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Round of 16 Wraps Up — Quarterfinals Begin Thursday
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 concluded Tuesday night, and the quarterfinal field is now set. Eight teams remain in the hunt for the trophy, with all three host nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — eliminated before the last eight.
Argentina delivered the comeback of the tournament on Tuesday, fighting back from 2-0 down to defeat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta. Lionel Messi’s side trailed early but rallied in the second half to keep their title defense alive. In Vancouver, Switzerland edged Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate to claim the final quarterfinal spot.
Round of 16: Final Results
| Date | Match | Result | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4 | France vs Paraguay | 1-0 | France |
| Jul 4 | Morocco vs Canada | 3-0 | Morocco |
| Jul 5 | Norway vs Brazil | 2-1 | Norway |
| Jul 5 | England vs Mexico | 3-2 | England |
| Jul 6 | Spain vs Portugal | 1-0 | Spain |
| Jul 6 | Belgium vs USA | 4-1 | Belgium |
| Jul 7 | Argentina vs Egypt | 3-2 | Argentina |
| Jul 7 | Switzerland vs Colombia | 0-0 (4-3 pens) | Switzerland |
Quarterfinal Matchups & Schedule
All four quarterfinals will be played in the United States across three days. Here is the complete schedule (all times Eastern):
| Match | Date | Fixture | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M97 | Thu, Jul 9 | France vs Morocco | 4:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA |
| M98 | Fri, Jul 10 | Spain vs Belgium | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood CA |
| M99 | Sat, Jul 11 | Norway vs England | 5:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens FL |
| M100 | Sat, Jul 11 | Argentina vs Switzerland | 9:00 PM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City MO |
Key Moments from the Round of 16
- Argentina’s comeback heroics: Trailing 2-0 at halftime against Egypt, Argentina stormed back with three second-half goals to win 3-2, keeping their dream of back-to-back titles alive.
- Belgium dismantles the hosts: Belgium put on a clinical display against the United States, winning 4-1 in Seattle and ending the co-hosts’ run in front of a devastated home crowd.
- Norway stuns Brazil: Erling Haaland and Norway knocked out the five-time world champions with a composed 2-1 victory, one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
- England edges Mexico in thriller: A 3-2 win for the Three Lions in a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams trade blows before England pulled away late.
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup farewell: Portugal fell 1-0 to Spain in what is widely expected to be Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance, with Spain’s defense holding firm.
- Switzerland’s penalty grit: After 120 goalless minutes, Switzerland held their nerve from the spot to beat Colombia 4-3 in penalties and secure the last quarterfinal berth.
Tournament Bracket — Road to the Final
The bracket splits into two halves:
- Top Half: Winner of France vs Morocco faces winner of Spain vs Belgium in the semifinal on July 14 in Dallas.
- Bottom Half: Winner of Norway vs England meets winner of Argentina vs Switzerland in the semifinal on July 15 in Atlanta.
- Final: Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
What to Watch For in the Quarterfinals
France vs Morocco (Thu, Jul 9): A rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal that France won 2-0. Morocco has grown tremendously since then and knocked out an impressive Canada side 3-0 in the Round of 16. Can the Atlas Lions finally get past the defending champions’ conquerors?
Spain vs Belgium (Fri, Jul 10): Two European giants collide in Los Angeles. Spain’s methodical possession game meets Belgium’s ruthless counter-attacking style. Belgium’s 4-1 demolition of the USA was the most dominant performance of the Round of 16.
Norway vs England (Sat, Jul 11): Norway pulled off the upset of the tournament by dumping out Brazil, and now face an England side that has shown real resilience. Haaland vs England’s Premier League stars adds an intriguing subplot.
Argentina vs Switzerland (Sat, Jul 11): Defending champions Argentina showed their fighting spirit against Egypt, while Switzerland has been defensively rock-solid, conceding just one goal in their last four matches. Can Argentina’s firepower break through the Swiss wall?
Looking Ahead — FAQ
Where can I watch the quarterfinals? All matches air on FOX and FS1 in English, and Telemundo in Spanish. Streaming is available on fubo (free trial available).
What happens if a quarterfinal is tied? Matches go to 30 minutes of extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if still level — no replays.
When is the final? The 2026 World Cup Final is Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Which team are you backing to reach the semifinals? Drop your predictions below!