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By Ishaan Kapoor — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

Argentina secures early advantage

Argentina has taken an early lead against Switzerland in their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final match at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City. The reigning world champions broke the deadlock when Alexis Mac Allister scored from a corner delivered by Lionel Messi. This goal marks Mac Allister’s first of the tournament and gives Argentina a 1-0 advantage.

The goal came after sustained pressure from back-to-back corners. Messi’s precise delivery from the left found Mac Allister, who headed the ball into the bottom-right corner, leaving the Swiss goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, with no opportunity to save it. The atmosphere in Kansas City is described as stunning, with clear blue skies and warm conditions setting the stage for the match.

Prior to the goal, Argentina began to find their rhythm after a lively opening from Switzerland. Messi had previously set up Mac Allister for a shot from the edge of the box, which resulted in Argentina’s first corner after a deflection. Switzerland had started the match with intent, enjoying possession and looking to unsettle the champions.

Teams vie for semi-final spot

This quarter-final clash pits two World Cup veterans against each other, with a coveted spot in the semi-finals on the line. Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, is aiming to maintain its undefeated streak in the tournament. They secured their place in the quarter-finals after a narrow 3-2 victory against Egypt in the Round of 16, a pattern seen earlier in their Round of 32 match against Cape Verde, which also ended 3-2.

Switzerland also had a challenging journey to this stage. They advanced after a penalty shootout victory against Colombia in the Round of 16, following a goalless draw for the majority of the game.

The starting lineups for both teams were announced before kick-off. Switzerland adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Gregor Kobel in goal; Denis Zakaria, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, and Ricardo Rodríguez in defence; Remo Freuler and Granit Xhaka as defensive midfielders; Dan Ndoye, Fabian Rieder, and Djibril Sow as attacking midfielders; and Breel Embolo as the forward. Sow replaced Ardon Jashari from the previous match.

Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, maintained an unchanged starting XI from their Round of 16 victory. The team lined up in an attacking 4-1-3-2 formation with Emiliano Martínez in goal; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, and Nicolás Tagliafico in defence; Leandro Paredes as the defensive midfielder; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield; and Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez leading the attack. Messi, who has scored in each of Argentina’s five matches in the tournament, leads the reigning world champions.

Historical context and expectations

History suggests a challenging match for Switzerland, as Argentina remains unbeaten in seven previous encounters between the two nations. Their last World Cup meeting was in the Round of 16 in 2014. Despite this, Switzerland has demonstrated their capability to compete with strong international teams, having reached their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954.

The Swiss campaign has been marked by consistency, topping Group B and defeating Algeria 2-0 before their penalty shootout win against Colombia. The team’s defensive strength, highlighted by Kobel’s performance against Colombia, will be crucial against an Argentine side looking to continue their title defence. The match is taking place at Kansas City Stadium.

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Source: foxsports.com