Argentina Defeat Switzerland 3-1 in Extra Time to Reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals
- By Thetripurapost Sports Desk, Toronto
- Jul 12, 2026
- 119
Defending champions Argentina produced another memorable FIFA World Cup performance by defeating Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in the final quarter-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The victory sends Lionel Messi's side into the tournament's semi-finals for the sixth time, where they will face England in a blockbuster clash on July 15.
Messi Creates, Mac Allister Opens the Scoring
Argentina started aggressively and took the lead inside the opening ten minutes. Lionel Messi delivered a perfectly timed pass to Alexis Mac Allister, who calmly finished to give the South American champions an early 1-0 advantage.
Switzerland gradually settled into the contest and found an equaliser in the 67th minute through Dan Ndoye. Both teams created chances during the remainder of normal time, but neither could find a winner as the match headed into extra time.
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Argentina Dominate Extra Time
The defending world champions showed their experience when it mattered most. Julián Álvarez restored Argentina's lead in the 112th minute before Emiliano "Emi" Martínez added a third goal in the closing moments of extra time to seal a convincing 3-1 victory.
The result ensures Argentina qualify for a second consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final and remain firmly on course to defend their world title.
Argentina Create Another FIFA World Cup Record
The victory added another historic achievement to Argentina's remarkable World Cup campaign.
The reigning champions became the first nation in FIFA World Cup history to score two goals in the same half of extra time in two different matches during a single tournament. They had previously achieved the feat against Cape Verde in the Round of 32.
Argentina also extended their scoring streak to 15 consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, placing them among the greatest attacking teams in tournament history. Only Uruguay, Hungary, Germany and Brazil have recorded longer scoring runs.
Switzerland's Remarkable Run Comes to an End
Switzerland entered the quarter-final with an outstanding defensive record, having gone 1,030 minutes (17 hours and 10 minutes) without trailing in a match across World Cup qualifying and the FIFA World Cup finals.
That remarkable streak ended when Alexis Mac Allister broke the deadlock early in the first half.
England Await Argentina in Semi-Final
Argentina will now meet England in one of the biggest matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026. With Lionel Messi chasing another world title and England aiming to reach the final, football fans can expect a thrilling semi-final showdown.
For more breaking sports news, FIFA World Cup 2026 updates, match reports, and exclusive football coverage, visit The Tripura Post: https://www.thetripurapost.com