Argentina v Switzerland
Play By Play
A routine victory on the scoreline was anything but that for the world champions, who outlasted a determined Switzerland before pulling away in the second half of extra-time to earn a 3-1 victory at Kansas City Stadium, and passage through to the semi-finals. After taking an early lead through Mac Allister, Argentina were pegged back following the hour mark thanks to Ndoye’s neat finish, but Embolo’s sending off for a second bookable offence a short while later shifted all the momentum back the way of Scaloni’s team. Through great organisation, the UEFA side were able to see off wave after wave of attack, escaping the first period of extra-time unscathed, until Alvarez’s wonderful strike from distance broke their resistance and put the result beyond reach. Lautaro Martinez would then add a bit of insurance before the full-time whistle, taking Argentina’s xG up to an even 2.0, while Switzerland fall to defeat after producing just 0.53 - with 0.03 of that coming in extra-time. The result ends the Red Crosses’ most successful World Cup campaign since 1954, while Argentina are through to the semi-finals for the third time in four tournaments, and they’ll take on England in four days in Atlanta. That concludes our commentary of the 2026 World Cup quarter-final tie between Argentina and Switzerland - we hope you’ve enjoyed it!
FULL-TIME AFTER EXTRA-TIME: ARGENTINA 3-1 SWITZERLAND
The fourth official indicates four minutes will be added to the end of the match for stoppages.
THAT SHOULD DO IT! 3-1 ARGENTINA! Alvarez pokes possession away from Xhaka deep in Argentina’s half, which lets the Albiceleste break forward on the counter-attack through Almada. After charging into the penalty area and knocking the ball around Jashari cleverly, the substitute has a go at goal himself, but he’s denied by the oncoming Kobel - only for the rebound to fall kindly into the path of Lautaro Martinez for an empty net finish from just outside the 18-yard box!
Looking to seal the game with one last goal, Messi dribbles with close control into the penalty area before whipping a low shot towards the goalkeeper’s right-hand post that’s blocked and turned behind for a corner by a covering Xhaka.
Vargas nods the ball towards Argentina’s goal from the left side of the penalty area, following Xhaka’s aerial switch of play, but Emiliano Martinez leaps high above the crowd of bodies in the six-yard box to claim it cleanly.
In desperate need of a way back into the game, Yakin makes one last substitution, and withdraws Freuler for Vargas.
In the middle of all the action in the past five minutes, Lopez is shown a yellow card immediately after Argentina found the equaliser, for letting his emotions get the better of him in a shoving match with a few Switzerland players.
Though he left Alvarez with a lot to do to score, Lopez picks up an assist 120 seconds after his introduction, after passing the ball to the Atletico Madrid forward in a pocket of space that left him with just enough room to operate.
A GOAL WORTHY OF WINNING ANY MATCH! 2-1 ARGENTINA! Lopez knocks the ball back to Alvarez, who cuts inside ahead of the left edge of the penalty area and fires an absolutely sublime curling effort into the top corner, with the ball hitting the side of the net before nestling into the back of the goal!
Argentina’s sixth and final substitution of the match sees Lopez given a chance to impress in place of Paredes, who was in the middle of the incident that saw Embolo sent off for a second booking.
Lisandro Martinez teases a cross to the back post in between Comert and Muheim, but Lautaro Martinez tries to corral it with a deft left-footed touch instead of going for it with his head, which leads to a goal-kick for Switzerland.
Xhaka bends a dangerous free-kick into the near post, but a diving Comert isn’t able to reach it on the edge of the six-yard box, allowing Lautaro Martinez to whack it away on the follow up.
Mac Allister stretches out a leg and catches the top of Muheim’s foot, which gives Switzerland a free-kick on the left touchline inside Argentina’s half.
Switzerland get the match restarted from the kick-off!
A change ahead of the restart sees Otamendi come on for Romero at the back, with his experience an asset at this late stage.
HALF-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME: ARGENTINA 1-1 SWITZERLAND
The fourth official indicates one minute will be added to the end of the period for stoppages.
The captain pulls rank and strikes the set-piece, looking to pull his side ahead from the free-kick, but he can only send his dispatch straight into the Switzerland wall - which holds firm under the weight of the powerful hit.
Amdouni steps into a tackle on Messi just after the captain shifted the ball on to a team-mate, with the referee initially deciding to award advantage, before pulling play back for a set-piece. It’s a free-kick within Messi’s range - just right of centre, 30 yards from goal.
Since losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening match in 2022, Argentina are unbeaten in their last 11 World Cup matches (nine wins and two draws), their longest run without defeat in the competition’s history.
Jashari pulls the ball back to Xhaka, who sends his left-footed first-time effort from distance high and wide of Emiliano Martinez’s target.
Akanji looks to shield the ball behind for a goal-kick, forcing club team-mate Lautaro Martinez to slide into an ill-advised tackle that catches the ankle of the centre-back. The challenge forces the referee to produce his second yellow card in as many minutes - showing it to the Inter striker.
Almada doesn’t try to hide his cynical intervention as he jumps on the back of Freuler just inside Argentina’s half, in order to bring the midfielder to the ground. It’s a yellow card for the substitute, seven minutes after his introduction.
Unable to run any longer, Zakaria makes his way gingerly to the touchline, to be replaced by AC Milan’s Jashari.
