The stadium expected Leandro Paredes to receive a yellow card. Instead, after a tense VAR delay, Breel Embolo walked off in tears.
Switzerland had just levelled at 1 to 1 through Dan Ndoye in the 67th minute and had Argentina retreating. In the 72nd, Paredes challenged Embolo as the striker carried the ball forward. Referee João Pinheiro initially booked the Argentina midfielder, but VAR Guillermo Pacheco Larios recommended a review under the expanded mistaken identity protocol.
Replays convinced Pinheiro that Embolo had started falling before Paredes made contact. The referee cancelled the card for Paredes and instead booked the Swiss forward for simulation.
Embolo had already received a caution shortly before halftime. The reversed decision produced a second yellow and an immediate red card. Switzerland lost its main forward and dropped to 10 men.
His teammates survived until the 112th minute, when Julián Álvarez restored Argentina’s lead. Lautaro Martínez later completed a 3 to 1 victory.
Switzerland Had Argentina Under Pressure
Argentina struck first in the 10th minute after Switzerland failed to track Alexis Mac Allister at 2 consecutive corners. Lionel Messi delivered the second, and Mac Allister met it unmarked with a controlled header beyond Gregor Kobel.
Switzerland refused to let Argentina settle. Embolo broke into the penalty area in the 32nd minute before Lisandro Martínez and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez combined to stop him. Soon after halftime, the Argentina defender recovered again to block another dangerous run from the striker.
Both Ndoye and Granit Xhaka tested Emiliano Martínez as Switzerland increased the pressure. Xhaka gave his side greater control in midfield, closing passing lanes and forcing Argentina to move the ball at a slower tempo.
A quick exchange with Ricardo Rodríguez then released Ndoye inside the area. The winger drove a low finish beneath the goalkeeper from a tight angle to make it 1 to 1.
The equaliser transformed the atmosphere. Switzerland had found space around Argentina’s midfield and forced the defending champions deeper. Players on the Swiss bench rose from their seats as their team pushed for another goal.
Just 5 minutes later, the VAR review stopped that momentum.
IFAB Approved the Expanded Protocol Before the Tournament
The International Football Association Board writes and approves football’s laws. At its annual general meeting on Feb. 28, 2026, IFAB ratified an expanded interpretation of mistaken identity for the 2026 to 2027 Laws of the Game.
Those changes officially took effect on July 1, although competitions that had already begun could introduce them earlier.
Previously, mistaken identity reviews usually involved a referee cautioning or dismissing the wrong player from the same team. The expanded protocol gives VAR greater authority. Officials can now intervene when the referee punishes the wrong player, even when the actual offence may have been committed by someone from the opposing team.
That provision gave VAR a route into the Paredes and Embolo incident. Pinheiro did not simply transfer a card from 1 player to another. He also reassessed the challenge, deciding that Paredes had not committed a reckless foul and that Embolo had simulated contact.
For the officials, the sequence followed the new protocol. From Switzerland’s perspective, a technical correction had removed its leading forward just as the team had seized control.
Switzerland’s Anger Grew After the Reversal
The Swiss bench erupted when the stadium announcement confirmed the reversal. Coaches and substitutes protested while players surrounded Pinheiro. Embolo continued to argue before teammates guided him away from the field.
Yakin had watched his side recover from an early goal, force Argentina backwards, and level the match. His anger reflected more than disagreement with the referee. He believed the intervention had punished Switzerland at the exact moment it looked capable of taking the lead.
“We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable.”
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said.
The tournament had used the expanded rule once before. During the United States match against Paraguay, officials cancelled Tim Ream’s yellow card and instead punished Miguel Almirón for simulation. FIFA later supported that application.
Embolo’s case carried greater consequences. He had already been booked, the quarterfinal stood level, and Switzerland had just produced its strongest spell of the night.
Switzerland Forced Argentina Deep Into Extra Time
Switzerland reorganised quickly after the dismissal. Its midfield dropped closer to the defence, while the remaining attackers chased clearances and tried to give the back line time to recover.
Argentina controlled possession but could not score before the end of normal time. Mac Allister headed over from close range in the 89th minute. Messi then sent a late effort wide during stoppage time.
The Swiss also survived the first 15 minutes of extra time. Their defenders protected the central areas and forced Argentina to circulate the ball around the edge of the penalty area.
Every clearance drew a louder response from the Swiss supporters. Each recovery demanded more energy from players who had already spent long periods defending with 10 men.
Álvarez finally broke their resistance in the 112th minute. He collected the ball outside the area and drove a right footed strike from about 25 yards into the top corner. Kobel stretched but could not reach it.
Lautaro Martínez added the third goal in the 121st minute after Kobel saved Thiago Almada’s initial effort. Switzerland had spent almost 50 minutes playing with 10 men by that stage. The physical cost had become impossible to hide.
The Rule Was Followed, but the Argument Remains
Argentina advanced to face England in the semifinal. Switzerland left Kansas City after reaching its first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954, still waiting for its first appearance in a semifinal.
The review followed the expanded IFAB protocol. That fact will not end the debate.
A rule intended to correct the identity of an offender also allowed officials to reassess a marginal challenge, issue a second yellow, and alter a level knockout match. Switzerland had been producing its best football when the review began. By the time play restarted, Embolo had left the field, and Argentina held the numerical advantage.
The defending champions still had to break down a disciplined Swiss defence. They finally capitalised on tired legs during extra time.
Argentina earned its place in the semifinal. Switzerland’s frustration remains sharper because the decision that changed the match did not come from an obvious refereeing error. It came from a new protocol working exactly as its authors intended.
READ MORE: Before The Trophy Is Lifted, FIFA Eyes A 64 Team World Cup
FAQs
Q1. Why was Breel Embolo sent off against Argentina?
A. Referee João Pinheiro booked Embolo for simulation after a VAR review. Embolo had already received a yellow card, so the second caution produced a red card.
Q2. Why did VAR overturn Leandro Paredes’s yellow card?
A. Officials decided that Embolo had started falling before Paredes made contact. Pinheiro cancelled Paredes’s booking and cautioned Embolo instead.
Q3. What is the new VAR mistaken identity rule?
A. The rule allows VAR to correct a card shown to the wrong player. The actual offender can now play for either team.
Q4. When did IFAB approve the expanded VAR rule?
A. IFAB approved the change on Feb. 28, 2026. The new Laws of the Game officially took effect on July 1.
Q5. What was the final score between Argentina and Switzerland?
A. Argentina won 3 to 1 after extra time. Julián Álvarez scored in the 112th minute before Lautaro Martínez added the final goal.
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