Quarterfinal Picture Emerges After Week of Dramatic Knockout Action
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered its first two quarterfinal matchups after a dramatic week of knockout football across North America. Morocco will face France on July 9 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, while Norway take on England on July 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Two more quarterfinal ties will be determined by matches on July 6 and 7.
France booked their quarterfinal spot with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, courtesy of a Kylian Mbappé penalty. Les Bleus have been the tournament's most dominant side, outscoring opponents 14-2 across five matches. Morocco joined them by dispatching Canada 3-0 in Houston, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice and Soufiane Rahimi adding a third.
On the other side of the bracket, Norway produced the upset of the tournament by eliminating five-time champions Brazil 2-1 at MetLife Stadium. Erling Haaland scored both goals for Norway, including a stunning second-half strike that silenced the heavily pro-Brazil crowd. England then held off a spirited Mexico side 3-2 in Mexico City, playing the entire second half with 10 men after a controversial red card.
Morocco vs France: Quarterfinal Rematch from 2022
The Morocco-France quarterfinal is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal in Qatar, where France won 2-0 en route to the final. Morocco have become the first African nation to reach consecutive World Cup quarterfinals, building on their historic 2022 run under coach Walid Regragui.
France enter as heavy favorites with the tournament's most potent attack. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise have combined for 10 goals, while the midfield of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga has controlled matches with authority. Morocco's defensive structure, anchored by Achraf Hakimi and Nayef Aguerd, will need to be at its very best to contain France's attacking depth.
For related Voxlogue context, read World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Opens with Canada vs Morocco and France vs Paraguay Showdowns and Brazil vs Norway World Cup 2026: Haaland Faces Vinicius Jr in Blockbuster Showdown.
Norway vs England: Haaland vs the Three Lions
Norway's historic quarterfinal run has been powered almost entirely by Erling Haaland, who has scored 7 of Norway's 11 tournament goals. The Manchester City striker's brace against Brazil — including a ferocious strike from outside the box — has made him the tournament's leading scorer and a genuine contender for the Golden Boot.
England's path to the quarterfinals has been more arduous but equally compelling. After beating Croatia 4-2 in the group stage, England edged Ghana 1-0 and drew 2-2 with Panama to qualify. In the Round of 32, they defeated Croatia 2-1 in a rematch before holding off Mexico 3-2 in a Round of 16 thriller played in front of 80,000 fans at Estadio Azteca.
England's quarterfinal record under Gareth Southgate has been mixed — they beat Sweden in 2018 and Colombia in 2022 but lost to France in the 2022 quarterfinals in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat. Norway have never reached a World Cup semifinal, making this a historic opportunity for the Scandinavian nation.
Remaining Quarterfinal Matchups and Bracket Outlook
Two more quarterfinal spots will be filled by the winners of Monday's matches. Portugal face Spain in Arlington, while Belgium take on the USA in Seattle. The winners meet in the quarterfinal on July 10 at SoFi Stadium.
On Tuesday, July 7, Argentina face Egypt in Atlanta and Switzerland meet Colombia in Vancouver. Those winners clash in the quarterfinal on July 11 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The tournament concludes with the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals?
Quarterfinal 1 (Morocco vs France): Thursday, July 9 at 4:00 PM ET, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough. Quarterfinal 2 (USA/Belgium vs Spain/Portugal): Friday, July 10 at 3:00 PM ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood. Quarterfinal 3 (Norway vs England): Saturday, July 11 at 5:00 PM ET, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens. Quarterfinal 4 (Argentina/Egypt vs Switzerland/Colombia): Saturday, July 11 at 9:00 PM ET, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.
Which teams have been eliminated from the World Cup?
Major eliminations include five-time champions Brazil (lost to Norway in Round of 16), Mexico (lost to England), Canada (lost to Morocco), Paraguay (lost to France), and Germany (eliminated in group stage). Brazil's exit was the tournament's biggest shock.
Who is the top scorer of the 2026 World Cup?
Erling Haaland leads the Golden Boot race with 7 goals for Norway, followed by Kylian Mbappé (5 for France) and Folarin Balogun (4 for USA).
What is the semifinal schedule?
The semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15. The winners of QF1 and QF2 meet in the first semifinal, with QF3 and QF4 winners playing in the second semifinal.
