Julián Álvarez's Extra-Time Strike Sends Argentina Past Switzerland 3-1 in World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals
Argentina again needed extra time to secure their spot in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. Julián Álvarez delivered a spectacular goal from outside the penalty area in the 112th minute, pushing Argentina ahead 2-1 in their quarterfinal match against a resilient Switzerland side reduced to ten men.
This marked Argentina's second victory in extra time across three knockout games in this tournament. The defending champions will now face England in the semifinals scheduled for Wednesday.
"Watch how Álvarez’s shot catches Switzerland’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel by surprise at the far post," the commentators noted.
Switzerland played with ten men after Breel Embolo received a controversial red card for simulation late in the second half. Despite being a player down, their defense was solid and repeatedly blocked Argentina’s attempts to score during regular time.
The defensive block could only hold for so long. Álvarez’s unexpected strike finally broke through. Once Argentina took the lead, Switzerland had to push forward desperately, leaving space behind. Lautaro Martínez capitalized on this, scoring in the 121st minute to make it 3-1 and end any Swiss hopes of a comeback.
The celebration between Martínez and Lionel Messi after that final goal showed the relief felt by the Argentine squad.
Why Embolo Was Sent Off
Breel Embolo appeared to go down near the sideline after a challenge by Argentina’s Leandro Paredes. Referee João Pinheiro quickly booked Paredes, possibly influenced by an earlier yellow card Embolo had earned for a tough tackle on Paredes.
Because Paredes had been cautioned, VAR reviewed Embolo’s fall. The replay revealed Embolo had started to dive before any contact occurred. Following the review, Pinheiro issued Embolo a second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal.
This mirrored an incident in the U.S. team’s first World Cup game, where a player was also penalized for diving after an initial foul call.
Had Paredes not been booked initially, VAR wouldn’t have been permitted to review the incident, meaning Embolo likely would have escaped punishment and the match continued with eleven players on each side.
Match Flow and Key Moments
Switzerland’s equalizer came shortly before Embolo’s red card when Dan Ndoye scored a header past Emiliano Martinez. Switzerland found momentum after halftime and steadily pressured Argentina, who had dominated the first half.
Argentina struck first early on with Alexis Mac Allister heading in a corner from Messi at the 10-minute mark. Switzerland looked outmatched until they regrouped in the second half.
Despite missing their top attacker Johan Manzambi due to injury, Switzerland kept Argentina on edge. Yet Argentina’s resilience shone through as they once again found late winners in high-stakes matches, including their comeback against Egypt earlier in the tournament.
Messi struggled to break down the Swiss defense, but Álvarez’s breakthrough goal highlighted the depth of Argentina’s attacking options. It was Álvarez’s first goal of the World Cup and came in just his third start.
