The Road to the Final Narrowed to Eight
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its most electrifying stage. After a thrilling Round of 32 and a dramatic Round of 16 that saw defending champions Argentina stage a stunning comeback and host nation USA eliminated, the quarterfinal matchups are now officially set.
From 48 teams down to just eight, the tournament shifts entirely to the United States for the knockout phase. Four venues — Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Kansas City — will host the do-or-die clashes from July 9 to July 11.
Confirmed Quarterfinal Matchups
🇫🇷 France vs 🇲🇦 Morocco — Thursday, July 9 — Boston (Gillette Stadium)
A rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal in Qatar. France, who dispatched Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, come in as tournament favorites with incredible squad depth. Morocco, who breezed past Canada 3-0, will look to channel their 2022 magic when they stunned the football world by reaching the semifinals. Can the Atlas Lions pull off another shock?
🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇧🇪 Belgium — Friday, July 10 — Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium)
Spain edged past Portugal 1-0 in Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance, while Belgium dismantled co-hosts USA 4-1 in Seattle. Both teams are packed with talent — Spain’s tiki-taka against Belgium’s golden generation (or what remains of it). This could be the most tactically intriguing matchup of the round.
🇳🇴 Norway vs 🏴 England — Saturday, July 11 — Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
The storylines write themselves. Erling Haaland, the Norwegian goal machine who plays his club football at Manchester City in England, faces the Three Lions in the biggest game of his international career. England battled past Mexico 3-2 while playing with 10 men, while Norway stunned Brazil 2-1. Haaland vs. the English defense — a subplot that could decide the match.
🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland — Saturday, July 11 — Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium)
Lionel Messi’s Argentina are still alive, thanks to a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt after trailing 2-0. Switzerland advanced past Colombia on penalties and have never reached a World Cup semifinal in their history. Argentina’s tournament experience vs. Switzerland’s disciplined structure — something has to give.
How We Got Here
The Round of 16 delivered unforgettable moments:
- Argentina 3-2 Egypt: Defending champions rallied from two goals down to keep their title defense alive
- Belgium 4-1 USA: Co-hosts sent packing in a dominant Belgian display
- Norway 2-1 Brazil: One of the biggest upsets in World Cup history
- Spain 1-0 Portugal: Ronaldo’s World Cup farewell as Spain advances
- England 3-2 Mexico: Ten-man England holds on against co-hosts
- Switzerland beat Colombia (pens): Swiss reach first quarterfinal in decades
What’s Next
The winners of the quarterfinals advance to the semifinals on July 14-15 in Dallas (AT&T Stadium) and Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium). The World Cup Final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The third-place playoff takes place on July 18 in Miami.
FAQ
Where can I watch the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals in the US?
All matches are broadcast live on FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish). Streaming options include Fubo, YouTube TV, and the FOX Sports app.
What happens if a quarterfinal match is tied after 90 minutes?
Knockout matches go to 30 minutes of extra time (two 15-minute halves). If still tied, the match is decided by a penalty shootout.
Which teams are favorites to reach the semifinals?
France and Argentina are the bookmakers’ favorites, but Spain vs. Belgium is a genuine toss-up, and Norway vs. England could go either way depending on whether Haaland produces a moment of magic.
Upcoming Schedule
Quarterfinals:
- July 9 — 🇫🇷 France vs 🇲🇦 Morocco (4 PM ET, Boston)
- July 10 — 🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇧🇪 Belgium (3 PM ET, Los Angeles)
- July 11 — 🇳🇴 Norway vs 🏴 England (5 PM ET, Miami)
- July 11 — 🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland (9 PM ET, Kansas City)
Semifinals:
- July 14 — Semifinal 1 (Dallas)
- July 15 — Semifinal 2 (Atlanta)
Final: July 19 — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey