On the one hand, it was far from convincing. On the other hand, Argentina remain the only team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup to have won every single one of their matches thus far alongside France.
The last time Argentina made it to a World Cup quarterfinal, they appeared to be in cruise control until Wout Weghorst scored a late brace and forced a penalty shootout. And once again, they relinquished a seemingly seamless passage to the final four and made things far too hard on themselves.
“The truth is we suffered today,” stated Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni. “We knew they were a very physical team. I think they put us in a lot of difficulty. We weren’t able to get out of certain situations. The truth is that luck was on our side today, because they had a player sent off and, from there, the team went on the attack.”
“We have to be realistic, we have things to improve on, but winning is always better. That said, what this team achieved today is historic. Even though we could have played better, being in a semi-final again is historic.”
Both teams arrived on the back of a fatiguing schedule: Switzerland, after drawing their opening match vs. Qatar, would win their next three matches vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada and Algeria before edging Colombia on penalties.
Argentina, having brushed past Algeria, Austria and Jordan, would survive a thrilling 3-2 win against Cape Verde before climbing back from two goals down and winning 3-2 against Egypt.
Match Report
It was Argentina who drew first blood, with Alexis Mac Allister heading home from Lionel Messi’s corner kick in the 10th minute. But rather than build on their momentum and put the game to rest, Argentina struggled to find a second goal against a resolute Swiss side.
Murat Yakin’s side hadn’t yet trailed in World Cup qualifying or the World Cup itself, and they weren’t going to let one goal define their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954.
The Nati took the initiative in the second half, putting Argentina’s backline under severe pressure and forcing Emiliano Martínez into a number of world-class stops. They finally got their deserved goal as Dan Ndoye combined with Ricardo Rodríguez on the left flank before slotting home a well-driven finish.
But Switzerland could not celebrate for long. Breel Embolo would receive a second yellow for simulation after a VAR review and received his marching orders. Suddenly, Argentina had the momentum again, and they pushed and pried but ultimately failed to unlock Switzerland’s disciplined setup.
Extra Time
The Swiss did incredibly well to hold on for extra time, but with their attacking talisman Embolo and their creative protagonist Johan Manzambi both sidelined, it was always going to be a tall order.
“I would like to praise the entire team because we came back from a goal down against the world champions and we had the momentum,” stated Switzerland manager Murat Yakin. “We were dominating and controlling the match, and then we were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. I don’t understand it. My boys are the real heroes.”
Switzerland managed to hold on for dear life as Gregor Kobel thwarted a number of Argentine attacks, but it was only a matter of time before the floodgates opened. It needed something truly magical to unlock this Swiss rearguard, with Julián Álvarez taking aim from distance and launching a right-footed shot into the top corner in the 112th minute.
“It was a huge release of emotion. I’m very happy; we kept pushing until the end, even though we had the man advantage. We knew the goal would come. We’re overjoyed,” Álvarez said after the game.
“The important thing is that we won. As a forward, one always wants to help by scoring goals, but we always have to defend, run and do it all together. While the team wins, we are all happy. In the World Cup, I feel I’ve gone from less to more. Let’s hope that in this final stretch, I am even better.”
Switzerland attempted to push for an equalizer and force penalties, but their race had been run. Argentina battled down their attacking threats and eventually put the game to bed as Kobel spilled a shot, with Lautaro Martínez capitalizing and tapping home the third and final goal.
It was the fourth straight match in this tournament (fifth overall) where Argentina scored 3 goals, and for Switzerland, it was yet another heartbreaking quarterfinal defeat after their penalty shootout losses to Spain and England in the last two European Championships.
Argentine Momentum
Argentina may not have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat like they did against Egypt, but they did avoid a penalty shootout by a razor-thin margin and showcase the same kind of resilience that has defined their magical run under Scaloni. And after winning the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América, Argentina find themselves on track for yet another trophy.
“It’s good that [Argentine] people are enjoying it as much as we are. That’s how we live it,” Messi stated after the match “This group has got people used to doing things that aren’t normal: it’s not easy to come back from being world champions, winning everything we won, and then continue competing and remaining at that level, among the top four, playing in another semifinal.”
Whilst Granit Xhaka, Ricardo Rodríguez, Remo Freuler and various other members of the Swiss golden generation will likely end their World Cup careers without a single semifinal, Argentina are just two wins away from doing something no international team has ever accomplished: winning four straight major trophies.
They’ll be heading to Atlanta to face off against England in the semifinal on Wednesday, and if they win, they’ll head to New Jersey for the first time this tournament to face the winner of Spain / France. If they lose, however, they’ll head to Miami for the third-placed match. Argentina know that they won’t be at the top of the world forever, but as long as Messi is still running the show, they’re going to keep letting the good times roll.
“It’s not normal, that’s why we have to enjoy it so much. We don’t know if it will happen again, if it will happen again, when,” Messi stated post-match. “Argentina went a long time without being world champions until the last time, so everything that comes next should be enjoyed and valued. We will try to rest, recover our strength and compete in the semifinal.”
