Argentina beat Switzerland to set up a World Cup 2026 semifinal with England | World Cup 2026 news

Defending champions Argentina will face England in the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 later. beat ten people Switzerland 3-1 after extra time thanks to a strong effort by Julian Alvarez.

Alexis Mac Allister tapped in Lionel Messi’s 10th-minute cross to give Argentina the lead at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday.

It was far from the grand display the South Americans would have hoped for later, and the Europeans had to level in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye fired home from close range.

The Swiss controversially sent off Breel Embolo for a second yellow in the 72nd minute for a try. VAR had to step in, however, asking the referee to review whether the booking given to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was wrong – a new VAR rule for the tournament.

Embolo appeared to dive to win the ball and Portuguese goalkeeper Joao Pinheiro changed his mind, leaving Embolo inconsolable when he was given his marching orders.

Argentina pressed on to find the winner in time and almost got the reward with the last strike of the period when Lisandro Martinez pounced on a loose ball in the box, but his scissor-kick did not have the power to beat the goalkeeper.

Messi was close alone, one-on-one, but his chip was saved. The assistant referee raised his flag to say the effort would have been off limits, although replays showed the goal would have been scored – it would have been Messi’s ninth in six games for the club.

It was Alvarez who stole the show on this occasion, however, with a superb performance from 25 yards that fired into the top right corner of the goal in the 112th minute.

As the Swiss threw bodies ahead in the dying seconds, there were huge gaps at the back and Lautaro Martinez used stoppage time to take the third after an attack led by Thiago Almada, whose early shot went into the path of his teammate.

Argentina will now face England in the semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta. Spain play France, the team Argentina defeated in the Qatar 2022 final, on Tuesday in the other last four.

Only two countries have previously defended the World Cup, Italy and Brazil.

The taxing competition, which Argentina pushed to extra time in the 32nd against Cape Verde, could play a role.

England, however, needed extra time to beat Norway on Saturday, and Messi, 39, seems determined to ignore time and cannot fail to find some moments of magic.