And then there were eight. Four full weeks after the 2026 FIFA World Cup begin, and 95 games later, the quarterfinals kick off Thursday with each remaining team only three wins away from becoming world champions.
We don see 40 teams — including co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States, as well traditional powerhouses Brazil and Germany — fall by the wayside over the past month. Now only reigning world champions Argentina plus Belgium, England, France, Morocco, Norway, Spain and Switzerland remain to dream about winning the final for New Jersey on July 19.
France progress to this stage don be relatively trouble free. Dem win all five games, score 14 goals and overpower teams with the attacking brilliance of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise. Senegal, Iraq and Norway dem comfortably beat for group stage, before Sweden dem dispatch 3-0 for round of 32. Paraguay do better job of keeping dem at bay for round of 16, with their physical approach offering different challenge, but a second-half penalty from Mbappé ensure the 2018 winners progress to the last eight.
Mbappé edge over Dembélé and Olise as star player so far, with seven goals and two assists. His World Cup record be stunning: 19 goals in 19 appearances — figure wey better only by Lionel Messi — and he dey again drive Les Bleus push for third World Cup title.
Morocco, after impressing for their opening game, a 1-1 draw with Brazil, prove too good for Scotland and Haiti as dem breeze through group stage to set up mouth-watering tie with Netherlands. With 90 minutes on the clock against the Dutch dem dey heading out, but a stoppage-time header from Issa Diop take the game to extra time. Mohamed Ouahbi side then advance via a nail-biting 3-2 penalty shootout win before seeing off co-hosts Canada far more convincingly for Houston to set up rematch with France, who beat dem for semifinals four years ago.
Captain Achraf Hakimi be the leader of this side, delivering a goal and two assists. The Paris Saint-Germain right back don dominate his flank for defense and attack.
Spain never hit top gear yet, but there never really be the sense say the European champions dey for danger, either. Despite being held to surprise goalless draw by Cape Verde for their opener, Spain ease through Group H with wins against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay before comfortably beating Austria 3-0. Dem sweat for victory against Portugal for round of 16, but dem always look the more likely winner and Mikel Merino 90th-minute strike give dem the 1-0 result to send dem through.
Mikel Oyarzabal step up as star player while Spain wait for Lamine Yamal to find top form, striking twice for wins against Saudi Arabia and Austria. Arsenal midfielder Merino don knack for saving Spain, scoring the winner against Germany for quarterfinals for the last European Championship.
Belgium struggle to get going for group stage and dey on brink of elimination against Senegal, yet still dey alive after beating co-hosts United States 4-1 for Seattle. Draws with Egypt and Iran don mean the 5-1 hammering of New Zealand be necessary just to reach knockouts. Once there, dem find themselves down 2-0 against Senegal with five minutes to play. Late goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans somehow take the match to extra time, where Tielemans win am with a 125th-minute penalty.
Winger Leandro Trossard be Belgium most consistent star player, registering two goals and two assists while creating tournament-high 17 chances.
Norway hammer Iraq 4-1, edge a thriller against Senegal 3-2 and then rest some of their best players for a 4-1 defeat against France after their place for knockout rounds already assure. That decision be justified when Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 thanks to Erling Haaland 86th-minute winner to set up round-of-16 meeting with Brazil. What follow be what coach Stale Solbakken laud as “the greatest day for Norwegian football history,” a 2-1 win over the five-time World Cup winners, courtesy of a late Haaland brace, and a place for quarterfinals for the first time.
Haaland don score for each of his four appearances: twice against Iraq, twice against Senegal, a late winner against Ivory Coast and a superb match-clinching double against Brazil. Seven goals for his first World Cup for a nation outside of the established elite be a remarkable return.
England get off to a flying start with a 4-2 win over Croatia, but that momentum stall with a stodgy goalless draw with Ghana. Things never straightforward since. After an uninspiring 2-0 win against Panama set up round-of-32 meeting with Congo DR, their campaign take a step toward infamy when dem go behind early against the African side. A late two-goal salvo from Harry Kane seal a 3-2 win and spare their blushes. A major test against co-hosts Mexico for Mexico City follow where dem overcome the fierce Azteca crowd, altitude fears, a Jarell Quansah red card and a late onslaught to win 3-2 thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace and a Kane penalty.
Bellingham be star player so far, scoring against Croatia and being the match winner against Panama with a goal and an assist, but his performance against Mexico be one of the best from an England player for recent years.
Inspired by Lionel Messi, Argentina fly through their group with wins over Algeria, Austria and Jordan, but dem run into huge problems for each of their knockout games so far. E take extra time to finally see off Cape Verde as the World Cup debutants twice come from behind to threaten one of the tournament biggest-ever upsets against the holders, who win 3-2. Things look even more dire against Egypt when, with just over 10 minutes to go, dem find themselves 2-0 down. Two goals for four minutes, via Cristian Romero and Messi, level the tie and set the stage for Enzo Fernández incredible 93rd-minute winner for another 3-2 victory.
Even at 39, Messi don be head and shoulders above his teammates. The World Cup record goal scorer don net a tournament-high eight of his team 13 goals, set up another and be the driving force for the comeback against Egypt.
Switzerland don progress to the last eight without making much noise. A 1-1 draw with Qatar be far from the ideal start, but a big 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina lay the foundations for dem to top Group B courtesy of a 2-0 victory over co-hosts Canada. Algeria dem beat 2-0 without fuss for round of 32 before a tense, goalless game with Colombia go all the way to penalties. After Davinson Sánchez and Cucho Hernández miss, Rubén Vargas score from the spot to send the Swiss to their first quarterfinal since dem host the World Cup for 1954.
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel don deliver big performances at key moments for the tournament, starring against Colombia with three saves for the game and a stunning stop for shootout from Hernández.
