Argentina Beat 10-Man Switzerland 3-1 After Extra Time to Reach Semis
JPhilips 
Argentina players celebrate their extra-time win over Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-final. (Credit: Reuters)
Argentina Beat Switzerland 3-1 After Extra Time to Reach World Cup Semis
Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time on Saturday to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup. The defending champions needed extra time to get past a Swiss side that played the final 20 minutes of regulation with 10 men.
The match was played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. It was close for most of the night. Switzerland matched Argentina for long stretches and even had the better chances after equalizing in the second half. But two late goals in extra time, from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, settled things in Argentina’s favor.
Here’s a full breakdown of how the game played out, what happened with the red card, and what comes next for Argentina.
How Argentina Beat Switzerland: Match Summary
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 10th minute. He met a corner from Lionel Messi and headed it past Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. That early goal put Argentina in control, but the game slowed down after that. Argentina only managed three shots in the entire first half, and Switzerland sat deep, giving away very little.
Switzerland leveled the score in the 67th minute. Dan Ndoye linked up with Ricardo Rodriguez, found a small gap inside the box, and slotted the ball past Emiliano Martinez. For a few minutes, it looked like Switzerland might actually go on to win the match.
That changed five minutes later.
The Red Card That Changed the Game
In the 72nd minute, Breel Embolo went down after a challenge from Leandro Paredes. The referee first gave Switzerland a foul. But after a VAR review, the decision was reversed. Embolo was booked for simulation instead, and since it was his second yellow card, he was sent off.
Switzerland went down to 10 men with almost 20 minutes of regular time still left, plus extra time still to come if needed. Swiss coach Murat Yakin later said the decision hurt his team badly, since they had been competing well up to that point.
With the extra man, Argentina pushed forward, but Switzerland defended well. Gregor Kobel kept his team in the match with a string of saves, including a stoppage-time stop on a bicycle kick attempt from Lautaro Martinez. Messi also came close in the final seconds of regular time, but his shot went just wide.
Neither side broke through before the full-time whistle, and the match went to extra time.
Alvarez and Martinez Score in Extra Time
The breakthrough came in the 112th minute. Kobel saved a shot from Messi, but the ball came back out to Julian Alvarez on the edge of the box. Alvarez struck it first time into the top corner, giving Argentina a 2-1 lead.
Nine minutes later, Argentina made it 3-1. Thiago Almada’s shot was saved by Kobel, but Lautaro Martinez followed up and tapped the rebound in from close range, with Granit Xhaka unable to stop it on the line.
That second goal effectively ended the contest. Switzerland, already down a man and tired from chasing the game, had nothing left to respond with.
Key Moments at a Glance
- 10th minute: Mac Allister heads Argentina in front from a Messi corner
- 67th minute: Ndoye equalizes for Switzerland with a low finish
- 72nd minute: Embolo sent off for simulation after VAR review
- Stoppage time (regular): Kobel saves a Martinez bicycle kick; Messi shoots wide
- 96th minute: Almada’s shot hits the side netting
- 112th minute: Alvarez scores from the edge of the box
- Extra time stoppage: Martinez taps in the rebound to make it 3-1
What the Coaches Said
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted his team had a difficult night. He said Switzerland played as a physical side and made things hard for Argentina in certain moments. He also pointed out that the red card played a role, saying luck was on Argentina’s side once Switzerland went down to 10 men.
Yakin said his players gave everything even with a man less on the pitch, but that losing Embolo hurt his team’s chances badly. Midfielder Thiago Almada said the group is used to grinding out tough results, and that reaching the final four isn’t something that comes easily.
Argentina vs England: What’s Next
With this win, Argentina move on to face England in the semi-final on Wednesday in Atlanta. England also needed extra time in their quarter-final, beating Norway 2-1.
Argentina are now two wins away from becoming the first team to defend the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. Messi, playing in his sixth World Cup at age 39, didn’t score against Switzerland but was still central to the win, setting up the opening goal with his corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Argentina beat Switzerland? Argentina took an early lead through Mac Allister, fell behind numerically when Embolo was sent off, and then scored twice in extra time through Alvarez and Martinez to win 3-1.
Why was Breel Embolo sent off? He picked up a second yellow card for simulation. The referee initially called a foul in his favor, but VAR review reversed the decision and booked Embolo instead.
Did Lionel Messi score against Switzerland? No. Messi set up the first goal with a corner kick and nearly scored late in regular time, but the two extra-time goals came from Alvarez and Martinez.
Who does Argentina play in the World Cup semi-final? Argentina face England on Wednesday in Atlanta. England reached the semis after beating Norway 2-1 in extra time.
Was the red card the turning point of the match? It was a major factor. Switzerland competed well before the sending-off and even led briefly through Ndoye. Once down to 10 men, they held on for a long time but couldn’t survive extra time.
Final Takeaway
Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in a match that stayed close until the final minutes. A contested red card shifted the balance, but Switzerland still forced extra time and made Argentina work for the result. With the win, Argentina move on to a semi-final against England, chasing a second straight World Cup title.
