World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals — All Four Results, Key Moments, and the Road to the Semi-Finals

July 13, 2026 · 9 min read

The 2026 World Cup quarter-finals delivered exactly what the expanded tournament promised — drama, extra-time heroics, and a Golden Boot race that just keeps getting better. All four matches produced decisive results, with two going to extra time and France and Spain stamping their authority with regulation wins. Here is every result, every key moment, and what it all means for Tuesday's semi-finals.

France 2–0 Morocco — Mbappé's Masterclass Continues

France needed just 60 minutes to break Morocco's resistance in Foxborough. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring with a curling shot from just inside the penalty area into the top right corner — his eighth goal of the tournament, extending his lead in the Golden Boot race. Six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé sealed the win with a low drive from outside the box that Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou got a hand to but could not keep out.

Morocco had their chances. Mbappé won a penalty in the 28th minute after being fouled by Noussair Mazraoui, but his spot-kick was saved by Bounou — a rare miss from the French captain. Lucas Digne also rattled the crossbar with a swerving long-range effort in first-half stoppage time. But Morocco, missing injured forward Ismael Saibari, failed to register a shot on target until the 84th minute. By then, the game was over.

Didier Deschamps' side have now kept three clean sheets in four knockout matches. Their defensive organization — anchored by Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba — has been the foundation of a campaign that looks increasingly like 2018 all over again. Morocco's tournament ends in the quarter-finals for the second consecutive World Cup, but Mohamed Ouahbi's young squad — built around the creativity of Azzedine Ounahi and the pace of Chemsdine Talbi — have proven they belong among the elite.

Spain 2–1 Belgium — Merino's Late Winner Sends La Roja Through

Spain needed an 88th-minute Mikel Merino header to see off a resilient Belgium side at SoFi Stadium. Fabián Ruiz had given Spain the lead on the half-hour mark with a well-placed finish, but Charles De Ketelaere equalized for Belgium just before half-time with a composed strike that had the 70,492-strong crowd in Inglewood sensing an upset.

Belgium held firm for most of the second half, with Thibaut Courtois making several important saves before going off injured in the 71st minute. But Spain's relentless pressure eventually told when Merino rose highest to head home from close range with just two minutes of normal time remaining. Kevin De Bruyne, playing what may have been his final World Cup match, was shown a yellow card in the 85th minute and another in the 86th — a red card that summed up Belgium's frustration.

Luis de la Fuente's Spain have now won four consecutive knockout matches, combining the technical brilliance of Lamine Yamal and Pedri with the kind of late-game resilience that wins tournaments. They face France in Tuesday's semi-final — a rematch of their thrilling 2025 Nations League encounter. Belgium, meanwhile, exit in the quarter-finals for the second time in three World Cups, with the De Bruyne generation's window closing.

Norway 1–2 England (A.E.T.) — Bellingham's Brace Breaks Norwegian Hearts

This was the match of the round. Norway took a deserved lead through Andreas Schjelderup's 36th-minute strike and looked comfortable until Jude Bellingham equalized deep into first-half stoppage time. The match then became a war of attrition in the second half, with both sides creating chances but neither able to find a winner.

Extra time belonged to England. Bellingham struck again in the 93rd minute with a clinical finish that sent the English contingent at Hard Rock Stadium into delirium. Erling Haaland, who had been relatively quiet throughout, was substituted in the 106th minute — a sign that Norway's tactical approach had run its course. England held on for a 2–1 victory that sends them to their second consecutive World Cup semi-final.

The result means England's Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have both scored six or more goals in this tournament — a first in FIFA World Cup history for any team. Thomas Tuchel's side showed tactical flexibility in extra time, switching to a more direct approach after Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze were introduced at half-time. Norway's Ståle Solbakken can be proud of a campaign that included a stunning Round of 16 victory over Brazil, but England's depth of quality ultimately proved the difference.

Argentina 3–1 Switzerland (A.E.T.) — Messi's Heirs Step Up

Argentina's quarter-final against Switzerland was a test of character, and Lionel Scaloni's squad passed it emphatically. Alexis Mac Allister gave Argentina an early lead in the 10th minute with a well-taken goal, but Dan Ndoye equalized for Switzerland in the 67th minute to force extra time.

The extra period was all Argentina. Julián Alvarez restored the lead in the 112th minute with a composed finish — earning him the Man of the Match award — before Lautaro Martínez sealed the victory in the 120+1st minute. Lionel Messi, who had scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches dating back to 2022, saw that remarkable streak end, but Argentina's depth of attacking talent proved more than enough.

Switzerland, managed by Murat Yakin, can hold their heads high after an impressive tournament that included a Round of 32 penalty shootout victory over Colombia. Granit Xhaka marshalled the midfield with his trademark authority, and Denis Zakaria's defensive work rate kept Argentina's attacking trio in check for long stretches. But Argentina's extra-time experience — they also needed extra time to beat Cape Verde in the Round of 32 — ultimately proved decisive.

The Bigger Picture: What the Quarter-Finals Told Us

Four matches, two extra-time thrillers, and a semi-final lineup that pits European powerhouses against South American flair. The quarter-finals revealed several key trends that will shape the final week of the tournament.

Extra time is the new normal. Two of the four quarter-finals went beyond 90 minutes, continuing a knockout stage trend that has seen five of the last eight matches require additional time. The expanded 48-team format, with its compressed schedule, appears to be taking a physical toll on squads — fitness and squad depth are now decisive advantages.

Co-hosts are out, but the tournament is stronger for it. The elimination of the United States (in the Round of 16) and Mexico (also in the Round of 16) means no host nation remains. Yet the quality of the quarter-finals — featuring eight genuinely elite teams — suggests the expanded format has produced a more competitive knockout stage than many predicted.

Late goals are deciding everything. Five of the eight knockout-stage matches played since the Round of 16 have had decisive goals scored after the 70th minute. Whether it is Mbappé's 60th-minute opener against Morocco or Merino's 88th-minute winner against Belgium, the ability to perform under pressure in the final third of matches is separating the contenders from the pretenders.

Goalkeeping matters more than ever. Bounou's penalty save against Mbappé kept Morocco in the match for 60 minutes. Courtois's saves before his injury kept Belgium level until the 88th minute. Jordan Pickford's composure in England's extra-time win was vital. In a tournament where margins are razor-thin, the man between the posts is often the difference between a semi-final exit and a place in the final.

Golden Boot Race Update

Mbappé's eighth goal of the tournament puts him two clear of the chasing pack heading into the semi-finals. The race looks like this:

• Kylian Mbappé (France): 8 goals
• Jude Bellingham (England): 6 goals
• Harry Kane (England): 6 goals
• Lionel Messi (Argentina): 5 goals
• Julián Alvarez (Argentina): 5 goals

With at least one match remaining for each of the top five scorers, the Golden Boot race is far from over. Mbappé's consistency — scoring in every knockout match — makes him the favourite, but Bellingham's brace against Norway shows he is capable of multi-goal performances on the biggest stage. England having two players on six goals is a statistical rarity that speaks to the depth of their attacking threat under Tuchel.

Semi-Final Preview: What to Expect

Tuesday's semi-finals offer two contrasting narratives:

France vs Spain (July 14, Arlington)

A rematch of the 2025 Nations League semi-final, which Spain won 2–1. France's defensive solidity will be tested by Spain's fluid attacking play, led by Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo. Mbappé vs the Spanish backline is the individual battle that could decide the match. Spain have won four straight knockout matches and look the most complete side in the tournament, but France's tournament pedigree — they are the 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up — makes them dangerous opponents.

England vs Argentina (July 15, Atlanta)

A rivalry that spans six decades, from the Hand of God to Beckham's red card to the 2022 quarter-final heartbreak. England's extra-time win over Norway showed their resilience, while Argentina's depth of attacking talent — Messi, Alvarez, Lautaro Martínez — gives them multiple threats. Bellingham vs Messi is the headline, but the midfield battle between Declan Rice and Enzo Fernández may be where the match is won.

Both semi-finals will be played at neutral venues with capacity crowds exceeding 70,000. The winners meet in the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19. For the losers, there is the small consolation of a third-place match in Miami Gardens on July 18 — but for these four teams, anything less than the final will feel like failure.

Key Takeaways

• France and Spain dominated their quarter-finals in regulation, while England and Argentina needed extra time to advance
• Mbappé's eight goals make him the clear Golden Boot favourite, with Bellingham and Kane both on six
• Late goals continue to define the knockout stage — five of the last eight matches had decisive goals after the 70th minute
• No co-host nation remains in the tournament, but the quality of the quarter-finals justifies the expanded format
• The semi-finals pit European powerhouses against South American giants — France vs Spain and England vs Argentina are the two most anticipated matches of the tournament