Defending champions Argentina advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over 10-man Switzerland at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.

Lionel Scaloni's men extended their unbeaten World Cup run to 12 matches, ensuring that the tournament's top four ranked sides will contest the final four.

An ecstatic crowd of South American supporters filled the stands in Kansas City and had reason to celebrate early in the 10th minute.

Lionel Messi delivered an expert corner from the left, allowing Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister to rise between Djibril Sow and Breel Embolo to glance a header into the far corner.

The provider's milestone delivery took his tally of assists across six World Cups to 10. Messi also remained joint top of the Golden Boot standings with eight goals, level with French forward Kylian Mbappé, though he did not find the net on Saturday.

Switzerland worked their way back into the fixture and drew level in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye swept home following a clever pass from Ricardo Rodriguez.

Drama unfolded five minutes later when Embolo, already booked in the first half, was dismissed following a VAR check for simulation after throwing himself to the ground.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Murat Yakin's disciplined side successfully repelled wave after wave of attacks during regular and the first period of extra time.

Argentina finally broke the brave Swiss resistance in the 112th minute when Julián Alvarez curled a breathtaking strike from outside the box into the top right corner.

Substitute Lautaro Martinez added gloss to the scoreline with a clinical finish deep into stoppage time.

The reigning champions now pivot toward a high-stakes semifinal showdown against arch-rivals ?????? England in Atlanta on Wednesday, following Thomas Tuchel's side overcoming Norway 2-1 earlier in the day.

The storied history between England and Argentina features legendary encounters, including Diego Maradona's iconic 1986 performance at the Estadio Azteca where he scored both the infamous "Hand of God" goal and a dazzling solo effort in a 2-1 win.