2026 World Cup Quarter-Finals: How the eight teams arrive and my pick for each clash

The last-16 is done, three hosts have fallen and a five-time champion is out… and we're left with eight nations battling it out for four semi-final spots. The 2026 World Cup quarter-finals are absolutely stacked: a rematch from Qatar, La Roja taking on a rampaging Belgium, Haaland versus England and the defending champions against the Swiss wall. I'll break down how each team got here and give you my predictions – that's what I'm here for.

🇲🇦 Morocco - France 🇫🇷 (Thursday 9, 22:00h). The Qatar 2022 semi-final rematch, nothing less. Morocco arrive in better shape than they did back then: they hammered Canada 3-0 with a Ounahi brace, Bounou is still an insurance policy at the back and the Lions of the Atlas are managing matches like a top side. France, meanwhile, are scraping through: against Paraguay they needed a Mbappé penalty and a brilliant Gill opposite to avoid a shock. But they've got Mbappé with 7 goals and the 2018 world champions in their squad. My tip: France, but I've got a nagging feeling. If Morocco go ahead, it gets spicy.

🇪🇸 Spain - Belgium 🇧🇪 (Friday 10, 21:00h). The big one for us. Spain arrive leading in both style and substance: five wins from five, Unai Simón's goal turned into Fort Knox (Casillas' clean sheet record broken), Lamine Yamal in superstar mode and that statement display against Portugal with Merino's 90th-minute winner. But watch out – Belgium just played the perfect match: 4-1 demolition of the USA at home, taking the last host nation out of the tournament. De Bruyne's still pulling the strings and they've got plenty of firepower up front. My tip: Spain, and I'm standing by it. But if we sleepwalk through the first half like we did against Portugal, the Belgians won't miss. Friday night, everyone glued to the telly. COME ON SPAIN!

🇳🇴 Norway - England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (Saturday 11, 23:00h). A battle of heavyweights. Norway are in a quarter-final for the first time in their history and didn't sneak in by the back door: they knocked out Brazil with a Haaland brace – he's now on 7 goals – and sent Neymar into retirement. England survived the cauldron of the Azteca (3-2 over Mexico) with another Bellingham double, but finished with ten men and lose Quansah to suspension. My tip: England on paper… but if I tell you Haaland bags another couple and the Vikings march on, I wouldn't bat an eyelid either.

🇦🇷 Argentina - Switzerland 🇨🇭 (Early Saturday to Sunday morning, 03:00h). The world champions against the tournament's toughest nut to crack. Argentina clawed their way back from 0-2 down against Egypt with an incredible comeback, and they've got a 39-year-old Messi leading the Golden Boot race with 8 goals and nine straight World Cup matches on the scoresheet. Switzerland haven't conceded a single goal in the knockout rounds and just eliminated Colombia on penalties with Kobel playing the hero. My tip: Argentina, because you can't vote against Messi in a World Cup. But get ready to suffer: Switzerland are a fortress.

The Golden Boot heats up. Here's the battle of the sharpshooters: Messi 8, Mbappé 7, Haaland 7. All three are still alive and all three play in the quarters. If this isn't the best World Cup in the last twenty years, someone come and prove me wrong.

📊 Morocco-France Stats · 📊 Spain-Belgium Stats · 📊 Norway-England Stats · 📊 Argentina-Switzerland Stats · 🇪🇸 Spain's Road

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