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It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t elegant. And it certainly won’t silence the conspiracy theories. Yet Argentina continued their flawless run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, registering six wins out of six after defeating Switzerland 3-1 in a heated encounter in Kansas City.

“We fought until the very end and gave everything on the field. We’re finding goals late in games, so as long as we keep winning, everything is positive,” said Julián Álvarez following the match.

“Obviously, you have to suffer — you have to know how to endure the tough moments. That’s how these matches are unfolding right now.”

After playing three consecutive matches in Vancouver, which ended with a penalty shootout victory over Colombia, Switzerland faced an Argentina team that had just survived nerve-wracking wins against Cape Verde and Egypt.

When Alexis Mac Allister headed home from Lionel Messi’s corner in the 10th minute, it looked like the Albiceleste were on course for a routine win. But the Swiss had other intentions.

Switzerland stood firm with disciplined defending and began to impose themselves in the second half. Murat Yakin’s men pinned Argentina deep in their half, testing Emiliano Martínez repeatedly, and were eventually rewarded when Dan Ndoye struck the equaliser.

However, their celebrations were short-lived as Breel Embolo was shown a red card for simulation soon after. Deprived of Embolo and the injured Johan Manzambi, Switzerland suddenly looked vulnerable.

“We had to suffer a lot. We knew they were a physical team, and that caused us plenty of problems,” said Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni. “Today luck was on our side because one of their players was sent off. We could have played better, but reaching the semi-finals is a great accomplishment.”

Switzerland continued to battle hard, forcing Scaloni to make late changes. Thiago Almada, Nicolás Otamendi, and José Manuel ‘Flaco’ López were introduced in the final 30 minutes. It was always going to take something extraordinary to break through the Swiss defence — and that moment arrived in extra time. Julián Álvarez unleashed a thunderous strike into the top-right corner in the 112th minute.

Lautaro Martínez added the finishing touch in stoppage time, sealing a hard-earned victory. Argentina now move on to face England — a team chasing their first major title since 1966.

The upcoming clash carries immense historical significance, shaped by the 1982 Falklands War and a series of unforgettable footballing moments — from Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ in 1986, to David Beckham’s red card in 1998 and redemption in 2002, and even the 1966 match still known in Argentina as the ‘Robbery of the Century.’

“Obviously, both on and off the pitch, it’s a fixture full of history, pain, and many other emotions,” said extra-time substitute López after the match. “But we’re professionals, and we’ll approach it like every other game — giving everything we have until the final whistle.”

“A World Cup semi-final is something truly special. It’s the kind of match every player dreams of from the moment they first kick a ball. I don’t think we need any additional motivation beyond that.”