World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals: Results, Recap & Winners
The World Cup 2026 quarter-finals delivered blockbuster football and produced the strongest semi-final field in the tournament’s history. The last eight featured two comfortable wins and two extra-time thrillers, and by the end, France, Spain, England and Argentina had all booked their places in the final four. Played from July 9 to July 11 across the United States, this is your complete guide to the quarter-finals: every result, a recap of each tie, and the road that led to the final on July 19.
Last updated: July 20, 2026
World Cup 2026 quarter-finals: How the quarter-finals work
The eight winners from the Round of 16 met in four single-elimination quarter-finals. As with every knockout tie, if the score was level after 90 minutes, the game went to 30 minutes of extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if still tied. The four winners advanced to the semi-finals, with every game from this stage onward played in the United States. The margins, as it turned out, could not have been finer.
World Cup 2026 quarter-final results
Here is the full record of the last eight. All times ET.
| Date | Tie | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jul 9 | France vs Morocco | 2-0 |
| Fri, Jul 10 | Spain vs Belgium | 2-1 |
| Sat, Jul 11 | England vs Norway | 2-1 (AET) |
| Sat, Jul 11 | Argentina vs Switzerland | 3-1 (AET) |
How every quarter-final unfolded
France 2-0 Morocco. A rematch of the 2022 semi-final ended the same way it did in Qatar. Kylian Mbappe led another ruthless French display in Boston, and Morocco, who had dreamed of becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup final, were beaten by a side that simply had too much quality. France marched on, looking every bit the tournament favourites.
Spain 2-1 Belgium. Two European heavyweights collided in Los Angeles, and it was Spain who came through. La Roja conceded for the first time in the entire tournament, but they had enough in attack to edge a Belgium side whose experienced golden generation, led by Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, bowed out of what was almost certainly their last World Cup together.
England 2-1 Norway (after extra time). A Miami thriller and the game of the round. Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway an early lead with a superb strike, but Jude Bellingham dragged England level before the break and then struck again in extra time to win it. The victory ended Erling Haaland’s remarkable tournament and sent England into the semi-finals after a genuine scare.
Argentina 3-1 Switzerland (after extra time). The holders needed another late escape. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in Kansas City, but Dan Ndoye levelled for a Switzerland side that then went down to ten men after Breel Embolo was sent off. The Swiss held on into extra time before Julian Alvarez settled it with a stunning strike from outside the box in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martinez added a third in stoppage time.
The semi-finals and the road to the final
The four quarter-final winners advanced to a historic semi-final round, the first in World Cup history to feature the top four ranked teams in the world. Spain beat France 2-0 in Dallas with a defensive masterclass, and Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Atlanta, with Lionel Messi setting up a late comeback. Spain went on to win the final, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The two beaten semi-finalists met in the third-place play-off on July 18 in Miami, where England won a ten-goal thriller 6-4. You can follow the full knockout picture on our World Cup 2026 bracket, read both semi-finals on our semi-finals guide, and get everything about the showpiece on our World Cup 2026 final guide.
The stories of the round
The quarter-finals will be remembered for the end of several compelling journeys. Morocco’s hopes of another deep run were ended by France, Belgium’s golden generation played their last World Cup together, and Erling Haaland’s brilliant tournament with Norway came to a close against England. On the other side, Argentina’s refusal to lose and Spain’s relentless control marked them out as the two most likely to go all the way, a prediction that proved correct. Track the players who chased the golden prize on our Golden Boot page, and read about the finalists on our team profiles page. Official details are on FIFA’s site.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
What were the World Cup 2026 quarter-final results? France beat Morocco 2-0, Spain beat Belgium 2-1, England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time, and Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time.
Who reached the semi-finals? France, Spain, England and Argentina, the top four ranked teams in the world.
Where were the quarter-finals played? In Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas City, with all four ties held in the United States.
What happened in the semi-finals? Spain beat France 2-0 and Argentina beat England 2-1, setting up a final that Spain won 1-0 after extra time on July 19.
What happens if a knockout game is a draw? It goes to 30 minutes of extra time, and if still level, a penalty shootout. There are no replays.
World Cup 2026 collectible
- BUILDING TOY FOR SOCCER FANS – The LEGO Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy (43020) building set for boys, girls, an…
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS – This collectible model features 2 stylized human figures holding up the Earth, plus the iconic globe…
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More World Cup 2026 coverage
- Round of 16 recap: the round the hosts fell.
- Round of 32 results and the biggest early shocks.
- Final group tables for all 48 teams.
- Where to watch, country by country.
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