The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached the quarterfinal stage, and the action is just getting started. After a thrilling Round of 16 that saw defending champions Argentina survive a dramatic comeback, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal eliminated, and the United States knocked out by Belgium, eight teams remain in the hunt for glory. The quarterfinals run from July 9 to July 11 across four US venues, with the semifinals set for July 14-15 and the Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
## Round of 16 Recap
The knockout stage delivered unforgettable moments:
| Date | Match | Score | Venue |
|——|——-|——-|——-|
| July 4 | France vs. Paraguay | 1-0 | Philadelphia |
| July 4 | Morocco vs. Canada | 3-0 | Houston |
| July 5 | Norway vs. Brazil | 2-1 | East Rutherford |
| July 5 | England vs. Mexico | 3-2 | Mexico City |
| July 6 | Spain vs. Portugal | 1-0 | Arlington |
| July 6 | Belgium vs. USA | 4-1 | Seattle |
| July 7 | Argentina vs. Egypt | 3-2 | Atlanta |
| July 7 | Switzerland vs. Colombia | 0-0 (4-3 pens) | Vancouver |
## Quarterfinal Matchups & Schedule
All times Eastern:
| Match | Date | Time (ET) | Venue |
|——-|——|———–|——-|
| France vs. Morocco | Thu, July 9 | 4:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA |
| Spain vs. Belgium | Fri, July 10 | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
| Norway vs. England | Sat, July 11 | 5:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL |
| Argentina vs. Switzerland | Sat, July 11 | 9:00 PM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO |
## Key Storylines to Watch
**🇫🇷 France vs. 🇲🇦 Morocco — A Rematch of 2022**
France and Morocco meet in a World Cup knockout match for the second consecutive tournament. In 2022, France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the semifinals en route to the Final. Morocco has been impressive this year, dismantling Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16. Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty to send France past Paraguay, but Les Bleus will need more firepower against a well-organized Moroccan side.
**🇪🇸 Spain vs. 🇧🇪 Belgium — European Heavyweights Collide**
Spain edged Portugal 1-0 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Mikel Merino, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup campaign. Belgium, meanwhile, put on a clinic against the USMNT with a dominant 4-1 victory — Charles De Ketelaere scored twice while Romelu Lukaku added a late strike. Both teams are in top form.
**🇳🇴 Norway vs. 🏴 England — The Upset Special**
Norway pulled off the biggest shock of the Round of 16, knocking out Brazil 2-1. The Scandinavians have been fearless throughout the tournament. England, led by Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, scraped past Mexico 3-2 in a thriller. Can Norway continue their Cinderella run?
**🇦🇷 Argentina vs. 🇨🇭 Switzerland — Messi’s Magic Continues**
Argentina delivered the comeback of the tournament, trailing Egypt 2-0 after 79 minutes before scoring three unanswered goals to win 3-2. Lionel Messi scored the equalizer and now leads the Golden Boot race with 8 goals in 5 matches. His 21 career World Cup goals are the most in history. Switzerland advanced past Colombia on penalties and will look to contain the Argentine attack.
## Golden Boot Race
| Player | Team | Goals |
|——–|——|——-|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 5 |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 5 |
| Charles De Ketelaere | Belgium | 4 |
| Harry Kane | England | 4 |
## Looking Ahead
The winners of these four quarterfinals will advance to the semifinals: the top half (France/Morocco vs. Spain/Belgium) meets July 14 in Arlington, while the bottom half (Norway/England vs. Argentina/Switzerland) plays July 15 in Atlanta. The World Cup Final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
## FAQ
**Q: Where can I watch the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals?**
A: All matches are broadcast on FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish. Streaming is available on Fubo.
**Q: Which major teams have been eliminated?**
A: Brazil, Portugal, Germany, the United States, Mexico, Canada, Paraguay, Egypt, and Colombia have all been eliminated.
**Q: How many goals does Messi need to break the single-tournament record?**
A: The record is 13 goals (Just Fontaine, 1958). Messi needs 6 more in the remaining matches.
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*Stay tuned to PC Master Deals for the latest World Cup 2026 coverage, match results, and analysis throughout the knockout stage.*