World Cup 2026: Argentina Beat Switzerland 3-1 in Extra Time, Reach Semis vs England

Extra time settles it: Argentina 3, Switzerland 1

Argentina booked their spot in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Switzerland at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, and it took every minute to get there. This one wasn't decided until extra time. That result now sends Argentina into a semi-final against England on 15 July.

For a while, it looked far tighter than the eventual scoreline. Alexis Mac Allister put Argentina ahead early, but Switzerland dug in and drew level midway through the second half through Dan Ndoye. The turning point came moments later, when Breel Embolo was sent off, and Argentina eventually made the extra man count deep into extra time.

The numbers back up Argentina's control. They finished with 59% possession and an expected goals figure of 2.0 to Switzerland's 0.53, meaning the model rated Argentina's chances at roughly four times the quality of their opponents'. Argentina also created four big chances to Switzerland's one, and put seven shots on target against five. Both goalkeepers made four saves apiece, so this was less about Swiss resistance breaking easily and more about Argentina's persistence finally paying off.

Who Scaloni and Yakin sent out in KC

From Mac Allister's early strike to Embolo's red

Argentina got exactly the start they wanted. In the 10th minute, Lionel Messi teed up Alexis Mac Allister for the opener, and the early lead let Argentina settle into their possession game. Switzerland weathered the pressure and picked up a first yellow card for Breel Embolo just before half-time.

The middle of the second half is where the match swung twice. In the 67th minute, Ricardo Rodriguez set up Dan Ndoye to level it at 1-1, and Switzerland briefly had a foothold. That evaporated five minutes later: Embolo picked up a second yellow in the 72nd minute and was sent off, leaving Switzerland a man down for the rest of the way.

From there, Lionel Scaloni went to his bench, bringing on Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez and Gonzalo Montiel, while Switzerland reshuffled with a triple change of their own. Even with the extra man, Argentina couldn't find a winner in normal time, and the game rolled into extra time. It stayed tense — Thiago Almada and Lautaro Martinez both saw yellow cards in the opening minutes of the added period. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 112th minute, when substitute Joaquin Lopez set up Julian Alvarez to make it 2-1. Lautaro Martinez then sealed it in stoppage time of extra time, 120+1, to round off a 3-1 win.

The community picked Argentina — just not the drama

This is one the futbol.so community can feel good about. The lean was toward Argentina, and the official model agreed, rating Argentina the most likely winner by a comfortable margin over a draw or a Switzerland upset. So the headline call — Argentina to advance — landed.

The scoreline is where reality got messier than the forecasts. The community's most-chosen result was a tidy 1-0 for Argentina, and Argentina's own fans leaned toward a 3-0 win. Nobody quite scripted a 1-1 wobble, an Embolo red card, and a couple of late extra-time goals to stretch it to 3-1. Interestingly, the fans from Austria came closest, landing on an Argentina 3-1 result. The winner was called correctly across the board; the path there was a lot more dramatic than anyone drew up.

Video highlights

Highlights | Argentina 3-1 Switzerland | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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FIFA WC 2026 | Argentina - Switzerland 3:1 (posle produžetaka) | (četvrtfinale ) | 12.07.2026.

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WHAT A GOAL🤯 Julián Álvarez Take A Bow! | Argentina v Switzerland | FIFA World Cup 2026

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HIGHLIGHTS - Argentina v Switzerland | Winner Faces England In Semi Final | FIFA World Cup 2026

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ALVAREZ e LAUTARO gol, MESSI in semifinale: Argentina-Svizzera 3-1 | FIFA World Cup| DAZN Highlights

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Argentina 🆚 Switzerland #FIFAWorldCupOnYT

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World Cup: Argentina vs Switzerland

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World Cup: Argentina vs Switzerland

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World Cup: Argentina vs Switzerland

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World Cup: Argentina vs Switzerland

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Argentina march on, and the reward is a semi-final against England on 15 July. Given how much Argentina had to grind through here — a leveller, extra time, and a game they controlled statistically without ever putting away early — that next test looms large.

For Switzerland, this is where the run ends, but they made Argentina work for all 120-plus minutes and left with plenty to be proud of. On to the semis.