World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals: France Power Past Morocco, England Brace for Haaland’s Norway
Published: July 10, 2026 | PC Master Deals
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is reaching its boiling point as the quarter-final stage delivers drama, goals, and a mouth-watering semi-final lineup. France became the first team to book their place in the final four with a commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco, while all eyes now turn to Saturday’s colossal clash between England and Erling Haaland’s Norway.
🇫🇷 France 2-0 Morocco: Les Bleus March On
Didier Deschamps’ France side lived up to their billing as tournament favorites, dispatching a stubborn Morocco team in a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé were the architects of victory, with Mbappé scoring a stunning goal that lit up the tournament.
Despite missing an early penalty — saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after a VAR delay — Mbappé responded in style. The French superstar’s strike was described by pundits as one of the goals of the tournament, curling into the top corner from outside the box.
Former England striker Ian Wright had earlier called France “one of the most clear favourites for a World Cup tournament I have ever seen,” and they delivered. Morocco managed just one shot on target all game, coming in the 83rd minute when already 2-0 down.
France now await the winner of tonight’s Spain vs Belgium quarter-final, with the semi-final scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.
🏴 England vs 🇳🇴 Norway: The Haaland Problem
Thomas Tuchel’s England face arguably their toughest test of the tournament when they take on Norway in Saturday’s quarter-final. Norway — appearing in their first World Cup since 1998 — have been the tournament’s surprise package, knocking out both Ivory Coast and Brazil en route to the last eight.
The main threat is obvious: Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker has scored 7 goals so far in the tournament and is in red-hot form. But Norway are far from a one-man team. Martin Ødegaard orchestrates play from midfield, while Alexander Sørloth (6’5″) provides a physical outlet on the right wing.
How do England stop them? Tactical analysis suggests Tuchel may deploy a man-to-man press or drop off to crowd out space. Marc Guéhi may remember Haaland scoring against him from a back-post cross during their Premier League days — a situation England will be desperate to avoid.
Key battles to watch:
- Nico O’Reilly vs Sørloth — England’s left-back will need to use his 6’4″ frame to win aerial duels
- Declan Rice vs Ødegaard — stopping the creativity at source
- Guéhi vs Haaland — the individual duel that could decide the match
Other Quarter-Final Action
In other results, Switzerland eliminated Colombia on penalties in a dramatic shootout, while Argentina pulled off an extraordinary 3-2 comeback against Egypt — with Lionel Messi admitting he felt he’d “let everyone down” after a penalty miss before inspiring the turnaround.
The USA were knocked out by Belgium after a controversial red card for Folarin Balogun, which drew intervention from President Trump requesting FIFA review the ban.
📅 Upcoming World Cup 2026 Fixtures
| Date | Match | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| July 10 | Spain vs Belgium | Quarter-Final |
| July 11 | England vs Norway | Quarter-Final |
| July 12 | Switzerland vs Argentina | Quarter-Final |
| July 14 | Semi-Final 1 | Semi-Final |
| July 15 | Semi-Final 2 | Semi-Final |
| July 18 | Third Place Play-off | Play-off |
| July 19 | 🏆 World Cup Final | Final |
❓ FAQ
Who is favorite to win the 2026 World Cup?
France are currently the bookmakers’ favorites after their dominant quarter-final display, with England and Argentina also strongly fancied.
Where is the 2026 World Cup being held?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a historic 48-team tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first World Cup to be hosted by three nations.
Stay tuned to PC Master Deals for more World Cup 2026 coverage and tech news. Follow us on Facebook for live updates!