2026 World Cup Quarterfinal List and Schedule: Thrilling and Exciting

The eight elite representatives for the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals have been confirmed. They are France, Spain, Morocco, England, Belgium, Norway, Argentina, and Switzerland. It can be said that this quarterfinal round has no "underdog" teams. Each match brings its own story, top-tier showdowns, and promises games worthy of the world's top eight teams.

Argentina and Switzerland were the last two teams to qualify for the quarterfinals. The defending champions pulled off a classic comeback against Egypt. Messi and his teammates trailed 2-0 but won 3-2.

Messi became the oldest player to both score and assist in a single World Cup match (aged 39), and also the player with the most consecutive matches scoring in the knockout stage (9 matches).

Meanwhile, Switzerland advanced past Colombia on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 120 minutes of regulation. This is Switzerland's first quarterfinal appearance in 72 years.

Argentina will face Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium at 8:00 a.m. on July 12. This match closes the quarterfinal round and marks the third meeting between the two teams in World Cup history. The South American side has won both previous encounters. Across all competitions, Argentina has 5 wins, 2 draws, scoring 15 goals and conceding only 3 against Switzerland.

Also on July 12, in this bracket, Norway and England will clash at Miami Stadium at 4:00 a.m. Norway is considered the biggest surprise of the Round of 16 after defeating five-time World Cup champions Brazil.

England and Norway have faced each other 12 times, with England winning 7, drawing 3, and losing only 2. However, these two teams have never met in a World Cup final tournament before.

In the other bracket, France meets Morocco at 3:00 a.m. on July 10. Didier Deschamps' team had a tough 1-0 victory over Paraguay. Meanwhile, Morocco easily defeated co-host Canada 3-0 to become the first African team to reach the World Cup quarterfinals twice. The North African side continues to prove that their 2022 World Cup feat was no fleeting phenomenon.

France and Morocco previously met in the World Cup semifinals in Qatar, with Les Bleus winning 2-0 to secure a spot in the final.

The remaining quarterfinal match is a clash between Spain and Belgium at 2:00 a.m. on July 11.

This is Spain's first World Cup quarterfinal appearance since winning the title in 2010. The reigning European champions have impressed at the 2026 World Cup, being the only team not to concede a goal so far, with a record 609-minute clean sheet streak spanning from the Round of 16 of the previous tournament to now. Meanwhile, Belgium easily defeated co-host USA 4-1. Belgium's quarterfinal entry is surprising given that their "golden generation" is past its peak.

This is also the oldest matchup in the quarterfinal history, dating back to 1921. Spain holds the advantage with 12 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses, including an unbeaten streak since 1990. In World Cup encounters, Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in the group stage (1990). The two teams drew 1-1, and Spain lost 4-5 on penalties in the 1986 quarterfinals.

After the thrilling and surprising scenarios in the Round of 16, the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals are expected to be even more exciting, as top contenders face determined and ambitious opponents.

2026 World Cup Quarterfinal Schedule
3:00 a.m. on July 10: France vs. Morocco
2:00 a.m. on July 11: Spain vs. Belgium
4:00 a.m. on July 12: Norway vs. England
8:00 a.m. on July 12: Argentina vs. Switzerland