Argentina and England Secure Semifinal Spots with Gripping Extra-Time Victories
The defending champions Argentina will now face England in a highly anticipated semifinal, while France takes on Spain for the other final berth.
The story
The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals concluded with a dramatic clash at Kansas City Stadium, where Argentina overcame a resilient Switzerland side 3-1 after extra time. Alexis Mac Allister put Argentina ahead in the 10th minute, heading in a Lionel Messi corner.
Switzerland, however, battled back, with Dan Ndoye leveling the score in the 67th minute. The game turned when Switzerland's Breel Embolo was sent off, giving Argentina a numerical advantage. In extra time, Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 112th minute with a powerful long-range strike, followed by Lautaro Martinez sealing the victory in stoppage time after a counterattack, sending Argentina into the semifinals.
Yesterday's results
Argentina vs Switzerland
Score: 3-1 (AET)
Key: Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored in extra time to secure Argentina's win after Breel Embolo's red card for Switzerland.
England vs Norway
Score: 2-1 (AET)
Key: Jude Bellingham scored twice, including the extra-time winner in the 93rd minute, to send England through.
Where it stands
The FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinalists are now confirmed following yesterday's thrilling quarterfinal matches. France and Spain had previously secured their places, and they will be joined by England and defending champions Argentina.
The knockout bracket sees France and Spain set to clash in one semifinal, while England and Argentina will battle it out in the other. All four teams have navigated a challenging path through the tournament, setting the stage for two monumental encounters to determine who advances to the final.
What we'll be watching
- France vs Spain – Semifinal, Tuesday, July 14, at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.
- England vs Argentina – Semifinal, Wednesday, July 15, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.