Argentina 3-1 Switzerland: Alvarez Wins It, England Awaits

Julian Alvarez sent a right-footed rocket into the far upper corner in the 112th minute, and Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time to reach the World Cup 2026 semifinal. The defending champions had been pinned in a 1-1 tie for most of the night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Saturday, July 11, before Alvarez and then Lautaro Martinez broke through against 10-man Switzerland. Argentina now meet England on Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta, with a place in the final on the line.

For the third straight knockout round, Argentina were dragged to the edge. They needed extra time to escape Cape Verde, a comeback from two goals down to beat Egypt, and now the sending-off of a Swiss forward to finally pull away in front of 69,045 fans on a hot, humid Missouri night.

Argentina 3-1 Switzerland: What Happened at Arrowhead

Argentina led inside 10 minutes. Alexis Mac Allister rose to head a Lionel Messi corner into the net, and it was the opener that Argentina then failed to build on for the next hour. Messi, the 39-year-old forward, contributed only that early assist, his 10th career World Cup assist and every one of them to a different player.

Switzerland grew into the game and got their reward in the 67th minute. Ricardo Rodriguez slipped a pass to Dan Ndoye, who beat Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to level it at 1-1, and for a stretch the Swiss looked the more likely to win it.

Then came the turning point. Breel Embolo was sent off after a video review determined he had simulated a fall to win a foul. Referee Joao Pinheiro had first booked Argentina's Leandro Paredes for the challenge, then reversed the call on review, ruling there was no contact and cautioning Embolo instead. Because it was Embolo's second yellow of the match, it became a red, and Switzerland played the rest of the night a man down. Embolo left the field in tears.

Alvarez and Lautaro Finish It in Extra Time

Argentina could not find the breakthrough in the remaining regulation minutes, so the tie went to another 30. Alvarez ended the suspense in the 112th minute, driving a right-footed shot into the top corner to make it 2-1. Lautaro Martinez added a third in the 121st minute off a counterattack to settle it.

The margin flattered Argentina, who were second best for long stretches and needed the two-man swing of a Swiss red card to break a stubborn opponent. Switzerland, playing in their first quarterfinal since 1954, were left furious at the decision that reduced them to 10.

The Numbers That Mattered

1. Messi did not score for the first time in 10 World Cup matches, ending a record run of goals in nine consecutive World Cup games. He stays on eight for the tournament and 21 for his career, the men's record. 2. Alvarez's 112th-minute strike was the winner, and Lautaro Martinez's 121st-minute goal was the third. 3. Argentina have now trailed or been level deep into all three of their knockout matches and survived each time.

Our Argentina vs Switzerland quarterfinal preview laid out the To Advance number that Argentina eventually cashed, and our Messi Golden Boot props breakdown framed why Messi needed to score rather than assist to move the top-scorer board.

Betting and DFS Impact

Argentina opened the match as heavy To Advance chalk, and they got there, but the path was pure variance. The result reshapes the outright board more than any single line. Argentina reaching the last four keeps them squarely in the title conversation as the field trims to France, Spain, England and Argentina.

The Golden Boot is where prop bettors should look hardest. Messi held on eight goals but added only an assist, so he stays level with Kylian Mbappe on eight, with Mbappe ahead on the assist tiebreaker at three to Messi's one. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham sit on six, Erling Haaland finished on seven after Norway went out. With Messi drawing England next, his anytime-scorer prop becomes one of the most-watched numbers on the semifinal slate.

The semifinal price is live now that the bracket is set. England vs Argentina in Atlanta is a coin-flip market that will keep moving until lineups drop, so treat any opening number as a starting point and reconfirm at your book on Wednesday.

What to Watch Next

Argentina face England on Wednesday, July 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The subplot writes itself. Messi gets two more games at most, the semifinal and then either the final or the third-place playoff, to extend his career World Cup goals record. Argentina also have to answer whether a team that keeps living on the edge can do it one more time against an England side that has needed extra time of its own.

Chad AI prices every World Cup prop, To Reach Final market and Golden Boot line inside the app. Track the reads on our soccer daily picks page, the AI soccer predictions hub and the Chad picks hub. ESPN has the full Argentina 3-1 Switzerland match report if you want the blow by blow.

FAQ

What was the final score of Argentina vs Switzerland in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinal? Argentina won 3-1 after extra time at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Saturday, July 11. Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored for Argentina, and Dan Ndoye scored for Switzerland.

Did Lionel Messi score against Switzerland? No. Messi assisted the opening goal but did not score, ending a record run of goals in nine consecutive World Cup matches. He stays on eight goals for the tournament.

Why did Switzerland go down to 10 men? Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card, and therefore a red, after a video review ruled he had simulated a fall to win a foul in the second half.

Who does Argentina play in the World Cup 2026 semifinal? Argentina face England on Wednesday, July 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

How many career World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have? Messi has 21 career World Cup goals, the men's record, and eight at the 2026 tournament.

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