2026 FIFA World Cup™ Quarterfinals Recap
The Quarterfinals are over for the 2026 World Cup™ and we saw a lot of great matches and great individual performances in the third round. Let's break down the bracket and all 4 matches.
France 2, Morocco 0
The last time these teams played each other was in the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ semifinals where France won 2-0. In the 60th minute, Lucus Digne heads the ball to Kylian Mbappe who overcame three defenders on him to shoot the ball for the top right of the net and score, giving France a 1-0 lead. In the 66th minute, after a yellow card was given out to Morocco, Ousmane Dembele gets the ball up the field, gets around two defenders on his right side and shoots for the bottom right of the net. The goalkeeper got his left hand on the ball but it still went in the net giving France a 2-0 lead. They would go on to win by that score. France will move on to the semifinals versus Spain on July 14, 2026. Morocco was eliminated and it's back-to-back FIFA World Cups™ getting knocked out by France 2-0. France was in control the whole game and Morocco could not create a lot of offense. We will see if Morocco can overcome France in 2030 when they host the World Cup™.
Spain 2, Belgium 1
The last time these teams played each other was in a 2016 friendly where Spain won 2-1. In the 30th minute, on the right side of the field there’s a fast break where Pedro Porro gets to the ball first before the defender and crosses the ball toward the net. Dani Olmo gets the ball and shoots but is blocked by the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with his right hand. The ball is defected to Fabian Ruiz who shoots the ball for the middle of the net, goes up a defender’s leg, and goes in giving Spain a 1-0 lead. In the 41st minute, Timothy Castagne had the ball on the right side of the field and he crossed the ball looking for a header and Charles De Ketelaere headed the ball into the net tying the game up 1-1. In the 88th minute Pau Cubarsi, takes a shot and Belgium goalkeeper Joan Garcia makes the save but the ball pops out of his hands and Mikel Merino runs up at full speed and shoots and scores. Spain would take the lead 2-1 and would go on to win. Spain will move on to the semifinals versus France. Belgium played well and had a lot of scoring chances, which is a great sign for the future.
England 2, Norway 1
The last time these teams have played each other was in a 2014 friendly where England won 1-0. In the 36th minute, Andreas Schjelderup has the ball and he goes on the left side of the defender and shoots for the net. It hits the right goal post and goes in giving Norway a 1-0 lead. In the 47th minute, Anthony Gordon brings the ball up the left side of the field and passes to Jude Bellingham who is in the middle of the field, gets past two defenders, and shoots, getting it right by the goalkeeper's left hand and foot, and scores tying up the game 1-1. In the 93rd minute, Morgan Rogers had the ball in the middle of the field. He shoots for the right side of the net and the goalkeeper makes a good save but the ball bounced off of him and Bellingham gets it and shoots for the left side of the net and scores giving England a 2-1 lead. England will move on to the semifinals versus Argentina on July 15, 2026. Norway played well in this tournament and this was their highest finish in a FIFA World Cup™.
Argentina 3, Switzerland 1
The last time these teams played each other was in the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ round of 16 where Argentina won 1-0. In the 10th minute, Lionel Messi would take a corner kick where Alexis Mac Allister would head the ball to the top right of the net and score making it 1-0 Argentina. In the 67th minute, Dan Ndoye has the ball on the left side of the field and he passes to Ricardo Rodriguez who passes back to Ndoye, who ran past his defender and while running toward the goal shoots for the bottom right side of the net and scores getting just by the leg of the goalkeeper tying the game up 1-1. In the 112th minute, Julian Alvarez gets the ball on the left side of the field and moving to his right takes a shot aiming for the top right of the net and scores giving Argentina the lead 2-1. In the 121st minute, Argentina got a fast breakaway in a 3 on 1 situation, with Thiago Almada bring up the ball trying to make a move, which does not work but the ball gets bounced to Lautaro Martinez who would score giving Argentina a 3-1 lead Argentina will be moving on to the Semifinals versus England. Switzerland played well in this tournament and a lot of people did not expect this team to go this far. But this is their best placing since Switzerland hosted the tournament in 1958.
Semifinals Matches
France vs Spain in Dallas
England vs Argentina in Atlanta
Conclusion
From eight teams down to four as the tournament continues into the semifinals. This is the first time in tournament history that the top four ranked teams have made the semifinals. We will be making recaps for each round of the World Cup™ so stay tuned for those posts soon. Enjoy the rest of the World Cup™ Mansfield!
