World Cup Round of 16 Wrap: Quarterfinal Matchups Confirmed
The Round of 16 has already delivered one of the biggest shocks of this World Cup: five-time champions Brazil are out, beaten by a Norway side into the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. Half the last-eight field is now set, with the other half decided over the next two days.
Here's every confirmed result, the quarterfinal matchups locked in so far, what's still to be played, and the storylines shaping the tournament's business end.
Confirmed: The First Two Quarterfinals
Four Round of 16 matches are already in the books, setting up two quarterfinal ties.
|
Result |
Quarterfinal set up |
|
Morocco 3-0 Canada |
Morocco vs France - Thursday 9 July, Boston Stadium |
|
France 1-0 Paraguay (Mbappe pen.) |
Morocco vs France - Thursday 9 July, Boston Stadium |
|
Norway 2-1 Brazil (Haaland x2) |
Norway vs England - Saturday 11 July, Miami |
|
England 3-2 Mexico (10 men) |
Norway vs England - Saturday 11 July, Miami |
Morocco's win makes them the first African nation to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals, while Canada became the first co-host eliminated from the tournament. Norway's win is a first-ever World Cup quarterfinal for the Scandinavians, only their third appearance in the Round of 16 in history. England, reduced to 10 men after a red card to Jarell Quansah, held on for what's being called one of their best wins on foreign soil, with Harry Kane converting a penalty before Raul Jimenez pulled one back for the hosts late on.
Still to Be Decided: The Next Two Days
Four more Round of 16 matches complete the picture, two today, two tomorrow.
|
Match |
Date & Venue |
Storyline |
|
Portugal vs Spain |
Monday 6 July, Arlington, Texas |
A heavyweight European clash between two of the tournament's most fancied sides. |
|
USA vs Belgium |
Monday 6 July, Seattle |
The co-hosts' last stand - the USA are the only host nation still alive in the tournament. |
|
Argentina vs Egypt |
Tuesday 7 July |
Defending champions Argentina survived a huge scare against Cape Verde in the Round of 32 and will start favourites here. |
|
Switzerland vs Colombia |
Tuesday 7 July |
The lowest-profile tie left in the round, but with a quarterfinal spot on the line, expect it to be tightly contested. |
The Portugal/Spain and USA/Belgium winners meet in the quarterfinal on Friday 10 July, while the Argentina/Egypt and Switzerland/Colombia winners meet on Saturday 11 July.
Biggest Storylines of the Round
- Brazil's European hoodoo continues. This is the sixth straight World Cup in which Brazil have been eliminated by European opposition, a pattern that will worry fans regardless of the manner of this exit.
- Golden Boot race tightens. Erling Haaland's brace against Brazil drew him level with Lionel Messi at the top of the tournament scoring charts, with Kylian Mbappe also in the mix after his winner against Paraguay.
- Hosts fading fast. Canada and Mexico are both out, leaving the USA as the only co-host still alive heading into tonight's match against Belgium.
- Morocco's continued rise. Reaching back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals cements Morocco's status as one of the game's most consistent overachievers on the biggest stage.
- England's resilience. Beating tournament co-hosts Mexico away from home and doing it with 10 men for the closing stages, is a genuine statement result for Thomas Tuchel's side.
How to Bet on the Rest of the World Cup
- Match winner: Back a side in today's or tomorrow's remaining Round of 16 matches, or in the confirmed quarterfinals, on the World Cup matches page.
- Outright winner: With half the field eliminated, the outright market has shifted significantly. Check the latest prices on the outright odds tracker before backing a champion.
- Golden Boot: With Haaland, Messi and Mbappe all firmly in the race, the Golden Boot market is one of the most competitive in years, check current odds on the World Cup 2026 hub.
- In-play betting: All remaining matches are covered live, follow today's and tomorrow's Round of 16 action as it happens on the World Cup matches page.
Odds move quickly once results start coming in, so treat any specific figure you see in a preview, including this one, as a snapshot, check current pricing before you bet.
FAQs: World Cup Round of 16
Which quarterfinal matchups are confirmed so far?
Morocco vs France (9 July, Boston) and Norway vs England (11 July, Miami) are confirmed. The other two quarterfinals will be set once Portugal vs Spain, USA vs Belgium, Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia are played.
Is Brazil out of the World Cup?
Yes. Brazil lost 2-1 to Norway in the Round of 16, with Erling Haaland scoring twice. It's the sixth consecutive World Cup in which Brazil have been eliminated by a European team.
Who is leading the Golden Boot race?
Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi are tied at the top after Haaland's brace against Brazil, with Kylian Mbappe also in contention following his winning goal against Paraguay.
Are any host nations still in the World Cup?
Only the United States, who play Belgium in the Round of 16 on 6 July. Canada and Mexico have both been eliminated.
When are the World Cup quarterfinals?
Morocco vs France kicks off the quarterfinals on Thursday 9 July in Boston, followed by a second quarterfinal on Friday 10 July, then Norway vs England and the fourth quarterfinal both on Saturday 11 July.
Where can I bet on the rest of the World Cup?
You can check live odds and betting markets on the World Cup 2026 hub and World Cup matches page at Sportsbet.io.
Watch the Final Eight Take Shape
Two quarterfinals are locked in, two more arrive this week, and the race for the trophy just got a lot clearer. Check the latest odds on the World Cup 2026 hub, browse the World Cup matches page for today's and tomorrow's fixtures, and see the current promotions available at Sportsbet.io.
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