The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals begin today with France facing Morocco, kicking off a knockout stage that also features Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina, and Switzerland. All three co-host nations have been eliminated, while Argentina's dramatic win over Egypt and Norway's underdog run have been among the tournament's biggest storylines heading into the final eight.
- The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals begin today with France facing Morocco in Boston.
- All three co-host nations were eliminated before reaching the quarterfinals.
- Argentina advanced after a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Egypt, which has since disputed a VAR decision.
- Norway's Erling Haaland has powered one of the tournament's biggest underdog runs after eliminating Brazil.
- Semifinals are set for July 14 in Dallas and July 15 in Atlanta, with the final on July 19.
Quarterfinals Kick Off Today With France vs Morocco
The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal stage begins today, with France facing Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston. The match marks the start of a four-day knockout window that will decide the tournament's final four. Morocco enters the match as the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals in consecutive World Cups, while France remains the only team in the tournament to have won all five of its matches so far without needing extra time.
Full FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal Schedule
According to the official fixture list, the quarterfinals are scheduled as follows:
- France vs Morocco - Today, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
- Spain vs Belgium - Tomorrow, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
- Norway vs England - Saturday, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
- Argentina vs Switzerland - Saturday, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
The winners of the France-Morocco and Spain-Belgium matches will meet in the first semifinal on July 14 in Dallas. The winners of the Norway-England and Argentina-Switzerland matches face off in the second semifinal on July 15 in Atlanta.
Co-Host Nations All Eliminated
Notably, all three co-host nations are out of the running heading into the quarterfinals. Canada was eliminated by Morocco, Mexico fell to England, and the United States was knocked out by Belgium in the Round of 16. The USMNT's exit has renewed debate over the team's ceiling on the world stage, with the side failing to advance beyond the Round of 16 in eight of its last nine World Cup appearances.
Argentina's Dramatic Comeback
Defending champions Argentina booked their quarterfinal spot with a stunning turnaround against Egypt, coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Lionel Messi set up Argentina's first goal before scoring the equaliser himself, and Enzo Fernandez struck a stoppage-time winner to complete the comeback. The match has also drawn scrutiny after Egypt's football association raised concerns over a VAR decision that ruled out one of their goals, saying it deserves review for the sake of officiating transparency at the tournament.
Norway's Underdog Run Continues
One of the tournament's biggest stories has been Norway, led by Erling Haaland, who pulled off a major upset by eliminating Brazil in the Round of 16. It is only the second time in Norway's history that the team has advanced this far in a World Cup, and their quarterfinal clash with England on Saturday features two of the tournament's most in-form strikers, Haaland and Harry Kane.
Other Storylines to Watch
Switzerland reached the quarterfinals for the first time in more than 70 years after edging Colombia on penalties following a goalless draw. Separately, FIFA has faced questions over its disciplinary consistency after rescinding a red-card suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun following a public request from US President Donald Trump, and after suspending two USMNT staff members without a detailed public explanation ahead of the Belgium match.
How to Follow the Quarterfinals
All quarterfinal matches from this stage onward are being played across stadiums in the United States. Fans can follow live coverage, schedules, and results through official broadcast partners in their region as the tournament heads toward the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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