Vinay Kumar
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its business end, with only eight teams remaining in the race for football’s biggest prize. Following a dramatic Round of 16 that produced several memorable contests and major upsets, attention now turns to the quarterfinals, where four high-stakes clashes will decide this year’s semifinalists. The knockout stage has already delivered plenty of drama. Norway eliminated five-time champions Brazil with a 2-1 victory, while Spain edged past Portugal thanks to Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner. Defending champions Argentina also survived a major scare before fighting back to beat Egypt 3-2. The quarterfinal action begins on Friday with France taking on Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. France booked their place with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay, while Morocco impressed with a commanding 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada in Houston. Spain and Belgium will contest the second quarterfinal on Saturday. Belgium advanced after defeating the United States 4-1, while Spain head into the contest having yet to concede a goal in the tournament. Sunday features two blockbuster fixtures. Erling Haaland’s Norway will face Harry Kane-led England after knocking Brazil out in the previous round, while England edged Mexico 3-2 to secure their place in the last eight. The final quarterfinal sees defending champions Argentina meet Switzerland. Switzerland progressed after defeating Colombia in a dramatic penalty shootout. The four quarterfinals will be played across 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 quarterfinal schedule
| Date | Day | Match | Venue | 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 AM |
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 semifinal will feature the winners of Norway vs England and Argentina vs Switzerland, with a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at stake.
