Argentina 3-1 Switzerland AET: Álvarez Golazo, Lautaro Seals It — Messi's Men Into the Semifinals

WorldCup.NYC Editorial — July 12, 2026 | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Argentina are in the World Cup semifinal, and it was, predictably, complicated. It always is with this team. Mac Allister headed them in front in the 10th minute, Switzerland equalised through Dan Ndoye with ten-man Switzerland somehow holding on for extra time, and then Julián Álvarez — the Spider — produced one of the goals of the tournament to break Swiss hearts in the 112th minute. Lautaro Martínez added a rebound in the last action of the match to seal it 3-1. Argentina are through.

Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during this tournament, plays on. He is attempting to become the first outfield player since Brazil's Pelé in 1958 and 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. He did not score tonight — for the first time in seven matches at this tournament — but he was everywhere: winning the corner that led to the opener, seeing a chipped effort saved brilliantly by Gregor Kobel, and drawing the foul that led to Switzerland's most dangerous moments. His mere presence distorts opponents' defensive shapes. Even without a goal, he was the best player on the pitch.

First Half: Mac Allister's Header, Switzerland's Compact Block

Argentina went ahead on 10 minutes via the tournament's most reliable formula: Messi winning a corner, the ball swinging in, and someone finding the far post. Mac Allister, arriving late to loop a header beyond Kobel, did exactly that — his third goal of the tournament, his second from a set piece. It should have been the platform for Argentina to control the match.

Instead, Switzerland did what Switzerland do. They compressed, they organised, they frustrated Argentina for long stretches of a second half that produced almost nothing in open play. Embolo was causing problems before — and after — receiving a second yellow card for diving in the 72nd minute. A contentious decision: replays suggested contact was there, though the referee's patience had clearly run out with the Borussia Mönchengladbach forward.

Ndoye Equalises, Switzerland Hang On at 10

Switzerland's equaliser, when it came, was a moment of genuine quality against the run of play. Ricardo Rodríguez slipped Dan Ndoye in behind Argentina's high line — the same ball-in-behind that has caused Argentina problems all tournament — and Ndoye rolled it under Emiliano Martínez's outstretched leg from a tight angle. 1-1. Ten-man Switzerland had equalised in the 67th minute and were now five minutes from having Embolo sent off. Extraordinary.

For the next 23 minutes of regular time and nine of stoppage time, Switzerland defended for their lives. Kobel made a spectacular save to deny Messi's chipped attempt in the final seconds of normal time. The match went to extra time. Kansas City was delirious.

Álvarez's Golazo, Lautaro Kills It

The defining moment arrived in the 112th minute. Álvarez received the ball 25 yards out, on the left channel, with what looked like no angle and no right to shoot. He took one touch to set himself, then curled an unstoppable strike into the top corner past Kobel's full stretch. The Kansas City crowd — and the Argentine end of it in particular — erupted. It was, by universal agreement in the immediate aftermath, one of the goals of the tournament.

Switzerland, exhausted and down to ten men, had nothing left. In the last action of the match, a late Argentina counter-attack ended with the ball falling to Lautaro Martínez, who slotted calmly into the bottom corner for 3-1. The final whistle confirmed Argentina's seventh World Cup semifinal appearance and their place in the most anticipated match of the tournament: England vs Argentina in Atlanta on July 15.

Switzerland Eliminated — Historic Run Ends

Switzerland are out. Their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954 ends in extra time against the defending champions. Kobel was magnificent — arguably Switzerland's player of the tournament. Granit Xhaka played every minute, 146th cap, still without a World Cup medal. Ndoye's equaliser will be remembered in Switzerland for a generation. A remarkable run from a team written off before the tournament began.

Argentina vs England — July 15, Atlanta

The semifinal is confirmed: Argentina vs England, July 15 at 3pm ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Two nations with the most loaded history in World Cup football — 1986, Maradona's Hand of God and Goal of the Century — meet in a knock-out match for the first time since that quarter-final. Messi vs Bellingham. The defending champions vs the team that hasn't won since 1966. Atlanta will be extraordinary.