World Cup Quarterfinal Preview: The Last Eight - Full Betting Breakdown

The World Cup last eight is nearly set. France face Morocco, Spain face Belgium, and Norway face England in three confirmed quarterfinals over the next few days. The fourth spot is still being fought for today, with Argentina, Egypt, Switzerland, and Colombia all still in the mix.

Here's the full betting breakdown: outright market movement, the storylines behind each fixture, and a betting angle for every quarterfinal.

Quarterfinal Schedule

Outright Winner Market

France remain the clear favourites to win the tournament, with the market shifting steadily in their direction after routine wins over Sweden and Paraguay. Spain and England have both climbed after strong Round of 16 wins, while Norway's odds have shortened dramatically since their upset of Brazil.

For the latest, live outright pricing, check the outright odds tracker at Sportsbet.io, prices here move fast as each result comes in.

Match 1: France vs Morocco

This is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, which France won 2-0. Kylian Mbappe has been the standout performer of the tournament so far, scoring the only goal against Paraguay to take his tally to seven, level with Lionel Messi atop the Golden Boot race. Morocco, meanwhile, become the first African nation to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals after a comfortable 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada.

• Betting angle: France are strong favourites and have looked composed throughout, but Morocco have a history of springing exactly this kind of upset, their 2022 run included wins over Spain and Portugal. Don't rule out a tight, low-scoring affair.

Check current pricing on the World Cup matches page at Sportsbet.io.

Match 2: Spain vs Belgium

Spain have been the tournament's form team since a shaky group-stage draw with Cape Verde, and their defence hasn't conceded through five games. Their 1-0 win over Portugal, which ended Cristiano Ronaldo's international career — came via a stoppage-time Mikel Merino goal. Belgium, missing a fully fit Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku off the bench, still ran out comfortable 4-1 winners over the co-host USA behind a Charles De Ketelaere double.

• Betting angle: Spain's defensive record makes them a strong pick, but Belgium have shown they can score goals in bunches when their front line clicks. A Spain win, or the under on total goals, both look reasonable angles.

Check current pricing on the World Cup matches page at Sportsbet.io.

Match 3: Norway vs England

Norway's Erling Haaland scored both goals in the last-16 upset of five-time champions Brazil, moving level with Mbappe and Messi in the Golden Boot race and sending Norway into a first-ever World Cup quarterfinal. England needed to play the majority of the second half with 10 men but still beat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in Mexico City, their third straight World Cup quarterfinal appearance, and their 11th all-time, behind only Brazil and Germany.

• Betting angle: England go in as favourites and have shown genuine resilience this tournament, but a Haaland in this kind of form can decide a match on his own. Backing Haaland to score anytime is a reasonable complement to an England win bet.

Check current pricing on the World Cup matches page at Sportsbet.io.

Match 4: Argentina/Egypt vs Switzerland/Colombia (Still to Be Decided)

Both semi-final feeder matches are being played today. Defending champions Argentina are heavily favoured to see off Egypt, who reached the knockout rounds for the first time in their history but have yet to keep a clean sheet this tournament. Colombia, unbeaten and with three clean sheets in four games, are favoured over Switzerland, though Granit Xhaka's form has kept the Swiss competitive throughout.

• Betting angle: If both favourites progress as expected, Argentina vs Colombia would be one of the most even fixtures of the round, worth watching the outright market shift once today's results are known.

Check the World Cup matches page at Sportsbet.io for live updates as both matches conclude today.

The Golden Boot Race

Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are tied at the top of the Golden Boot race on seven goals each, with Erling Haaland now firmly in the conversation after his brace against Brazil. With three of the tournament's most prolific attacking players all still alive heading into the quarterfinals, this is shaping up to be one of the tightest Golden Boot races in years.

How to Bet on the World Cup Quarterfinals

• Match winner: The simplest market for each quarterfinal - check the World Cup matches page.
• Outright winner: Back a nation to win the tournament outright - check the outright odds tracker for the latest movement.
• Golden Boot: With Mbappe, Messi, and Haaland all tied or close together, this market is unusually competitive this year.
• In-play betting: Odds shift throughout each 90 minutes - follow the action and bet live via the World Cup 2026 hub.

Odds move quickly, especially with one quarterfinal still to be decided — treat any figure in this article as a snapshot and check live pricing before you bet.

FAQs: World Cup Quarterfinals

What are the World Cup 2026 quarterfinal matchups?

France vs Morocco, Spain vs Belgium, and Norway vs England are confirmed. The fourth quarterfinal will be between the winners of Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia, both played on 7 July.

Who is the favourite to win the World Cup 2026?

France are the outright favourites, having not been seriously assessed through the group stage and knockout rounds so far. Spain, Argentina, and England follow behind.

Who is leading the Golden Boot race?

Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are tied on seven goals each, with Erling Haaland closing in after his brace against Brazil in the Round of 16.

When do the World Cup quarterfinals start?

The quarterfinals begin Thursday 9 July with France vs Morocco in Boston, followed by Spain vs Belgium on 10 July and two matches on 11 July: Norway vs England, and the winners of Argentina/Egypt and Switzerland/Colombia.

Where can I bet on the World Cup quarterfinals?

You can check live odds and betting markets on the World Cup 2026 hub and World Cup matches page at Sportsbet.io.

Get Ready for the Last Eight

Three quarterfinals locked in, one more taking shape today, and a Golden Boot race that's as tight as it's been in years. Check the latest odds on the World Cup 2026 hub, browse the World Cup matches page for every fixture, and see the current promotions available at Sportsbet.io.

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