Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time on Tuesday to advance to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, continuing their title defence deep into the tournament.
The match required the additional 30 minutes to separate the two sides, with Argentina eventually pulling clear to win convincingly on the scoreline. The result means Argentina, the reigning world champions, are now four wins away from lifting the trophy for a second consecutive time.
How the match unfolded
Details from the 90 minutes were not released before publication, but the need for extra time points to a tightly contested contest that Switzerland kept alive into the later stages. Argentina ultimately found the decisive goals to move through, finishing 3-1 and booking a last-four place.
Switzerland, who qualified from their group and navigated the knockout rounds to reach the quarter-finals, exit the tournament having pushed one of the world's strongest sides all the way past the regulation whistle.
What comes next for Argentina
Argentina now wait to discover their semi-final opponent, with the other last-eight matches still to conclude. As holders, they carry the weight of expectation into every game, and reaching the semis reinforces their standing as one of the tournament's genuine contenders.
The 2026 World Cup is being hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making it the first edition to span three countries. The expanded 48-team format means the knockout bracket is deeper and the path to the final longer than in previous editions, adding to the significance of any deep run.
Argentina's squad, built around a core that lifted the trophy at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has now matched the progress expected of a defending champion. Whether they can go the full distance will become clearer once the semi-final draw is confirmed and opponents are set.
Qatar's foreign ministry said mediators including Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman have reached "very progressive stages" in efforts to end the US-Iran war, pushing Brent crude down more than four percent.
Qatar confirmed it is mediating between the US and Iran but said no direct talks are currently planned. The clarification follows conflicting statements from President Trump, who claimed talks are under way, and Tehran, which denied any dialogue is happening.
Saudi Aramco reported sharply higher second-quarter 2026 profits as the Iran war restricts global oil supply and pushes crude prices up. Other oil supermajors also posted outsized earnings, raising concerns about sustained fuel cost pressure for importing economies.
President Trump called current Iran negotiations the "last chance" to end five months of conflict, pushing oil prices higher. Tehran denied formal talks are taking place, raising the risk of a diplomatic breakdown with direct consequences for global energy markets.
