The defending champions are doing what defending champions do. Argentina went into halftime leading Switzerland 1-0 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri.

Alexis Mac Allister put Argentina ahead in the 10th minute, heading home from a corner kick delivered by Lionel Messi.

How it happened

Messi swung in the corner, Mac Allister attacked the near post, and the ball was in the net before Switzerland could organize a response.

Switzerland, for their part, made it to this quarterfinal by eliminating Colombia in a penalty shootout.

Argentina’s historical edge over Switzerland

Argentina has not lost to Switzerland since 1990, a run that covers seven meetings across all competitions.

In 2014, these two sides met in the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Brazil. Argentina needed extra time to advance, with Angel Di Maria scoring the winner deep into the added period.

Argentina’s path to this quarterfinal included one of the more dramatic results of the tournament so far. They trailed Egypt 2-0 before staging a full comeback to win 3-2.

What the second half means for the bracket

This is the last quarterfinal of the 2026 World Cup, meaning whoever advances from Kansas City completes the semifinal lineup. England has already secured a spot on the other side of the bracket.

Switzerland has not conceded any goals during regulation time since the group stage, making them a formidable opponent. Star forward Breel Embolo and the Swiss side face the challenge of increasing their offensive presence in the second half if they hope to secure a spot in their first World Cup semifinal since 1954.