Quarterfinal Schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The first two quarterfinal pairings for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, have been confirmed. The opening quarterfinal match is scheduled for July 9 at 23:00 Kyiv time, featuring France against Morocco. In the second matchup, Norway will take on England.
What Makes the 2026 World Cup Unique
The 2026 tournament marks a historic first with 48 teams competing, up from the previous 32. This expanded format promises even greater drama and unpredictability as the competition runs until July 19, when the world champion will be crowned.
Morocco secured their quarterfinal spot by defeating Canada in a playoff match. During that game, Hakimi set up Unai, who scored a brace, while Rahimi also hit the crossbar from outside the box. France, meanwhile, advanced by beating Paraguay in the Round of 16, with the decisive moment coming in the 67th minute. Desire Doue burst into Paraguay's penalty area, where Gustavo Gomez fouled him. The referee initially waved play on, but after a VAR review, he reversed his decision. Kylian Mbappe converted the resulting penalty, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
Both quarterfinal ties promise to be intense and closely contested, as each team fights to keep their World Cup dreams alive. This edition of the tournament, spread across three host nations, also highlights soccer's growing popularity in North America and gives emerging teams like Morocco a chance to showcase their talent on the global stage.
As the excitement builds for the quarterfinals, it's essential to reflect on how the earlier matches shaped the journey of these teams. For a closer look at the thrilling encounters that led to these decisive matchups, including the intense Round of 16 battles, check out the details in our coverage of the first knockout stage matchups.