The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its business end, with just eight teams remaining in the running for football’s biggest prize. After a dramatic Round of 16 that produced many memorable contests and major clashes, attention now turns to the quarter-finals, where four high-profile clashes will decide this year’s semi-finalists. The knockout stage has already provided plenty of drama. Norway eliminated 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 bouncing 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 hard-fought 1-0 win over Paraguay, while Morocco impressed with a commanding 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada in Houston. Spain and Belgium will play in the second quarter-final on Saturday. Belgium advanced after defeating the United States 4-1, while Spain came into the contest having yet to concede a goal in the tournament. Sunday features two blockbuster matches. Erling Haaland’s Norway face Harry Kane-led England after knocking out Brazil in the previous round, while England beat Mexico 3-2 to secure their place in the last eight. The final quarter-final sees defending champions Argentina meet Switzerland. Switzerland progressed after defeating 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 quarter-final calendar
| dates | Day | Match | come on | 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 A.M |
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 semi-final will see the winners of Norway vs England and Argentina vs Switzerland, with a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals at stake.