The field is down to eight. The 2026 World Cup quarterfinals run from Thursday, July 9 through Saturday, July 11, and the bracket that survived the round of 16 has a little bit of everything: heavyweights, a Cinderella, and one comeback nobody saw coming.

Here are the four matchups and when they kick off.

The quarterfinal schedule

Thursday, July 9
– Morocco vs. France, Boston Stadium (FOX)

Friday, July 10
– Spain vs. Belgium, 3 p.m. ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

Saturday, July 11
– Norway vs. England, 5 p.m. ET, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
– Argentina vs. Switzerland, 9 p.m. ET, Kansas City Stadium (FOX)

That’s one match per day, except Saturday, which gives you a doubleheader.

The eight teams still standing

France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina and Switzerland. Some of these you’d expect. Others clawed their way in.

Norway ended Brazil’s tournament. Erling Haaland scored twice to knock out one of the pre-tournament favorites, and just like that the Norwegians are in the last eight of a World Cup with the most in-form striker on the planet leading the line.

Morocco knocked out a host. They eliminated co-host Canada to reach the quarterfinals, and now they get France, in what’s become one of the marquee rivalries in the modern game.

Argentina pulled off the round’s biggest twist. Down 2-0 to Egypt with ten minutes left, the reigning champions scored three times to win 3-2. It was the kind of escape act that makes you believe a title defense might actually be on.

The matchups worth circling

Morocco vs. France is the opener and maybe the tie of the round. France carries the pedigree. Morocco carries the momentum and a nation behind them after knocking out Canada.

Spain vs. Belgium pits one of the tournament favorites against a Belgium side that just ended the United States’ run 4-1. Belgium looked ruthless in that round-of-16 game. Spain is the tougher test.

Norway vs. England is Haaland against a deep, expensive England squad that always seems to carry the weight of expectation. If Haaland stays hot, England has a problem.

Argentina vs. Switzerland looks like a mismatch on paper, but Argentina just needed a miracle to get past Egypt, so nothing is being taken for granted.

The road to the final

Win here and you’re in the semifinals, one step from the final. The bracket has set up some possible collision courses: a France-Spain semi, or an Argentina run that would thrill a fan base still riding the last title.

For the four teams that lose this week, it’s the end of a long summer. For the four that win, the tournament gets very real, very fast.

What to watch

Haaland is the story of the knockout rounds so far. Argentina’s nerve under pressure is the subplot. And Morocco keeps proving that the “surprise” label doesn’t fit them anymore. Three days, four games, and by Saturday night we’ll know the final four.

For more, see Phundi’s Sports section.

Related: The World Cup 2026 Knockout Bracket Is Set. Here’s Who’s Playing Who and What Comes Next.