Lionel Messi required 10 minutes to set up a goal in the World Cup quarter-finals as Alexis Mac Allister powered in the captains corner to open the scoring against Switzerland in Kansas City on Sunday. Liverpools 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 Allisters effort. Thats brilliant.Table of ContentsArgentina vs Switzerland: More Messi World Cup magicWorld Cup 2026: Argentina team vs SwitzerlandWorld Cup 2026: Switzerland team vs ArgentinaWhere to watch Argentina vs Switzerland: TV channel, live online streamsWorld Cup 2026: Argentina vs Switzerland statsArgentina vs Switzerland: More Messi World Cup magicMessi set up Cristian Romeros 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 Argentinas 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 SwitzerlandGonzalo 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 MessiArgentina 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 MartinezWorld Cup 2026: Switzerland team vs ArgentinaJohan 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 NdoyeSwitzerland 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 IttenWhere to watch Argentina vs Switzerland: TV channel, live online streamsKick-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 ITVs website and ITVX app, which is available on a vast variety of devices for viewing on the go.World Cup 2026: Argentina vs Switzerland statsArgentina have not lost in 11 World Cup matches, which is their longest such undefeated streak in historyThey have scored in each of their 14 World Cup games since losing 3-0 to Croatia during the 2018 group stageWith 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 CupThe captains eight goals at the 2026 edition are the most of any player before the quarter-finals, while only Brazils Ademir (9 in 1950) has ever scored more at a single World Cup among all South AmericansSwitzerland have never beaten Argentina in seven attempts across all competitionsOnly 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 qualifiersFrom 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 roundBreel Embolo has been directly involved in 13 goals across his last 17 international games across all competitions, scoring 11 and assisting two Topics 2026 FIFA World Cup Argentina National Football Team Cristian Romero Emiliano Martinez Enzo Fernandez FIFA World Cup granit xhaka Julian Alvarez Lionel Messi Rodrigo de Paul Switzerland National Football Team World Cup World Cup 2026 Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read LIVE Argentina v Switzerland: World Cup 2026 text commentary, updates, goals and stats as Lionel Messi sets up Alexis Mac Allister goal Jon Fisher 12th July, 2026 Argentina vs Switzerland live: World Cup 2026 confirmed teams and full line ups as Lionel Messi targets final four, TV channel, online stream and stats Ben Miller 12th July, 2026 England 2-1 Norway: World Cup 2026 report, result, goals as Jude Bellingham goal sends Three Lions to semi finals Ben Miller 12th July, 2026 England vs Norway live: Schjelderup strikes in World Cup 2026 quarter final after Three Lions went to sleep with Harry Kane appealing for foul but Bellingham comes to the rescue again Ben Miller 11th July, 2026 England vs Norway live: World Cup 2026 confirmed teams and full line ups as Stones and Madueke start, TV channel, online stream and stats Nicholas McGee 11th July, 2026 Klopp reaches agreement in principle to succeed Nagelsmann as Germany coach Nicholas McGee 11th July, 2026
