The World Cup quarterfinal lineup was completed Tuesday after defending champions Argentina and Switzerland claimed the final two spots in the last eight. Argentina produced one of the tournament’s most dramatic comebacks, rallying from two goals down to defeat Egypt 3–2, while Switzerland edged Colombia in a tense penalty shootout after 120 scoreless minutes.
The quarterfinal bracket is officially complete after a dramatic Round of 16 that delivered stunning upsets, thrilling comebacks, and the elimination of several tournament favorites. Eight nations remain in contention for football’s biggest prize, with the road to the final now clearly defined.
The knockout stage produced one of the tournament’s biggest shocks when Norway eliminated five-time champions Brazil 2-1, while defending champions Argentina staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to defeat Egypt 3-2. Spain edged Portugal in a tense Iberian derby, Belgium comfortably dispatched the United States, Switzerland advanced past Colombia in a penalty shootout, England ended co-host Mexico’s dream run, and France and Morocco completed the quarterfinal lineup with victories over Paraguay and Canada, respectively.
World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal Matchups
The final eight teams will battle for a place in the semifinals:
July 9
France vs. Morocco
July 10
Spain vs. Belgium
July 11
Norway vs. England
Argentina vs. Switzerland
Road to the World Cup Final
The bracket has set up two fascinating sides of the draw.
On one side, France will meet Morocco, with the winner advancing to face either Spain or Belgium in the first semifinal.
On the opposite side, surprise package Norway takes on England, while defending champions Argentina face Switzerland. The winners of those two matches will meet in the second semifinal, with a place in the World Cup final on the line.
Biggest Stories from the Round of 16
Brazil’s early exit is undoubtedly the headline of the knockout stage. Norway’s 2-1 victory eliminated the five-time world champions and opened up the bottom half of the bracket.
Argentina also survived one of the tournament’s biggest scares. Trailing Egypt 2-0 late in the match, Lionel Messi inspired an extraordinary comeback as Argentina scored three unanswered goals to reach the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Switzerland booked its place in the last eight after edging Colombia in a tense penalty shootout, ending the South Americans’ impressive tournament run.
Teams Eliminated in the Round of 16
The Round of 16 brought an end to the World Cup dreams of:
Canada
Paraguay
Brazil
Mexico
Portugal
United States
Egypt
Colombia
Teams Still Alive
Only eight nations remain in the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy:
France
Morocco
Spain
Belgium
Norway
England
Argentina
Switzerland
With Brazil already eliminated and Argentina still alive thanks to a dramatic escape, the quarterfinals promise several heavyweight clashes and the possibility of more surprises as the tournament enters its decisive stage.
When is the World Cup Final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while the third-place match will take place the previous day.
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