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

Defending champions Argentina will face England in the semifinals of FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating ten-man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time thanks to a decisive long-range effort by Julian Alvarez.Alexis Mac Allister headed in a 10th-minute cross by Lionel Messi to hand Argentina the lead at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4South Africa’s Jayden Adams, 25, dies after playing in FIFA World Cuplist 2 of 4Bellingham scores twice as England beat Norway 2-1 to reach World Cup semislist 3 of 4FIFA to sell pieces of World Cup final stadium pitch, could earn millionslist 4 of 4FIFA is not an independent sporting organisation; it is a political tool.end of listIt was far from the dominant display that the South Americans would have hoped for thereafter, and the Europeans deservedly levelled in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye slotted home from close range.The Swiss controversially lost Breel Embolo to a second yellow in the 72nd minute for simulation. VAR had to intervene, however, to request the referee to review whether the booking given to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was a case of mistaken identity – a new VAR rule for this tournament.Embolo appeared to dive to win the free kick and Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro changed his decision, which resulted in an inconsolable Embolo given his marching orders.Argentina pressed for the winner in normal time and nearly found their reward with virtually the last kick of the period when Lisandro Martinez flung himself at a loose ball in the box, but his scissor-kick didn’t have the power to beat the keeper.Messi had himself come close when through, one-on-one, but his chip was saved. The referee’s assistant raised his flag to suggest the effort would have been offside anyway, although replays show a goal may well have stood – it would have been Messi’s ninth in six appearances at the tournament.Switzerland’s Breel Embolo remonstrates after he is shown a second yellow card by referee Joao Pinheiro following a VAR review [Lee Smith/Reuters]It was Alvarez who stole the show on this occasion, however, with a fizzing effort from 25 yards which rifled into the top right corner of the goal in the 112th minute.