Lionel Messi required 10 minutes to set up a goal in the World Cup quarter-finals as Alexis Mac Allister powered in the captain’s corner to open the scoring against Switzerland in Kansas City on Sunday.
Liverpool’s Mac Allister produced a masterful header to put his side on course for a semi-final on Wednesday against England, who knocked out Norway after extra time in Miami hours earlier.
“Look at the neck muscles to flick it up and get it towards the goal,” former England winger Andros Townsend told ITV of Mac Allister’s effort. “That’s brilliant.”
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Argentina vs Switzerland: More Messi World Cup magic
Messi set up Cristian Romero’s 79th-minute goal and equalised himself four minutes later as La Albiceleste recovered from 2-0 behind to beat Egypt in an extraordinary last-16 tie.
Aside from their lapse for the goal, Switzerland held their own during the first 35 minutes by matching Argentina’s tallies of three attempts at goal and one on target, as well as having far more of the momentum.
Only a 118th-minute Angel Di Maria goal for Argentina separated the sides when they met in the last 16 at the 2014 finals.
World Cup 2026: Argentina team vs Switzerland
Gonzalo Montiel needed to avoid a caution or incur a suspension for Argentina, who were unchanged.
Argentina starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi
Argentina substitutes: Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nico Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez
World Cup 2026: Switzerland team vs Argentina
Johan Manzambi contributed three goals and four assists for Switzerland before being ruled out of their win over Colombia with an injury to his left knee and the 20-year-old remained sidelined for this contest.
Djibril Sow replaced Ardon Jashari in their one change, while defender Luca Jaquez and midfielder Michel Aebischer had muscle injuries and were on the bench.
Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria and Miro Muheim were a booking away from bans.
Switzerland starting XI: Gregor Kobel, Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez, Denis Zakaria, Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka, Djibril Sow, Fabian Rieder, Breel Embolo, Dan Ndoye
Switzerland substitutes: Yvon Mvogo, Marvin Keller, Miro Muheim, Silvan Widmer, Eray Comert, Aurele Amenda, Luca Jaquez, Ardon Jashari, Michel Aebischer, Christian Fassnacht, Ruben Vargas, Noah Okafor, Zeki Amdouni, Cedric Itten
Where to watch Argentina vs Switzerland: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Sunday was at 02:00 BST (21:00 ET / 18:00 PT, both Saturday). In the UK, live TV coverage is on ITV1.
Streaming is via ITV’s website and ITVX app, which is available on a vast variety of devices for viewing on the go.
World Cup 2026: Argentina vs Switzerland stats
- Argentina have not lost in 11 World Cup matches, which is their longest such undefeated streak in history
- They have scored in each of their 14 World Cup games since losing 3-0 to Croatia during the 2018 group stage
- With at least two goals in each of their last 11 outings, Argentina are on the joint-longest run of scoring multiple goals in the competition history (Uruguay also had 11 between 1930 and 1954)
- Messi became the first player to score in six straight World Cup knockout matches against Egypt but his penalty miss ensured the 39-year-old is the only player in history to fail to convert two spot kickat a single edition of the World Cup
- The captain’s eight goals at the 2026 edition are the most of any player before the quarter-finals, while only Brazil’s Ademir (9 in 1950) has ever scored more at a single World Cup among all South Americans
- Switzerland have never beaten Argentina in seven attempts across all competitions
- Only against Russia have Switzerland established a worse record without ever winning (12 times, including games vs USSR)
- They are the only team yet to trail at any point across the 2026 World Cup campaign, including qualifiers
- From their 10 World Cup matches against South American opposition, Switzerland have one win (D3 L6). That victory came in a 2-1 win over Ecuador in 2014, though they did progress past Colombia in the last round
- Breel Embolo has been directly involved in 13 goals across his last 17 international games across all competitions, scoring 11 and assisting two
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