France enters the last eight as one of the tournament’s most convincing teams.
Four former champions are still standing in the World Cup, but Norway, Morocco and Switzerland have earned the chance to challenge the game’s traditional powers.
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France enters the last eight as one of the tournament’s most convincing teams. Didier Deschamps’ side advanced through the group stage without difficulty before eliminating Sweden and Paraguay. Kylian Mbappe has proved decisive with seven goals so far as he continues to build his World Cup legacy.
The two-time World Cup winner has impressed with attacking depth, while also showing the defensive discipline that has made Les Bleus one of the favorites to lift the trophy.
Standing in its way is the only African team still alive in the competition. Morocco followed its penalty-shootout victory over the Netherlands with an emphatic 3-0 win over co-host Canada to reach the quarterfinals. The Atlas Lions now have the chance to avenge their 2-0 semifinal defeat to France at the 2022 World Cup as they seek another landmark result.
This was a World Cup Final, and they gave the French player a yellow card after getting kicked by the Argentine
— KDC Global (@KDCGlobal_) July 8, 2026
Spain and Belgium meet in a clash between two European heavyweights after taking very different routes to Los Angeles. Spain edged Portugal 1-0 thanks to Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner, extending its run to six consecutive World Cup clean sheets, a tournament record.
Belgium, by contrast, has built momentum through resilience as much as control. The Red Devils recovered from two goals down to eliminate Senegal in extra time before easing past the United States 4-1, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice and creating another goal.
For veterans Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, the tournament could represent a final opportunity to deliver the major international title that has eluded Belgium’s so-called Golden Generation.
Norway’s reward for beating Brazil 2-1 is a meeting with England in Miami. Erling Haaland struck twice after Orjan Nyland saved Bruno Guimaraes’ first-half penalty to clinch Norway’s first appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal. Haaland has now scored seven goals in the tournament and will test an England defense that was forced to dig deep after Jarell Quansah’s red card in a 3-2 victory over Mexico.
England has relied heavily on captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have combined for 10 of the team’s 11 goals. Their partnership could again be central as Thomas Tuchel’s side pursues a place in the semifinals.
Palestine flag at the 2026 World Cup in every match
The Palestinian national team did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but Palestine maintained a highly visible presence throughout the tournament through widespread displays of solidarity pic.twitter.com/0x3cMBIwPZ— Haitham Abdelhadi (@Haitham47117914) July 7, 2026
Argentina completes the quarterfinal lineup against Switzerland after surviving the round of 16’s biggest scare. Lionel Scaloni’s side recovered from two goals down in the 79th minute to beat Egypt 3-2, with Lionel Messi responding to an earlier penalty miss before Enzo Fernandez headed the winner in stoppage time.
It was the second successive knockout match in which the defending champion had been pushed to the limit, having also needed extra time to overcome World Cup debutant Cape Verde.
Switzerland arrives with confidence after eliminating Colombia on penalties following a goalless 120 minutes. The result secured Switzerland’s first appearance at this stage since it hosted the tournament in 1954.
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Source: Xinhua
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