World Cup Quarterfinals: Final 8 Teams, Schedule & Odds

Last Updated on July 8, 2026 by author

The biggest World Cup ever staged has reached its most ruthless stage. What began with a record 48 nations across the United States, Canada and Mexico is now down to eight, and from here every kick carries the weight of survival. The 2026 World Cup quarterfinals run from Thursday, July 9 to Saturday, July 11, and for the first time all four ties are played on American soil, in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas City.

The round of 16 was carnage for the established order. All three host nations went out. Brazil went out. Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career ended in stoppage time. Below is your complete guide to the final eight: how each team got here, the full quarterfinal schedule with dates, kickoff times and venues, and where the betting markets stand as the race for the trophy narrows.

Odds referenced throughout are from FanDuel Sportsbook and leading UK bookmakers as of July 7, 2026. Lines move constantly during a tournament — always confirm current prices before wagering. 18+. Please gamble responsibly.

The Final 8: Who Made the World Cup Quarterfinals

Eight teams came through the round of 16, and the mix tells the story of a wide-open tournament: three genuine title favorites, two European heavyweights, one defending champion clinging on, and two nations writing history.

France. Didier Deschamps’ side look the most complete team left. They topped their group, then dispatched Sweden 3-0 before a tougher-than-expected 1-0 win over Paraguay, settled by a Kylian Mbappé penalty. France have outscored opponents 14-2 across the tournament, with Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise all contributing to a frightening attack. They remain the bookmakers’ clear favorite to lift the trophy.

Spain. The reigning European champions have not conceded a single goal in this World Cup and stretched their unbeaten run to 35 matches, equaling the longest in the nation’s history. They reached the last eight for the first time since their 2010 triumph by eliminating Portugal 1-0, with Mikel Merino striking in the 91st minute. Teenager Lamine Yamal has already made history as the youngest scorer for Spain at a World Cup.

Argentina. The defending champions survived the scare of the round. Trailing Egypt 2-0 with little more than ten minutes left, Lionel Messi’s side scored three unanswered goals inside roughly 13 minutes to win 3-2 in one of the great World Cup comebacks. La Albiceleste remain among the favorites, powered by tournament experience and the steadying presence of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

England. The Three Lions showed real steel, winning 3-2 at Mexico’s Estadio Azteca to eliminate the co-hosts on their own turf. It is England’s third consecutive World Cup quarterfinal — their first such run since 1962 to 1970 — though old questions about converting talent into trophies still shadow them.

Norway. The story of the knockouts so far. Erling Haaland’s brace sank Brazil 2-1, sending Norway into their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal. Haaland now has an extraordinary 62 goals in 54 caps for his country, and Norway have become the tournament’s most dangerous outsider.

Morocco. The Atlas Lions continue to carry a continent. A 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada, with two goals from Azzedine Ounahi, made Morocco the first African nation ever to reach the quarterfinals at two different World Cups. Brahim Díaz has been pulling the strings in an assist-laden run.

Belgium. The Red Devils ripped up the script in Seattle, thrashing co-hosts the United States 4-1 behind a Charles De Ketelaere double. It is Belgium’s first quarterfinal since 2018 and their fourth overall, and they arrive unbeaten in 18 straight matches.

Switzerland. The Swiss finally exorcised their round-of-16 demons. After a goalless draw with Colombia, they held their nerve to win 4-3 on penalties in Vancouver, Ruben Vargas converting the decisive spot-kick. It sends Switzerland to their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954.

World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal Schedule: Dates, Times & Venues

All four quarterfinals take place in the United States across three days. FIFA uses official tournament names for each stadium during the event, so venues appear under their World Cup branding alongside their familiar names. All kickoff times are Eastern Time (ET).

Saturday, July 11 is a genuine double-header: Miami at 5:00 PM ET followed by Kansas City at 9:00 PM ET. If any match is level after 90 minutes, it goes to 30 minutes of extra time, and then to a penalty shootout if still tied.

The Road to the Final

The bracket path from here is fixed. The winners of QF1 (Boston) and QF2 (Los Angeles) meet in the first semifinal on July 14 in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Stadium / AT&T Stadium). The winners of QF3 (Miami) and QF4 (Kansas City) meet in the second semifinal on July 15 in Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium). The third-place match is on July 18 in Miami, and the Final is on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, branded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament.

The Four Quarterfinal Matchups: Analysis & Odds

Here is how each tie shapes up, with the latest available betting lines.

France vs Morocco — a 2022 semifinal rematch

The pick of the round on paper. France and Morocco met at this stage’s equivalent four years ago in Qatar, and the Atlas Lions arrive as the ultimate disruptor. But France’s attacking numbers are simply on another level right now. The market reflects it: France are around -410 to advance, with Morocco out at +310, and on the 90-minute moneyline France sit near -180 with the draw at +290. Morocco will need the defensive discipline and set-piece threat that have defined their run — plus a moment from Brahim Díaz — to spring the upset.

Spain vs Belgium — clean sheet meets hot streak

Two teams on remarkable unbeaten runs collide. Spain have not conceded a goal in the entire tournament and are unbeaten in 35, while Belgium have gone 18 matches without defeat. The bookmakers see a clear gap, though: Spain are priced around +370 to win the whole tournament versus Belgium’s +3000, and Spain are the strong favorite to advance here. Yamal’s emergence gives La Roja a spark to go with their defensive solidity, but Belgium’s front line — as the United States discovered — can punish any lapse.

Norway vs England — Haaland vs the Three Lions

The tie with the biggest individual storyline. Erling Haaland has already knocked out Brazil, and now Norway face an England side chasing a first World Cup final since 2018. England are favored at roughly -225 to advance, with Norway around +178, and the moneyline sits close to England -115 with Norway at +320. This is Norway’s first quarterfinal in history against a nation with the depth to control games — but if the match becomes stretched, Haaland is the kind of finisher who decides knockout ties on his own.

Argentina vs Switzerland — champions ride their luck

Argentina looked finished against Egypt and instead produced a comeback for the ages. Switzerland, meanwhile, needed penalties to get past Colombia. On reputation and quality this is a mismatch — Argentina are around +390 for the title versus Switzerland’s +3300, and the defending champions are heavy favorites to advance. But La Albiceleste have already shown they can be rattled, and a disciplined, well-drilled Swiss side that thrives on tight margins is exactly the kind of opponent that can drag a favorite into a shootout.

World Cup 2026 Odds: Title Favorites

With the field cut to eight, the outright market has tightened into a clear top four. These are the latest title odds from FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 7, 2026.

The picture is broadly the same across UK bookmakers, where France sit around 15/8, Argentina near 9/2, and Spain and England both in the 7/2 to 8/1 range. The market’s read is straightforward: France are the team to beat, with Spain and Argentina as the most credible challengers and England the outside member of the leading group.

Odds to Reach the Final

Because the bracket splits into two halves, the “reach the final” market is often more revealing than the outright. France, Argentina, England and Spain are drawn across the two sides, so more than one of them is guaranteed to fall short of the final. As of July 7:

The bookmakers’ favored final is a France–Argentina rematch of Qatar 2022. But with Spain and England in strong positions and Norway lurking as a live outsider, the bottom half of the draw in particular looks anything but settled.

Golden Boot Race & Key Storylines

Beyond the team markets, the individual battle for the Golden Boot has become a genuine three-way contest. Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi sit level at the top, with Mbappé moving to 19 career World Cup goals — seven of them at this tournament — while Erling Haaland has forced his way into the conversation with his heroics against Brazil. Whoever goes deepest into the knockouts will likely have the edge.

The wider narrative is one of upheaval. For the first time in this format, all three host nations were eliminated before the quarterfinals, ending home dreams for the United States, Canada and Mexico in the same round. Brazil’s exit to Norway extended a barren run for the five-time champions, and Portugal’s defeat to Spain brought the curtain down on 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. In their place, Norway and Switzerland have given the last eight a fresh, unpredictable edge.

How to Watch the World Cup Quarterfinals

In the United States, every quarterfinal airs in English on Fox and FS1, with streaming on the Fox Sports app and Fox One. Spanish-language coverage is on Telemundo and Universo, streaming via Peacock, and the matches are also available through carriers such as Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV.

In Canada, TSN is the primary English-language broadcaster with select matches on CTV, while French-language viewers can follow the action on RDS and RDS2.

FAQs

When do the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals start? The quarterfinals run from Thursday, July 9 to Saturday, July 11, 2026. France vs Morocco kicks off the round in Boston at 4:00 PM ET on July 9.

Which teams are in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals? France, Spain, Argentina, England, Norway, Morocco, Belgium and Switzerland.

Are any host nations still in the tournament? No. The United States, Canada and Mexico were all eliminated in the round of 16, so no co-host reached the quarterfinals.

Who is the favorite to win the 2026 World Cup? France are the clear favorites at around +175, followed by Spain (+370), Argentina (+390) and England (+480) as of July 7, 2026.

What happens if a quarterfinal is tied after 90 minutes? The match goes to 30 minutes of extra time. If it is still level, a penalty shootout decides who advances.

Where is the 2026 World Cup final? The final is on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament.