The quarter-final line-up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was completed late on Tuesday after defending champions Argentina staged a dramatic comeback against Egypt and Switzerland edged past Colombia in a tense penalty shootout.
Led by captain Lionel Messi, Argentina found themselves trailing 0-2 until the 78th minute before producing a remarkable turnaround with three goals in the closing stages of the match. Earlier, a controversial VAR decision that ruled out an Egyptian goal sparked widespread debate. Argentina’s victory secured the Albiceleste a sixth consecutive appearance in the World Cup quarter-finals dating back to 2006.
Teams Qualified for the Quarter-finals
The eight teams to reach the last eight are:
- Morocco
- France
- Norway
- England
- Spain
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Argentina
Among the notable exits in the Round of 16 were five-time champions Brazil, Portugal and co-hosts United States and Mexico.
Quarter-final Schedule (IST)
| Match | Date | Fixture | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | July 10 | France vs Morocco | 1:30 am | Boston |
| 98 | July 11 | Spain vs Belgium | 12:30 am | Los Angeles |
| 99 | July 12 | England vs Norway | 2:30 am | Miami |
| 100 | July 12 | Argentina vs Switzerland | 6:30 am | Kansas City |
Round of 16 Results
- Canada 0-3 Morocco
- Paraguay 0-1 France
- Brazil 1-2 Norway
- Mexico 2-3 England
- Portugal 0-1 Spain
- United States 1-4 Belgium
- Argentina 3-2 Egypt
- Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (Switzerland won 3-2 on penalties)
Semi-finals and Final Schedule
The semi-finals will be played on July 14 and July 15 in Arlington and Atlanta respectively. The third-place playoff is scheduled for July 18 in Miami, while the final will be held on July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.