The World Cup 2026 quarter-finals are almost upon us — and what a road it has been to get here. Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Mexico are all out. Paraguay and Morocco produced penalty heroics. Erling Haaland has announced himself as the tournament's most devastating striker. And the Golden Boot race features a three-way tie between the three best players on the planet.
From the confirmed blockbusters to the ties still taking shape, here is your complete preview of the four quarter-final matchups that will define the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Confirmed Quarter-Finals
Two of the four quarter-finals are already locked in after a thrilling Round of 16. Two more will be confirmed once today's and tomorrow's matches are settled.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 9 Jul | France vs Morocco | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 4:00 PM |
| Thu 10 Jul | Spain/Portugal vs USA/Belgium | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | 3:00 PM |
| Fri 11 Jul | Norway vs England | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | 5:00 PM |
| Fri 11 Jul | Argentina/Egypt vs Switzerland/Colombia | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | 9:00 PM |
France vs Morocco: The Semi-Final Rematch
Kylian Mbappé and France have been the most ruthless attacking force at this World Cup. Five matches, 14 goals, maximum points in the group stage, a 3–0 demolition of Sweden, and a gritty 1–0 win over Paraguay in the last 16. Mbappé leads the Golden Boot race on assists (seven goals, two assists), while Ousmane Dembélé has chipped in four of his own.
Morocco have taken a tougher path — but arguably a more impressive one. After a dramatic penalty shootout win over the Netherlands in the Round of 32, the Atlas Lions dismantled co-hosts Canada 3–0 in the last 16, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring a brace. Morocco are the first African nation to reach back-to-back World Cup quarter-finals, and they will have no shortage of motivation after France ended their run in the 2022 semi-finals with a 2–0 victory in Qatar.
The tactical battle is fascinating. Morocco's deep defensive block and devastating counter-attacks have troubled every opponent they have faced. But France's front line — Mbappé, Dembélé, and Michael Olise — have been virtually unstoppable. Something has to give.
Prediction: France's attacking depth should prove decisive, but Morocco will make them suffer. France 2–1 Morocco.
Norway vs England: Haaland vs Bellingham
This is the tie that neutrals are most excited about — and with good reason.
Erling Haaland single-handedly knocked out five-time champions Brazil in the Round of 16. After goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland produced a sensational display and saved a first-half penalty from Bruno Guimarães, Haaland struck twice in the final 11 minutes — a towering header above Gabriel in the 79th minute and a thunderbolt from range in the 90th. Neymar pulled one back from the spot deep in stoppage time, but it was too late. Norway's first World Cup quarter-final since 1998 was secured in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
Haaland's seven goals are the most by a player on his World Cup debut since Grzegorz Lato scored seven for Poland in 1974. His conversion rate of 39% from 18 shots is the best at any single World Cup since Gary Lineker in 1986. Norway have won their last 17 international matches when Haaland has scored. The man is a force of nature.
England, meanwhile, produced a classic away-day performance at the Estadio Azteca. Jude Bellingham struck twice in two minutes — a diving header from a Bukayo Saka cross and a clinical finish — before Harry Kane converted from the spot to make it 3–1. A red card for Jarell Quansah and a Raúl Jiménez penalty made for a nervy finish, but the Three Lions held on to win 3–2. Bellingham became the first England player to score twice in a World Cup knockout match since Gary Lineker in 1986.
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The Golden Boot Sub-Plot
This match could decide the Golden Boot. Haaland (seven goals), Mbappé (seven), and Messi (seven) are locked in a three-way tie — the first time three players have reached seven goals at a single World Cup. Kane sits on five or six depending on the source, and Bellingham has been instrumental without padding his numbers. A Haaland hat-trick or a Kane brace could reshape the race entirely.
Prediction: The best quarter-final on paper. England's tournament pedigree just about edges it. England 2–2 Norway (England win 4–3 on penalties).
Portugal vs Spain: The Iberian Derby (Round of 16 — Today)
Before the quarter-finals can be finalised, today's Iberian blockbuster must be settled. Spain and Portugal face off at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 3:00 PM ET — and it may be the best match of the entire Round of 16.
Spain have been imperious. Four matches, four clean sheets — the first team in World Cup history to keep clean sheets in their opening four games of a tournament. Mikel Oyarzabal leads their charge with four goals, while Lamine Yamal continues to terrorise defenders from the right wing. La Roja are unbeaten in their last 34 matches.
Portugal have been more pragmatic but no less effective. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first-ever World Cup knockout goal — from the penalty spot against Croatia in the Round of 32 — and has three goals in the tournament. At 41, he is chasing the one major honour that has eluded him: a World Cup winners' medal. This could be his final World Cup match.
The generational storyline writes itself: Yamal, born in 2007, against Ronaldo, born in 1985. The future against the past. The winner faces the winner of USA vs Belgium in the quarter-finals.
USA vs Belgium: The 2014 Rematch (Round of 16 — Today)
The second match today sees USA take on Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle at 8:00 PM ET — a rematch of their dramatic 2014 Round of 16 encounter, which Belgium won 2–1 in a match remembered for Tim Howard's 16 saves.
Mauricio Pochettino's USA topped Group D and beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–0 in the Round of 32, despite playing much of the second half with ten men after Folarin Balogun was sent off. Balogun's suspension has since been overturned, and he is available for selection. Christian Pulisic is still searching for his first goal of the tournament.
Belgium produced the comeback of the tournament against Senegal in the Round of 32 — recovering from 2–0 down with seven minutes remaining to win 3–2 after extra time. Youri Tielemans scored a brace and Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to turn the match on its head. Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois remain the spine of a team capable of beating anyone on their day.
Seattle has hosted six World Cup matches so far and produced record crowds. This will be the city's final match of the tournament — and the atmosphere promises to be electric.
The Remaining Round of 16 Ties (7 July)
Two more last-16 matches on Tuesday will complete the quarter-final picture:
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Argentina vs Egypt in Atlanta — Lionel Messi (seven goals) faces Mohamed Salah in a match that pits the defending champions against the Pharaohs, who are in the last 16 for the first time since 1934. Messi is the tournament's all-time leading scorer and could extend his record further.
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Switzerland vs Colombia in Vancouver — Switzerland are chasing their first quarter-final since 1954, while Colombia aim to match their best-ever World Cup result from 2014. Luis Díaz and Breel Embolo are the key men in what looks like the tightest tie of the round.
The winners of those two matches will meet in Kansas City on 11 July in the final quarter-final.
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What We Know So Far
This World Cup has already delivered some of the most remarkable results in tournament history. Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Mexico — four of the biggest names in world football — are all watching from home. Paraguay and Cape Verde almost produced the upsets of the century. And the Golden Boot race features three players on seven goals, which has never happened before at a single World Cup.
The quarter-finals promise more of the same. France vs Morocco is a tactical chess match with a grudge. Norway vs England is a blockbuster starring the two best players in the Premier League. And the two remaining ties could feature Spain vs USA or Portugal vs Belgium — any combination of which would be box-office.
Set up your prediction league on ScorePit to call the quarter-final results before your mates do. Who is going through? Who is going home? The biggest week of the World Cup starts now.
Sources
This post was researched using the following sources:
- 2026 FIFA World Cup bracket, results, scores — CBS Sports
- FIFA World Cup 2026 bracket: Quarter-finals full schedule — Olympics.com
- Haaland scores twice as Norway stun Brazil 2–1 — Al Jazeera
- Haaland brings the thunder, strikes down Brazil — ESPN
- Mexico 2–3 England: FIFA World Cup 2026 last 16 — Al Jazeera
- France vs Morocco World Cup 2026 quarter-final preview — FIFA.com
- Portugal vs Spain: World Cup 2026 Round of 16 preview — Opta Analyst
- USA vs Belgium: World Cup Round of 16 preview — FIFA.com
- 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race — Sky Sports
- World Cup 2026 Golden Boot tracker — ESPN
- Switzerland vs Colombia: World Cup 2026 Round of 16 preview — Squawka
Cover image: Estadio Azteca pitch during the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.