Argentina takes 1-0 lead over Switzerland in World Cup quarter-final
Argentina currently holds a 1-0 lead against Switzerland in their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final match. The goal came in the 10th minute from Alexis Mac Allister, who headed the ball into the net following a corner kick from Lionel Messi. The match is being played at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.
The winner of this quarter-final will advance to face England in the semi-finals, scheduled for Wednesday in Atlanta. England secured their semi-final spot by defeating Norway 2-1 in extra time. In the other semi-final, Spain will play France on Tuesday in Dallas.
Argentina’s Path to the Quarter-finals
Argentina, the reigning champions, had a strong showing in the group stage, topping Group J after victories against Austria, Jordan, and Algeria. Their knockout phase journey has been more challenging. In the round of 32, they overcame Cape Verde with a 3-2 win in extra time. The round of 16 saw them come from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 in a match that included allegations of officiating bias.
Despite their strong group stage performance, Argentina‘s knockout phase matches have been described as unconvincing. These performances have led to questions about their ability to retain the title, and they have slipped to number two in the FIFA rankings and fourth among the tournament favourites. Switzerland coach Murat Yakin noted that Argentina is “not invincible,” suggesting a belief within the Swiss camp that a victory is achievable.
Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, continues to be a central figure for Argentina. He has scored in all five of Argentina‘s matches so far in the tournament, bringing his total to eight goals, placing him second in the Golden Boot race behind Kylian Mbappe, who also has eight goals but has played one more game. Messi‘s crucial goal and assist in the round of 16 helped prevent an early elimination, though he admitted to fatigue after playing 120 minutes against Cape Verde and a demanding match against Egypt.
Switzerland’s Journey and Current Match Dynamics
Switzerland has made a notable return to the quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years. They topped Group B with an unbeaten record, securing wins against Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and drawing with Qatar. In the round of 32, they defeated Algeria 2-0, marking their first World Cup knockout stage win since 1938. They then advanced past Colombia in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.
Key players for Switzerland include Breel Embolo and Johan Manzambi. However, Manzambi and Jaquez are out with knee and muscle injuries, respectively, and Aebischer is doubtful for the match. Manzambi, a 20-year-old breakout star, also missed the previous game. The current match against Argentina offers Switzerland a chance for revenge, as Argentina defeated them in the 2014 World Cup.
In the ongoing match, despite Argentina‘s early goal, Switzerland has shown resilience. The Swiss defense has largely contained Messi and his teammates since the opening goal. Switzerland has created several scoring opportunities, particularly from set pieces in the first half, and has had a slight advantage in possession. Argentina‘s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez, made a crucial play by coming off his line to tackle the ball away from Embolo, who was attempting a dangerous attack.
The Opta supercomputer has predicted a 57.1 percent likelihood of Argentina winning in regulation time, with Switzerland having an 18.7 percent chance. There is a 24.2 percent probability of the game going into extra time. This quarter-final marks the eighth meeting between the two nations, with Argentina having won five of their previous encounters and two ending in a draw. Argentina also won both of their prior World Cup matches against Switzerland: 2-0 in 1966 and 1-0 in 2014, which was their last competitive meeting.
Only three players from the 2014 encounter remain: Messi, Swiss captain Granit Xhaka, and defender Ricardo Rodriguez. The match is currently underway, with Argentina holding a one-goal advantage.
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Source: aljazeera.com
