 World Cup matches and are chasing a feat last achieved by Brazil in 1962 — retaining the trophy.

After an untroubled group stage, the South Americans laboured against Cape Verde and had to claw their way back against Egypt. Saturday brought another grinding contest against a Swiss side aiming for a first World Cup semi-final appearance.

Messi’s corner delivery created the breakthrough. Mac Allister, the Liverpool midfielder, got between Djibril Sow and Embolo and glanced a header into the far side of the net — Argentina’s first shot on target. The assist lifted Messi’s World Cup assist total across six tournaments to 10. He sits joint-top of the Golden Boot race on eight goals with France’s Kylian Mbappe, though he did not score on Saturday.

Switzerland offered little early threat but nearly levelled around the half-hour mark until Emiliano Martinez raced from his goal to shut down Embolo. Before the interval Argentina managed no further shot on target, while the Swiss enjoyed more of the ball against the reigning champions.

The second half was slow to ignite before Murat Yakin’s side grew into the match and struck in the 67th minute. Ndoye finished after a sharp pass from Ricardo Rodriguez. Five minutes later Embolo — already cautioned before the break — went to ground and, after a VAR review, was shown a second yellow and sent off for simulation.

Mac Allister headed wide from a clear chance as full time neared, and Messi’s curling effort slipped just past the post, yet Switzerland held firm to force extra time. Alvarez’s brilliant strike finally broke their resolve, sparking celebrations among the Argentina squad, who were back on the pitch minutes later after Martinez’s finishing touch.

Attention now shifts to England in Atlanta on Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel’s side had earlier on Saturday beaten Norway 2-1.

Meetings between the nations have often been charged, against the backdrop of the long-running sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands — the Malvinas in Spanish — in the South Atlantic. Britain dispatched a military force in 1982 after Argentine forces occupied the islands.

In 1986 Argentina beat England 2-1 at the Estadio Azteca, with both goals from Diego Maradona: the notorious “Hand of God” strike and a solo run widely ranked among football’s finest. The sides have met twice more at World Cups since then — Argentina prevailed on penalties in 1998, and England won four years later.