Defending champions Argentina will face England in the semifinals of FIFA World Cup 2026 after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over ten-man Switzerland after extra time. Julian Alvarez's spectacular long-range strike in the 112th minute proved to be the decisive moment, securing Argentina's place in the last four.

The match, held at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday, saw Argentina take an early lead through Alexis Mac Allister in the 10th minute, who headed home a cross from Lionel Messi. However, the South Americans struggled to assert dominance, and Switzerland deservedly equalized in the 67th minute with a close-range finish from Dan Ndoye.

The game took a controversial turn in the 72nd minute when Swiss forward Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation following a VAR review. The new VAR rule for this tournament was invoked when the referee was asked to review a booking given to Argentina's Leandro Paredes, which ultimately led to Embolo's dismissal.

Both sides had chances to win the match in normal time. Argentina pressed hard, with Lissandro Martinez nearly scoring with a bicycle kick on the last kick of the period. Lionel Messi also came close, but his chipped effort was saved and potentially ruled offside.

Alvarez's stunning 25-yard effort ultimately broke the deadlock, finding the top right corner of the net. As Switzerland pushed forward in the closing stages, Lautaro Martinez capitalized on defensive gaps to score a third goal for Argentina deep into stoppage time of extra time, following a counter-attack initiated by Thiago Almada.

Argentina will now meet England in the semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta. This sets up a highly anticipated rematch of the Qatar 2022 final between Argentina and Spain, the other semifinalists, is scheduled for Tuesday. Only Italy and Brazil have successfully defended a World Cup title in the past.

The taxing nature of the tournament, with its demanding schedule, has been a significant factor for many teams. The physical and mental resilience of the remaining sides will be crucial as they vie for the ultimate prize.

This victory for Argentina, though not without its challenges, demonstrates their tenacity and ability to perform under pressure. The clash against England promises to be a major highlight of the World Cup.