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France Storms Into Semifinals After Mbappe Heroics; Spain vs Belgium Headline Friday’s Quarterfinal Action
The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals are in full swing, and the drama is already reaching fever pitch. France became the first team to book their spot in the semifinals with a commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Thursday. Now all eyes turn to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where Spain and Belgium clash in what promises to be a sizzling European showdown.
France 2–0 Morocco: Mbappe Overcomes Penalty Miss to Deliver
Kylian Mbappé wrote yet another chapter in his World Cup legend, scoring once and setting up another after missing a first-half penalty — a moment of high drama that could have shifted the entire match.
The Key Moments:
- 28′ — Penalty Miss: Mbappé won a spot kick after Noussair Mazraoui lunged in, but his tame effort was comfortably saved by Yassine Bounou (Bono). The miss kept Morocco alive heading into halftime.
- 45+2′ — Digne Hits the Bar: Lucas Digne’s swerving shot from distance crashed off the crossbar. Morocco was hanging on.
- 60′ — GOAL! Mbappé (1-0): The France captain made amends in spectacular fashion, finding the far corner with precision to break the deadlock. His 8th goal of the tournament.
- 66′ — GOAL! Dembélé (2-0): Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead just six minutes later, with a shot that crept past Bounou after good work from Mbappé down the right.
- 76′ — Mbappé Subbed Off: The superstar exited with a minor ankle complaint but later confirmed he is “completely fine” for the semifinals.
Morocco, missing injured midfielder Ismael Saibari, offered little going forward and were well contained by France’s defense. Despite the loss, Morocco’s run to the quarterfinals marks a second consecutive deep World Cup campaign, matching their 2022 semifinal appearance.
| Match | Date | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France vs 🇲🇦 Morocco | July 9 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 2–0 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇧🇪 Belgium | July 10 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood | – |
| 🇳🇴 Norway vs 🏴 England | July 11 | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | – |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland | July 11 | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | – |
Spain vs Belgium — Quarterfinal #2 Preview
Friday’s quarterfinal (3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT on FOX, fubo) pits European champions Spain against a dangerous Belgium side that demolished co-host USA 4–1 in the Round of 16, with Charles De Ketelaere bagging a brace.
Spain arrives as the only team yet to concede a goal at this World Cup — five clean sheets in five matches. La Roja edged Portugal 1–0 in the all-Iberian Round of 16 tie and has been arguably the most complete team in the tournament. The winner will face France in the July 14 semifinal in Dallas.
Golden Boot Watch
The race for the Golden Boot is as tight as ever. Both Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Kylian Mbappé lead the pack with 8 goals each, followed by Erling Haaland (Norway, 7 goals) and Harry Kane (England, 6 goals). Ousmane Dembélé, Jude Bellingham, and Mikel Oyarzabal are all on four. With four quarterfinals to play, expect these numbers to climb.
Looking Ahead — Full Quarterfinal & Semifinal Schedule
| Round | Date | Matchup | Venue | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QF1 | Thu, Jul 9 | 🇫🇷 France 2–0 🇲🇦 Morocco | Gillette Stadium, MA | 4:00 PM |
| QF2 | Fri, Jul 10 | 🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇧🇪 Belgium | SoFi Stadium, CA | 3:00 PM |
| QF3 | Sat, Jul 11 | 🇳🇴 Norway vs 🏴 England | Hard Rock Stadium, FL | 5:00 PM |
| QF4 | Sat, Jul 11 | 🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Arrowhead Stadium, MO | 9:00 PM |
| SF1 | Tue, Jul 14 | 🇫🇷 France vs Winner QF2 | AT&T Stadium, TX | 7:00 PM |
| SF2 | Wed, Jul 15 | Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4 | Mercedes-Benz, GA | 7:00 PM |
| Final | Sun, Jul 19 | Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | MetLife Stadium, NJ | 7:00 PM |
FAQ: What to Know This Weekend
Which major teams have been eliminated?
Germany and Brazil both fell well short of expectations, exiting in the Round of 32. The three host nations — USA, Canada, and Mexico — all saw their dream summers end in the Round of 16.
Can anyone stop France?
France is chasing a third consecutive World Cup final appearance. With Mbappé in blistering form and a rock-solid defense, they are the team to beat. But Spain, Argentina, and an Erling Haaland-inspired Norway all have the firepower to challenge.
Where can I watch?
All matches air on FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) in the US, with streaming available on fuboTV.
Stay locked in — the World Cup is only getting better. Check back after every match for results, highlights, and what’s next on the road to the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium.