Forty groups are already at residence, or on their manner, leaving simply eight in the US to contend for the final word prize in soccer on the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The highest 4 seeds have all made it by – simply – however who will stay standing after 100 of this match’s 104 matches are full?
Atlas Lions search revenge towards France
Quarterfinal 1: France v Morocco – Thursday, 20:00 GMT – Boston
Beneficial Tales
listing of 4 gadgetsfinish of listing
This might be a hotly-anticipated rematch of the semifinal in Qatar in 2022 when Morocco’s fairytale run was ended by the then defending champions.
After topping a gaggle that includes Croatia and Belgium, beautiful Spain on penalties within the spherical of 16 after which overcoming Portugal 1-0 within the quarterfinal, Morocco got here into the sport filled with momentum and confidence but additionally fatigued and nursing key accidents.
It felt like a bonus match on the time, however their uphill process turned a mountain to climb after they fell behind after simply 5 minutes.
To their credit score the Atlas Lions discovered their toes, having fun with 60% of the possession within the recreation, successful extra corners than the French, having 10 pictures at aim and hitting the woodwork, however solely a kind of efforts was on course and France made the sport secure with an important second 11 minutes from time.
4 years on and issues are very totally different. Solely 9 of the 2022 squad made this one, simply 4 of the beginning eleven which confronted France final time began towards Canada and Mohamed Ouahbi was put in as head coach in March after the departure of Walid Regragui, who led Morocco in Qatar and to the ill-fated AFCON Last towards Senegal earlier this yr.
After edging previous the Netherlands on penalties within the spherical of 32 having grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser in regular time, Morocco made arduous work of their last-16 tie towards Canada, weathering loads of first-half strain and shedding star ahead Ismael Saibari to harm.
Nevertheless, they showcased their medical edge within the second half with a well-worked set-piece to interrupt the impasse earlier than two devastating counterattack targets to seal a 3-0 win.
France did wrestle towards the counter within the first half of their opening match towards Senegal, however weren’t punished, and it has been fairly plain crusing since, sealing a 3-1 win which they adopted with victories towards Iraq, a much-changed Norway, Sweden within the final 32 after which grinding out a difficult win over Paraguay in the last-16 courtesy of a late penalty.
Whereas Soufiane Rahimi deputised ably for Saibari after approaching after 21 minutes towards Canada, the Bayern Munich-bound ahead scored in every of Morocco’s group video games, although he and his facet may need had extra targets and topped the group.
The quartet of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and both Need Doue or Bradley Barcola are undoubtedly the perfect on the planet and Morocco’s hopes will lie squarely on their defence and keeper Yassine Bounou standing sturdy whereas their forwards reap the benefits of any alternatives they’ll create on the break.
Belgium can’t depend on Spanish generosity
Quarterfinal 2: Spain v Belgium – Friday, 19:00 GMT – Los Angeles
It’s honest to say not many would have anticipated Belgium to be lining up within the quarterfinals after their opening two group video games.
The Pink Devils got here from behind to attract towards Egypt earlier than enjoying out a stalemate with Iran with 10-men and solely certified by thrashing New Zealand, the bottom ranked crew within the competitors.
Belgium had been then staring elimination within the face towards Senegal, trailing 2-0 with 4 minutes remaining, just for Romelu Lukaku to reap the benefits of some slack defending to tug one again after which Youri Tielemans to go an equaliser three minutes later after goalkeeper Mory Diaw missed a cross.
Belgium accomplished the turnaround 5 minutes from the tip of additional time with Tielemans changing from the penalty spot after a contentious VAR resolution.
They then benefitted from going through an out-of-sorts USA crew within the last-16, running-out 4-1 winners amid the distraction of Folarin Balogun’s suspension being overturned by FIFA, and took benefit of extra poor defending to make it 12 targets in three video games.
Their luck could be up, nonetheless, as they’re unlikely to obtain the identical generosity from FIFA World No 3-ranked Spain, who’ve but to concede at this match and have six straight World Cup clean-sheets general – the longest run in historical past.
La Roja have allowed simply two pictures on course earlier than half-time throughout their 5 matches, each coming from Cristian Ronaldo within the cagey 1-0 win over Portugal within the final 16, which Mikel Merino settled with a stoppage-time winner.
Pink Devils coach Rudi Garcia shuffled his pack towards the USA, leaving Jeremy Doku out and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench for the primary time in 38 Belgium video games, however they are going to want an terrible lot to go proper if they’re to emulate their fabled 1986 facet and oust the European Champions once more at this stage.
Golden boys face-off in Golden Boot race
Quarterfinal 3: Norway v England – Saturday, 21:00 GMT – Miami
For the primary time on this match two of the main contenders for the Golden Boot race go head-to-head on the identical pitch.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken denied us that chance within the group stage when regardless of scoring two targets in every of the opening wins over Iraq and Senegal, he left Erling Haaland on the bench towards Kylian Mbappe and France, with qualification for the knockout stage already confirmed.
Haaland made up for misplaced time and scored the winner within the first knockout recreation towards Ivory Coast earlier than grabbing each targets within the 2-1 win over Brazil to achieve the quarterfinals.
His seven in 4 appearances made it 14 straight Norway appearances by which he has scored, netting 27 general in that run, whereas he now has 62 targets in 54 caps.
The 25-year-old lies one behind Lionel Messi within the race for the Golden Boot and one forward of England’s Harry Kane.
The 32-year-old Bayern Munich ahead scored twice within the opening group recreation towards Croatia and accrued one other within the win over Panama which sealed prime spot within the group. Kane then netted each targets within the late comeback to beat DR Congo within the spherical of 32 and added a penalty, which turned out to be the winner, within the epic 3-2 win over co-host Mexico.
Whereas Kane and Haaland share a lot in frequent, born every week aside in late July, each having received the Premier League Golden Boot thrice and each having loved success in Germany, they’ve solely shared the pitch twice earlier than, in 2022-23.
Fittingly they grabbed a win and a aim apiece as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester Metropolis locked-horns residence and away within the Premier League.
Every little thing suggests this may very well be one other tight battle, but when one in all these stars is ready to come out on prime in Miami, it may additional their declare to be the best striker on earth at current.
Can Argentina keep away from extra drama?
Quarterfinal 4: Argentina v Switzerland – Sunday, 01:00 GMT – Kansas Metropolis
They are saying it’s the signal of champions, getting back from the brink, however after extremely dramatic 3-2 wins towards Cape Verde and Egypt within the knockout rounds, Lionel Messi and co might be hoping for a far quieter evening in Kansas Metropolis towards Switzerland.
The 2-time winners and defending champions appeared ragged towards Egypt, trailing 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining, which could have been worse, however for VAR cancelling-out another Pharoahs goal on the break.
A lot of Egypt’s success was as a result of tempo and dribbling wizardy of Haissem Hassan on the flank throughout counter-attacks towards an Argentina facet with a median age of 30 years and 173 days – the second oldest they’ve ever fielded in a World Cup match.
With the expectation that Argentina will once more pile ahead in pursuit of victory, Switzerland might be hoping to emulate that risk, ought to Johan Manzambi overcome the knee harm which dominated him out of the conflict with Colombia.
The speedy 20-year-old has three targets and an help in his previous three appearances, whereas one other tough winger, Ruben Vargas, who was solely match sufficient to return off the bench towards Colombia, has two targets and an help, along with changing the essential penalty within the shootout.
One factor in Argentina’s favour could be that Switzerland have performed all 5 video games on west coast time, the previous three of them within the domed BC Place in Vancouver, however will head to Missouri to face an Argentina facet who’ve their coaching base within the metropolis and performed two of their group video games there.
Switzerland might nonetheless really feel they’ve a free hit at this recreation, with so little expectation, given they’ve reached their first quarterfinal since 1954 and received their first ever World Cup shootout to beat Colombia.
