Eight teams remain in the 2026 World Cup. The USA, Canada, and Mexico have all been eliminated - all three host nations out before the quarterfinals. The tournament carries on across their stadiums regardless, running from July 9 to July 11 in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Kansas City. No margin for error from here. Here is what to watch in each one.
France vs Morocco - July 9, Gillette Stadium, Boston
Morocco are the first African side to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals. Their road here has been a genuine test - a penalty shootout win over the Netherlands in the Round of 32, then a composed 3-0 defeat of Canada in the last 16. They now face France, the side that ended their 2022 semifinal run in Doha, with the chance to go further than any African nation has ever gone, can they go all the way to the final this time?
France were pragmatic rather than expansive in reaching this stage, grinding out a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the Round of 16 that got the job done showing they have grit as well as flair. Kylian Mbappe is one goal behind Golden Boot leader Messi, and is the kind of player who can change a match in a moment - exactly the threat a Morocco side defending deep will need to account for from the first minute. This fixture has real history behind it, and both sets of players will feel a weight of expectation.
Belgium vs Spain - July 10, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Spain needed a Mikel Merino header in stoppage time to beat Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 - the kind of victory that tournament-winning sides know how to find. It is their first World Cup quarterfinal since 2010, when they lifted the trophy. However, the reigning European champions are favourites to progress. Belgium were clinical in dismantling the USA 4-1, Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice in a performance that served notice of exactly how dangerous they are on their day.
Belgium are in their third World Cup quarterfinal in four tournaments. They will sit deep, absorb Spain's possession, and look to hit them with the pace and directness that has worked throughout this competition. Spain, through Lamine Yamal and Pedri, will try to manufacture openings through movement and combination play. Rodri's gargantuan presence in midfield means Spain are difficult to press effectively. The question is whether Belgium's defensive discipline can hold long enough for their counter-attacking threat to decide it.
England vs Norway - July 11, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
The story of England's tournament has been the growing understanding between Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Kane drops deep to receive, links play, and creates the space that Bellingham runs into from midfield - a combination that pulled Mexico apart at the Azteca, where Bellingham scored twice and Kane converted from the spot in a 3- 2 win England finished with ten men. Bellingham's four goals make him the highest scoring England midfielder in World Cup history, but the less visible contribution - the way Kane's movement unlocks the chances - is just as important to how England have looked at their best.
Norway will do everything they can to disrupt that. They also have Erling Haaland who has scored in all four of Norway's matches at this World Cup - seven goals in total - and he arrives at the quarterfinals in the form of a player who seems born for the big occasion.
The game within the game is straightforward: England will try to get Kane and Bellingham connecting in tight spaces, Norway will try to hit in the counter and feed into Haaland. Whichever clicks first could settle it.
Argentina vs Switzerland - July 11, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Nobody in Atlanta on Tuesday night will forget what they watched. Egypt led Argentina 2-0 with eleven minutes remaining - Yasser Ibrahim's header and Mostafa Zico's second-half finish had the defending champions heading out, with Messi having already had a penalty saved. Then three goals in eleven minutes: Cristian Romero from a Messi cross in the 79th, Messi himself four minutes later with a first-time strike - his 21st World Cup goal, extending his own all-time record - and Enzo Fernandez's stoppage-time header to complete the first comeback from two goals down in the 75th minute in World Cup knockout history. Messi leads the Golden Boot race on eight goals and has scored in six consecutive World Cup knockout matches.
Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties in Vancouver - 0-0 after 120 minutes, through on Gregor Kobel's save from Cucho Hernandez and a Davinson Sanchez spot kick against the bar. It is their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954, the last time they hosted the tournament. The 0-0 draw through extra time tells you everything about what Switzerland will offer in Kansas City: organised, disciplined, and deeply difficult to break down. Kobel will need to be outstanding again. After Tuesday night, stopping Messi feels like the most difficult job in football.
Whatever happens over the next round of matches, the moments that come out of these games will be in backyards and parks for years. Check out the full QUICKPLAY range and start recreating those iconic moments.