France vs. Morocco — Thursday, July 9, Boston
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its business end. After a chaotic Round of 16 packed with penalty shootouts, extra-time drama, and a few genuine shocks, the field is down to eight teams. Four quarterfinals stand between these sides and a semifinal spot — and they land on consecutive days, July 9–11, before the fourth match closes out the round on July 12.
Here's a breakdown of every matchup, the storylines driving them, and who we think comes out on top.
France vs. Morocco — Thursday, July 9, Boston
This is a rematch of the 2022 semifinal, which France won 2-0 on its way to the final. Four years later, Morocco arrives even more dangerous — it's now the first African team to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals, having rolled past Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16.
France, meanwhile, has looked like the most complete team in the tournament. Kylian Mbappé is a Golden Boot frontrunner, and the win over Paraguay (1-0) showed a team that can grind out results even when it isn't at its fluid best.
The case for Morocco: This squad has a habit of exceeding expectations, and a disciplined, physical approach could frustrate France the way it frustrated Canada.
The case for France: Depth. France's supporting cast around Mbappé — the midfield, the defense — has looked more balanced than in years past, and that depth tends to matter most in one-off knockout games.
Prediction: France advances, but not comfortably — a tight 2-1 game that Morocco makes them earn.
Spain vs. Belgium — Friday, July 10, Los Angeles
Spain punched its ticket with a stoppage-time winner from Mikel Merino against Portugal — a result that also closed the book on Cristiano Ronaldo's international career. Spain has been the tournament's most composed side defensively, going through group play without conceding a goal.
Belgium's path has been the opposite of tidy: draws against Egypt and Iran, a comeback from two goals down against Senegal, and a narrow 1-0 win over the USMNT. But "erratic and resilient" has gotten them this far, with Charles De Ketelaere and Romelu Lukaku stepping up in big moments.
The case for Belgium: They've already shown they can win ugly and come from behind — exactly the profile of a team that upsets a favorite.
The case for Spain: Lamine Yamal's return to form and a defense that hasn't been breached all tournament make Spain the more reliable side across 90 minutes.
Prediction: Spain edges it, 2-1, but expect Belgium to make it uncomfortable late.
Norway vs. England — Saturday, July 11, Miami
Norway is making its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal appearance, and it's arrived on the back of Erling Haaland, who scored both goals in Norway's upset win over Brazil. Haaland now sits at the top of the Golden Boot race — his tournament tally is higher than Messi, Mbappé, and Ronaldo's combined.
England, meanwhile, is through to its third straight quarterfinal, but the road hasn't been smooth — a 3-2 win over Mexico that England played most of the second half with ten men.
The case for Norway: One player can decide a knockout match, and right now nobody in the tournament is hotter than Haaland.
The case for England: Even shorthanded, England found a way to win. A team that can manufacture a result under pressure is dangerous in a single-elimination format.
Prediction: Norway vs. England is this round's toughest call. We lean England, 2-1, but wouldn't be shocked if Haaland single-handedly ends that run.
Argentina/Egypt vs. Switzerland/Colombia — Sunday, July 12, Kansas City
This quarterfinal is set by two Round of 16 matches on July 7: defending champions Argentina against Egypt, and Switzerland against Colombia.
Argentina is favored heavily against Egypt, but the story all tournament has been how reliant Lionel Messi's side is on Messi himself — he's scored seven of Argentina's goals this World Cup, and the supporting cast (Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez) hasn't found the net nearly as often. Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, is enjoying its best-ever World Cup run and will fancy a shot at more history.
Switzerland and Colombia is a closer call between two teams that have steadily improved as the tournament has progressed, headlined by breakout Swiss teenager Johan Manzambi.
Prediction: Argentina gets past Egypt, and Colombia edges Switzerland — setting up an Argentina-Colombia quarterfinal that could go either way, with a slight lean toward Argentina on the strength of Messi's continued brilliance.
The World Cup 2026 quarterfinals feature an exciting blend of established football powerhouses and emerging challengers. Traditional contenders like France, Spain, England, and Argentina are aiming to continue their pursuit of another World Cup title, while Morocco, Belgium's new generation, Norway, and either Egypt or Colombia are looking to create history.
This mix of experience and ambition is what makes the knockout stage so compelling. A single goal, tactical adjustment, or standout individual performance can completely change the course of the tournament. If even one underdog pulls off an upset, the semifinal lineup could look very different from what many predicted before the tournament began.
As the quarterfinals unfold, every match will bring new storylines, standout performances, and potentially unexpected results. We'll continue to update our analysis and predictions as the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final becomes clearer.
