The FIFA World Cup 2026 has moved closer to its conclusion after the Round of 16 ended with a dramatic match between Switzerland and Colombia. Following the participation of 48 teams, only eight remain in contention for the world title.
The Round of 16 featured several dramatic contests, including late comebacks, penalty shootouts and unexpected results. At the end of the knockout stage, France, Morocco, Norway, England, Spain, Belgium, Argentina and Switzerland qualified for the quarter-finals.
Each of the remaining teams is now just three victories away from becoming world champions. The upcoming quarter-final matches will determine the four teams that advance to the semi-finals.
The quarter-finalists include defending champions Argentina, European heavyweights France and Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Switzerland and African representatives Morocco.
Round of 16 Results
Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the second consecutive tournament.
France secured a 1-0 victory over Paraguay, while Kylian Mbappe strengthened his position in the Golden Boot race.
Norway produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament by defeating five-time world champions Brazil 2-1, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals.
England edged past Mexico 3-2 in a thrilling encounter.
Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 to maintain its impressive run in the competition.
Belgium comfortably beat the United States 4-1 to book its place in the last eight.
Argentina staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to defeat Egypt 3-2.
Switzerland completed the quarter-final line-up by defeating Colombia 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a dramatic contest.
Quarter-Final Schedule
The quarter-final stage will begin in the United States on July 9, with matches starting on July 10 according to Pakistan Standard Time. Eight teams will compete for four places in the semi-finals, while the losing teams will be eliminated from the tournament.
The opening quarter-final will feature unbeaten three-time world champions France against Morocco. The match will be played at Boston Stadium on Friday, July 10, at 1:00 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time.
The second quarter-final will see former world champions Spain take on Belgium. Spain booked its place in the last eight after defeating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the Round of 16. The match is scheduled to be played in Los Angeles at 12:00 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time on July 11.
The third quarter-final will feature Norway, which produced the tournament’s biggest upset by eliminating five-time world champions Brazil, against former world champions England. The match will be played at Miami Stadium at 2:00 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time on July 12.
The fourth and final quarter-final will see three-time world champions and defending champions Argentina face Switzerland. The match will be played at Kansas Stadium at 6:00 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time on July 12.
The winners of the four quarter-final matches will qualify for the semi-finals, while the losing teams will be eliminated from the tournament.
Semi-Final and Final Schedule
The FIFA World Cup semi-finals will be played on July 15 and July 16 in Dallas and Atlanta, respectively. The winner of the France-Morocco quarter-final will face the winner of the Spain-Belgium match, while the winner of the Norway-England clash will take on the winner of the Argentina-Switzerland encounter.
The tournament’s final will be held on July 19 at the New York, New Jersey Stadium, where the remaining two teams will compete for the FIFA World Cup title.
Star Players to Watch
The quarter-finals are expected to showcase some of the biggest names in world football, including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Achraf Hakimi, Charles De Ketelaere, Lamine Yamal and Granit Xhaka.
Particular attention will be on Lionel Messi, as the tournament is being regarded as the final FIFA World Cup of his career. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland remain among the leading contenders for the Golden Boot award.
