The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its business end, with only eight teams left in the race for football’s biggest prize. After a dramatic Round of 16 that produced many memorable contests and major upsets, attention now turns to the quarterfinals, where four high-stakes clashes will decide this year’s semifinalists. The knockout stage has already provided a lot of drama. Norway beat five-time champions Brazil with a 2-1 win, while Spain edged past Portugal thanks to Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner. Defending champions Argentina also survived a major scare before fighting back to beat Egypt 3-2. Quarterfinal action begins Friday with France taking on Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. France booked their place with a 1-0 win over Paraguay, while Morocco impressed with a 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada in Houston. Spain and Belgium will meet in the second quarterfinal on Saturday. Belgium advanced after beating the United States 4-1, while Spain head into the match without conceding a goal in the tournament. Sunday has two blockbuster fixtures. Erling Haaland’s Norway will face England led by Harry Kane after knocking out Brazil in the previous round, while England beat Mexico 3-2 to secure their place in the last eight. The final quarterfinal will see defending champions Argentina meet Switzerland. Switzerland advanced after beating Colombia in a dramatic penalty shootout. The four quarterfinals will be played in four stadiums in the United States. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal schedule:
| Date: | Day: | game: | Venue: | IST Time: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 10: | Friday: | France vs. Morocco | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 1:30 AM |
| July 11: | Saturday: | Spain vs. Belgium | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood | 12:30 AM |
| July 12: | Sunday: | Norway vs England | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | 2:30 AM |
| July 12: | Sunday: | Argentina vs. Switzerland | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | 6:30 AM |
The winners of France vs. Morocco and Spain vs. Belgium will meet in the first semifinal on July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The second semifinal will feature the winners of Norway vs. England and Argentina vs. Switzerland, with a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at stake.