Argentina’s Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their second objective with teammates through the Fifa World Cup 2026 Quarter Remaining match between Argentina and Switzerland, Kansas Metropolis Stadium, Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, US, July 11, 2026. — Reuters
KANSAS CITY: Argentina’s Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored deep in additional time to safe a dramatic 3-1 quarter-final win over 10-man Switzerland on Saturday and arrange a heavyweight last-four conflict in opposition to England in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina aspect stored alive their bid to grow to be the primary workforce to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 with a victory that sparked pandemonium among the many sea of sky-blue-and-white supporters and ended Switzerland’s fairytale run.
The Swiss had reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the primary time since 1954, however fell one match in need of an unprecedented semi-final look, struggling a serious blow when Breel Embolo was despatched off for diving within the 72nd minute.
The thriller – Kansas Metropolis’s ultimate recreation of the match – regarded headed for a shootout earlier than Alvarez whipped a beautiful long-range shot into the highest nook within the 112th minute that Gregor Kobel at full-stretch had no probability of saving.
Martinez added a 3rd for the holders 9 minutes later when he calmly slotted dwelling the rebound of Thiago Almada’s shot.
Alexis Mac Allister had given Argentina the lead within the tenth minute, assembly Messi’s nook on the entrance submit with a flicked header that sailed past Kobel and into the far nook. It was the primary time Switzerland had trailed within the match.
The Swiss refused to wilt nevertheless.
After a largely uneventful first half, the competition burst into life as Switzerland repeatedly examined Emiliano Martinez, forcing the Argentina goalkeeper right into a string of sharp saves and jolting the South American supporters into full voice.
An equaliser felt inevitable because the Swiss piled on the stress, and so they have been rewarded within the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye exchanged passes with Ricardo Rodriguez down the left earlier than sliding a right-footed end by way of Martinez’s legs.
Ndoye snarled into the closest tv digicam as Switzerland’s followers erupted.
However the Swiss have been lowered to 10 males when Embolo acquired a second yellow card for simulation. It got here after a prolonged VAR evaluation for mistaken id, with the referee overturning his preliminary determination to warning Argentina’s Leandro Paredes.
Embolo collapsed in tears and was consoled by teammates as he left the pitch.
Argentina responded by pinning Switzerland again for lengthy intervals. Cheered on by followers who made Arrowhead Stadium really feel extra like Buenos Aires than Kansas Metropolis, the holders surged ahead as chants of “Vamos, vamos!” echoed across the venue.
Messi, taking part in in his sixth World Cup on the age of 39, almost settled the competition in stoppage time with a fierce strike that flashed inches broad of the submit.
Switzerland weathered wave after wave of stress and appeared destined to power a shootout however their resistance was lastly damaged within the closing moments of additional time.
