The line-up for the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been confirmed following the conclusion of the Round of 16, leaving eight nations in contention for football’s biggest prize. The knockout stage has narrowed the expanded 48-team tournament down to France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina and Switzerland, with the quarter-finals scheduled to take place between July 9 and July 11.
The opening quarter-final will see France take on Morocco. France progressed after defeating Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, while Morocco secured a 3-0 victory over Canada to continue its impressive tournament run. The two teams will compete for a place in the semi-finals in what will be the first quarter-final of the competition.
Spain will face Belgium in the second quarter-final after both teams produced convincing performances in the previous round. Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 to advance, while Belgium eliminated the United States with a 4-1 victory. Both sides remain unbeaten in the knockout phase heading into the last-eight encounter.
The third quarter-final features Norway against England. Norway booked its place by defeating Brazil 2-1, eliminating one of the tournament favourites. England advanced after overcoming Mexico 3-2 in a closely contested Round of 16 fixture. The match will determine the first semi-finalist from the bottom half of the draw.
The final quarter-final will pit defending champions Argentina against Switzerland. Argentina produced one of the most dramatic results of the Round of 16, recovering from a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2. Switzerland, meanwhile, progressed after a goalless draw with Colombia before winning the penalty shootout 4-3.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams, an increase from the previous 32-team format. Under the expanded structure, 32 teams advanced to the knockout stage after the group phase, making this the largest World Cup in history. The tournament is jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, marking the first time three countries have staged the men’s FIFA World Cup together.
The quarter-finals will also determine the four nations that advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for July 14 and July 15. The winners of France versus Morocco and Spain versus Belgium will meet in one semi-final, while the winners of Norway versus England and Argentina versus Switzerland will contest the other. The third-place play-off is scheduled for July 18, followed by the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Several notable results shaped the quarter-final line-up. Morocco’s victory over Canada continued the African nation’s strong campaign, while Norway’s elimination of Brazil marked one of the biggest upsets of the knockout stage. Belgium’s comprehensive win over the United States and Spain’s success against Portugal ensured that five European nations reached the final eight. Argentina’s comeback victory over Egypt preserved the defending champions’ hopes of retaining the title, while Switzerland advanced through a penalty shootout after a tightly contested match against Colombia. With the Round of 16 complete, only eight teams remain in the race to become world champions. The upcoming quarter-finals will decide which four nations move one step closer to lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy as the tournament enters its decisive stages.
