The 2026 World Cup field is down to eight, and the matchups honestly feel like they were pulled straight from a fever dream. England, fresh off a wild 3-2 win over Mexico at Azteca, draws a Norway side that actually scares people. Not because Norway has a deep history of World Cup runs, but because they have Erling Haaland and apparently no fear of anybody.
Norway already knocked off Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Brazil this summer. That’s not a fluke run. That’s a statement. England will roll in as the favorite, but the Three Lions have a habit of making things complicated. And Haaland only needs one clean look to flip a game.
The rematch nobody asked for but everybody will watch
France gets Morocco again. Yes, the same Morocco that pushed them to the limit in the 2022 semifinal in Qatar. That game ended 2-0 for France, but the scoreline didn’t tell the whole story. Morocco had chances. They defended like their lives depended on it. And now they get another crack at Les Bleus on Thursday in Foxborough.
France is deeper this time around. Mbappé is still Mbappé. But Morocco’s back line hasn’t conceded cheap goals all tournament. Something has to give.
Belgium vs. Spain in LA and the defending champs survive
Belgium looked terrifying against the USA in Seattle. They rolled 4-1 and made it look easy. Now they head down the coast to Los Angeles to face Spain, who just barely edged past Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Monday. Spain controls possession like always, but Belgium’s counterattack is lethal. That game is Friday night on BBC One.
Argentina nearly blew it against Egypt on Tuesday. They trailed 2-0 at halftime and looked sluggish, disconnected, old. Then Lionel Messi did Lionel Messi things in the second half, and they escaped with a 3-2 win. Argentina will face Switzerland on Sunday in Kansas City. Switzerland eliminated Colombia on penalties, which is exactly the kind of grind-it-out game they love. Don’t expect a shootout. Expect a chess match.
Full quarterfinal schedule
Thursday, July 9 — France vs. Morocco, Foxborough, 9 p.m. BST (ITV1)
Friday, July 10 — Belgium vs. Spain, Los Angeles, 8 p.m. BST (BBC One)
Saturday, July 11 — England vs. Norway, Miami, 10 p.m. BST (ITV1)
Sunday, July 12 — Argentina vs. Switzerland, Kansas City, 2 a.m. BST (ITV1)
Four games. Four venues. One trophy. The knockout rounds are here, and the margin for error just evaporated.
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