The Quarter-Final Lineup
๐ซ๐ท France vs ๐ฒ๐ฆ Morocco โ Thursday, July 9 (8 PM ET / Boston)
A rematch of the 2022 semifinal in Qatar. Four years on, Morocco has a new coach (Mohamed Ouahbi) and a fresh squad โ only nine players remain from that 2022 roster. After edging the Netherlands on penalties and dismantling Canada 3-0 in the round of 16, the Atlas Lions have shown grit and clinical finishing. France, led by Kylian Mbappรฉ, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembรฉlรฉ, have been quietly efficient. Morocco’s hopes rest on goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and a disciplined defense.
๐ช๐ธ Spain vs ๐ง๐ช Belgium โ Friday, July 10 (7 PM GMT / Los Angeles)
Spain arrives with an astonishing record: six consecutive World Cup clean sheets โ the longest streak in history. Unai Simรณn has kept five straight shutouts. Belgium, in contrast, has been chaotic โ needing a 3-goal comeback against Senegal in extra time. Coach Rudi Garcia benched Kevin De Bruyne for the first time in 38 matches. Against Spain’s rock-solid defense, Belgium’s luck may finally run out.
๐ณ๐ด Norway vs ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ England โ Saturday, July 11 (5 PM ET / Miami)
The headline matchup: Erling Haaland vs Harry Kane โ the two best strikers on the planet, going head-to-head for the Golden Boot. Haaland has 7 goals in 4 games, while Kane has 6. England enters with Reece James as an injury doubt at right-back, but the Three Lions have tournament experience on their side.
๐ฆ๐ท Argentina vs ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland โ Sunday, July 12 (2 AM ET / Kansas City)
Argentina narrowly escaped against Cape Verde in an all-time thriller. Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot race with 8 goals. Switzerland knocked out Colombia on penalties and will be no pushovers.
Semi-Final Projections
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| France/Morocco vs Spain/Belgium | Tue July 14 | Arlington, TX |
| Norway/England vs Argentina/Switzerland | Wed July 15 | Atlanta, GA |
The Final โ Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which team is the favorite to win the 2026 World Cup?
A: France is the betting favorite, followed by Spain. England has risen sharply in power rankings after their dramatic win over Mexico.
Q: Where can I watch the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals?
A: In the US, matches air on Fox Sports. In the UK, check BBC and ITV. Full streaming is available on FuboTV and YouTube TV.
Q: Can Erling Haaland break the single-tournament goal record?
A: The record is 13 goals (Just Fontaine, 1958). Haaland has 7 in 4 games โ at this rate, he’d need to reach the final to have a shot. It’s not impossible.