Match Overview

Norway enters its first-ever quarter-final at the tournament as one of the most exciting teams to watch. After topping their European qualifying group as the highest-scoring nation, they’ve carried that firepower to North America, culminating in a stunning Round of 16 upset over five-time winners Brazil. Led by the unstoppable Erling Haaland, Norway‘s attack is a constant threat, but their high-risk style often leaves them defensively exposed, making every match a potential goal-fest.

England, meanwhile, arrives with the weight of expectation and a history of deep tournament runs. The Three Lions showcased immense resilience in their 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico, playing with ten men at the high altitude of Estadio Azteca. This marks their third consecutive appearance at this stage of the competition, and with stars like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in top form, anything less than a semi-final berth would be seen as a disappointment for Thomas Tuchel‘s experienced squad.

Tactical Analysis & Match Context

This quarter-final presents a fascinating clash of narratives and styles. Norway, the tournament’s dark horse, has defied expectations by reaching the final eight for the first time. Their journey has been fueled by an explosive offense that saw them dominate European qualifiers and stun Brazil. In contrast, England represents the established elite, a team hardened by recent finals appearances that navigated a treacherous Round of 16 test against Mexico with tactical discipline and grit.

The tactical battle will likely pit England‘s potent counter-attack against Norway‘s possession-based approach. Against Mexico, England registered its lowest possession in a World Cup match since 1966 (33.2%), yet remained lethal in transition. Norway, while controlling the ball against Brazil, was vulnerable to turnovers and conceded significant chances. The game could be decided by whether England’s backline can withstand Norwegian pressure and how clinically the Three Lions can punish any defensive lapses on the break.

For Norway, the motivation is to make history and continue their dream run without the immense pressure faced by their opponents. Every step forward is a new national achievement. For England, the stakes are sky-high. With a squad deep in talent and experience, the expectation is to advance. The urgency to capitalize on this golden generation and secure a place in the semi-finals will drive their performance.

Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends

Historically, the competitive meetings between these two nations have been infrequent but tightly contested. In four official World Cup qualifying matches, Norway holds a slight edge with two wins to England‘s one, alongside a single draw. However, England has had the upper hand in friendly encounters, remaining undefeated across four games, including a narrow 1-0 victory in their most recent meeting back in September 2014.

There is little recent history to draw upon, as the teams have not faced each other in a competitive fixture in over three decades. This lack of familiarity adds an element of unpredictability to the quarter-final clash. Both teams will be analyzing recent tournament form rather than historical precedent to gain an edge.

A key trend to watch is Norway‘s record against fellow European nations at the tournament. They have failed to win any of their six such matches, recording two draws and four losses. Furthermore, Norway has been a magnet for action-packed games in this competition, with both teams scoring in all five of their matches. They average 2.40 goals scored per game but concede 1.80, pointing towards another potentially high-scoring affair.

Squad News & Projected Lineups

Norway enters this historic match with a full-strength squad, while England must contend with key absences that will force tactical adjustments.

Norway manager Ståle Solbakken has no new injury or suspension concerns and is expected to name the same starting eleven that brilliantly overcame Brazil. The team’s cohesion and momentum are significant advantages, with key players like Martin Ødegaard hitting peak form at the perfect time to support the phenomenal Erling Haaland, who has scored in 14 consecutive competitive appearances for his country.

England, on the other hand, faces defensive challenges. Jarell Quansah is suspended following his red card against Mexico, and midfielder Jordan Henderson is out for the remainder of the tournament. While Reece James is nearing a return from a hamstring injury, he is not expected to start, meaning Djed Spence will likely continue at right-back, forcing Thomas Tuchel to reshuffle his defensive line.

Norway Projected XI (4-3-3):
Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Berge, Berg, Odegaard; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.
This lineup provides continuity from the historic win against Brazil. The midfield trio of Berge, Berg, and Ødegaard offers a perfect blend of physicality and creativity, tasked with controlling the tempo and supplying chances for the lethal front three led by Haaland.

England Projected XI (4-2-3-1):
Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Tuchel’s selection is shaped by necessity. Ezri Konsa is expected to partner Marc Guehi in central defense, with Djed Spence filling in at right-back. The attacking unit remains England’s greatest strength, with the dynamic Jude Bellingham playing in an advanced role behind Harry Kane, who is tied as the tournament’s top scorer.

More details on how to watch

You can watch the Norway vs England match on Fubo. The service is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and gaming consoles, as well as web browsers on your computer and apps for mobile devices.

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The service is available for a monthly fee of $14.99. This single subscription provides comprehensive coverage of the beautiful game, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of the action from North America and beyond.

SEE MORE: Complete World Cup TV schedule.

How to watch anywhere with VPN

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The quarterfinal brings together two sides whose journeys have captivated supporters for different reasons. Norway has emerged as the surprise package of the tournament. At the same time, England has continued its pursuit of a first World Cup title since 1966, relying heavily on the leadership of Kane and the brilliance of Jude Bellingham.

Norway’s remarkable journey continues as England survives major tests

Few expected Norway to reach this stage when the tournament began. After ending a 28-year absence from the World Cup, the Scandinavian nation has embraced the occasion, advancing to its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal after memorable victories over Ivory Coast and five-time champions Brazil.

The victory against Brazil became one of the defining moments of the tournament. Erling Haaland scored twice in the 2-1 triumph, further cementing his reputation as one of the world’s deadliest finishers while helping Norway make history.

On the other hand, England has also experienced its share of drama during the knockout rounds. Thomas Tuchel’s side produced an impressive 3-2 victory over co-host Mexico, overcoming difficult conditions and even playing with ten men after Jarell Quansah’s dismissal.

The Three Lions have now reached their 11th World Cup quarterfinal, extending a consistent run of success at major tournaments. While defensive issues have occasionally surfaced, England’s attack has remained productive thanks to Kane, Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.

Will Erling Haaland and Harry Kane play?

Both Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are expected to start for their respective national teams, setting up one of the tournament’s most intriguing individual duels.

The former enters the quarterfinal in sensational form after scoring seven goals, placing him among the leading contenders for the Golden Boot. Meanwhile, the latter has been equally influential, contributing six goals while continuing to lead England’s attack with his movement, finishing, and experience.

Both forwards approach the game differently. Haaland remains high up the pitch, constantly searching for space behind defenders, while Kane frequently drops deeper to link midfield with attack before arriving inside the penalty area.

Norway vs England: Projected lineups

Norway projected XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Berg, Berge, Odegaard; Schjelderup, Haaland, Bobb.

England projected XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Stones, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

England heads into the knockout clash following a 3-2 victory over Mexico, while Norway earned a memorable 2-1 triumph over Brazil to reach its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal. With Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard all preparing for another high-pressure occasion, the winner will move one step closer to lifting soccer’s biggest prize.

The Vikings have become one of the tournament’s biggest surprises after ending a 28-year World Cup absence by reaching the last eight. Stale Solbakken’s side has combined fearless attacking soccer with remarkable resilience, eliminating Brazil after also overcoming Ivory Coast in the previous knockout round.

On the other hand, the Three Lions’ journey has been equally dramatic. Thomas Tuchel’s squad survived an exhausting battle against co-host Mexico, winning despite playing with ten men for a significant portion of the second half.

What happens if England wins and Norway loses?

If England defeats Norway, Thomas Tuchel’s side will secure a place in the 2026 World Cup Semi-finals. The Three Lions would then face the winner of Argentina versus Switzerland, keeping alive hopes of reaching another World Cup final.

Victory would also maintain England’s pursuit of its first world title since 1966. With Kane and Bellingham leading the attack, England would remain on the same side of the bracket as Argentina or Switzerland before a potential final against the winner emerging from the opposite half.

England enters the Quarter-finals carrying momentum after winning three consecutive matches while scoring at least twice in each victory. Despite lingering injury concerns, squad depth remains one of its greatest strengths entering the decisive stage of the tournament.

What happens if the match is level after 90 minutes?

If England and Norway are tied at the end of regulation, neither nation advances immediately. Instead, the quarterfinal would move into two 15-minute periods of extra time, with penalties deciding the winner if the deadlock remains.

This scenario introduces another layer of drama, especially for players already carrying yellow cards. England stars such as Jude Bellingham and several teammates could risk suspension for the semifinals if they receive another booking before eventually advancing.

Extra time would also test both squads physically after demanding knockout campaigns. Miami’s expected heat could become another significant factor as tired legs begin to influence the contest.

What happens if Norway wins and England loses?

If Norway eliminates England, the Scandinavian nation would complete another historic achievement by reaching its first-ever World Cup semifinal. Such a result would become one of the greatest moments in Norwegian soccer history, following the already remarkable victory over Brazil.

The Vikings would then advance to face Argentina/Switzerland in Atlanta. England’s campaign would come to an end at the quarterfinal stage despite entering the tournament as one of the favorites.

Haaland has played a central role in Norway’s remarkable run, scoring seven goals to establish himself among the Golden Boot leaders. Martin Odegaard’s creativity, combined with the pace of Norway’s supporting attackers, has transformed the team into one of the competition’s most dangerous outsiders.

Courtois said: “I felt a lot of pain in my quadriceps. But I had no problem staying in goal, only taking long kicks. In the end, the manager decided to take me off. That’s no problem because the team comes above everything.”

It was a 2-1 loss made even more painful by how it ended. Courtois was attended by the medical staff before being replaced by Senne Lammens in the 71st minute. The issue was that Lammens left a rebound for Mikel Merino to score near the end after a weak shot from Pau Cubarsí.

Courtois wants a long break

There’s no denying that Courtois has made history with Belgium, not just by representing his country at club level with Real Madrid but also by being the national team’s goalkeeper for many years.

That period did not come without problems, as he had already been exiled from the team from mid-2023 to 2025 after a disagreement with former manager Domenico Tedesco about the captaincy. Now, he admitted he wants to take a long break from international duty before returning.

Courtois said: “I’d like to take a break from the Nations League, which isn’t that important, and return for the Euro qualifying campaign. It’s a decision that has to be made together with the federation. If they agree with that plan. Otherwise, today would have been my last match.”

Courtois on Real Madrid

Clubs are already making moves to be ready when the competition ends, with Real Madrid among the most active after also hiring José Mourinho as their new manager. Courtois said: “Real Madrid have signed good players and a top manager. Now it’s up to us to respond.”

What’s most curious about these players is their head-to-head record in knockout matches, as Yamal leads Mbappé 5-0. Fueled by a dominant year with Barcelona, in which they beat Real Madrid four times across all competitions, the left-footed star also won their international knockout meetings against France.

Dallas may be the city where these players are going to face each other, but the entire soccer world is waiting to see who comes out victorious as the reward is nothing short of a place in the World Cup final.

The five matches

Playing for two of the biggest clubs in the world, there is no doubt they are going to face each other for many years and build a rivalry that promises to be one for the ages. Representing two of the strongest national teams in the world only makes it even more exciting.

Representing Spain, Yamal has won the two knockout matches he has played against France. The first was a 2-1 victory in the UEFA Euro 2024 semifinal, while the second came in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal, when Spain won 5-4.

At the club level, they have faced each other in three domestic knockout competitions. In 2025, Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5-2 in the Supercopa de España final and 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final. Earlier this year, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 again in the 2026 Supercopa de España final to keep Yamal’s perfect record against Mbappé in knockout matches intact.

Their goals

Match 1: UEFA Euro 2024 semifinal — Spain 2-1 France (Yamal scored)

Match 2: 2025 Supercopa de España final — Barcelona 5-2 Real Madrid (Yamal and Mbappé scored once)

Match 3: 2025 Copa del Rey final — Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (Mbappé scored)

Match 4: 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal — Spain 5-4 France (Yamal scored twice and Mbappé once)

Match 5: 2026 Supercopa de España final — Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (neither scored)

According to Daily Mail, Declan Rice missed a second consecutive training session this week due to a sickness bug, which has aggravated an existing neural issue affecting his hamstring and lower back. The Arsenal midfielder has been managing the problem throughout the tournament, and the illness has only added to the concern within the camp.

Marc Guehi is the other major doubt, having picked up a hamstring strain during England’s 3-2 win over Mexico in the Round of 16. What was initially described as fatigue was later confirmed as a strain, though the Manchester City defender remains hopeful of training Friday and being available for Norway.

There is better news on Reece James, who returned to full training on Thursday for the first time since picking up an injury in the group stage win over Ghana.

His recovery is a significant boost given England’s already thin options at right-back — Jarell Quansah is serving a two-match suspension after his red card against Mexico, leaving Djed Spence as the only fit natural option at the position if James isn’t ready.

The only match Rice didn’t start this tournament

Rice has been a fixture in England‘s midfield throughout the World Cup, with the exception of one match: the Group L clash against Panama. He was left out of the starting eleven after picking up a minor knock in the previous game against Ghana, with the FA describing the calf strapping he wore leaving that match as a precautionary measure rather than a sign of a serious injury.

With qualification already in reach, Tuchel opted not to risk Rice from the start, instead deploying a more attacking double pivot of Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham. Rice was introduced off the bench to manage his fitness ahead of the knockout rounds, and has started every match since.

Norway also dealing with fitness issues of their own

England aren’t the only side managing a rocky injury report. Norway head coach Stale Solbakken confirmed that several players had been battling illness in the buildup to the quarterfinal.

Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen missed Norway’s tournament opener with a bug before recovering, while defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen sat out the win over Brazil with a similar illness and has continued to deal with a lingering cough and fatigue.

Left-back David Moller Wolfe was forced off in stoppage time against Brazil with what appeared to be an injury, and his status for the match against England remains unclear. Howeve, Norway team doctor Ola Sand has since downplayed the concerns, stating that all players are healthy heading into the quarterfinal.

Vinícius wrote: “The feeling of frustration is incredible. We had a group strong enough to achieve more, and we were not able to do it. I apologize, and I will fight for our dream of returning to the top of the world.”

It was not the ending Brazilian fans expected from the team. Vinícius responded mainly at the beginning of the competition, scoring four goals in three matches to help Brazil win their group. However, his best version was not present in the most important matches, which ended with an early elimination.

The full message

Almost four years later and once again thinking about what to write after a World Cup disappointment.

I saw so many people of all ages supporting me and embracing our dream, so it would be unfair to remain silent. But I needed a few days to reflect.

Wearing the national team jersey is the greatest pride of my life, and being eliminated from a World Cup in the Round of 16 is a feeling that is difficult to explain.

I know how much I prepared, how much I focused, and how much I wanted this for you and for my family.

The feeling of frustration is incredible. We had a group strong enough to achieve more, and we were not able to do it. I apologize, and I will fight for our dream of returning to the top of the world.

Ahead of the match, Lamine Yamal made clear just how much he’s been looking forward to this exact matchup. “Really excited. When the World Cup started, we were all expecting this match. I think we’re the two best teams in the tournament,” Yamal said after the win over Belgium.

The Barcelona winger also previewed how Spain plans to approach the game tactically, expecting France to come out aggressively before settling into their own rhythm. “I expect a team that comes at us, but not for the whole match. We’ll play the way we know how,” he added.

Yamal didn’t stop there, sending a pointed message about which side should be more concerned heading into the semifinal. “I think that if France has to fear anyone, it’s us, as we’re the ones who have knocked them out before,” he said.

Yamal leans on Spain’s 2024 Euro semifinal triumph

The comment is a direct reference to the 2024 Euro semifinal, where Spain eliminated France 2-1 in Munich, with a 16-year-old Yamal scoring a stunning long-range goal before Dani Olmo added the winner.

Spain went on to win that tournament, and now, with both nations meeting again on the World Cup’s biggest stage, Yamal made it clear he sees history as being on Spain’s side.

Yamal and Mbappe’s numbers heading into the semifinal

The individual battle between the two biggest stars adds another layer to the matchup. Kylian Mbappe arrives as the tournament’s outright top scorer, with 8 goals and 3 assists through France’s five matches, sitting atop the Golden Boot race (alongside Lionel Messi).

Yamal, by contrast, has just 1 goal and no assists in 6 appearances for Spain, though the underlying numbers tell a different story — he leads the entire tournament in chances created with 17, and has racked up nine shots across his last two matches alone, suggesting a breakthrough could be close even if the finishing hasn’t clicked yet.

This match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14. What comes after this match is the biggest prize in international soccer, as the winner will advance to the final with the chance to lift the trophy.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Dallas Stadium, where the 80,000-seat venue is ready for another spectacular atmosphere. It will host its ninth match of the tournament after Spain’s victory over Portugal was the most recent match.

Their previous matches

The paths taken by these teams to reach the semifinals have not been very different. They were able to win their groups as France finished first by winning all three of their matches against Senegal, Iraq and Norway, while Spain drew with Cape Verde before beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

France reached the semifinals after cruising past Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32, edging Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16 and then defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

Spain are in the semifinals after beating Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32, then struggling to beat Portugal 1-0 with a late goal by Mikel Merino before repeating that late drama with a 2-1 victory against Belgium.

Their furthest World Cup run

France are two-time World Cup champions, having lifted the trophy in 1998 and 2018, while also finishing as runners-up in 2006 and 2022, while Spain won their only title in 2010.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper had kept Belgium in the contest with five saves before going down with an apparent leg injury in the 69th minute, during a hydration break. He initially appeared to be fine to continue, but Belgium ultimately opted to substitute him, bringing on Senne Lammens in his place.

Courtois was visibly emotional as he walked off, wiping away tears while being embraced by his teammates. Despite representing Belgium, Spanish fans in the stands gave him a warm ovation as he left the pitch, a reflection of the status he holds in Madrid after years as one of Real Madrid’s most decorated players.

At 34 years old, this North American tournament is likely to be Courtois‘ last World Cup, a possibility that may explain why he left the field in tears at such a crucial moment of the match.

Lammens and a shaky response on Spain’s second goal

Courtois’ absence proved to be a heavy blow for Belgium, who were made to pay on Spain’s second goal, where Lammens played a part in failing to produce a strong enough save.

Just before stoppage time, Pau Cubarsi unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, and Lammens got a hand to it, but could only parry a short rebound back into the danger area.

Mikel Merino pounced on that rebound, once again playing the hero just as he did in the Round of 16 against Portugal, where he scored the winning goal in the final minutes shortly after coming off the bench.

Spain enters the quarterfinal after an impressive run that has strengthened its reputation as one of the favorites to lift the trophy. Belgium, meanwhile, arrives with renewed confidence after convincingly eliminating the United States and hopes to continue its resurgence against the reigning European champion.

Spain and Belgium arrive with contrasting journeys

La Roja topped Group H with seven points, defeating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay while drawing with Cape Verde before cruising past Austria 3-0 and edging Portugal 1-0 in the knockout rounds. Luis de la Fuente’s side has become one of the tournament’s standout performers thanks to its disciplined defensive structure and patient possession-based approach.

Belgium’s route has been far more dramatic. The Red Devils finished first in Group G with five points, beating New Zealand and drawing with Egypt and Iran before surviving Senegal in extra time and producing an emphatic 4-1 victory over co-host USA in the Round of 16.

The European champion also arrives carrying remarkable momentum. Spain has not conceded a goal throughout the tournament and became the first national team in World Cup history to keep six consecutive clean sheets. Goalkeeper Unai Simon has also extended his scoreless streak beyond 600 minutes in the competition.

Belgium, however, has shown steady improvement after an inconsistent group stage. Veteran stars Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois continue to provide leadership, while younger players such as Charles De Ketelaere and Leandro Trossard have added another dimension to the attack.

What happens if Spain wins and Belgium loses?

A Spanish victory would send La Roja into the 2026 World Cup semifinals, where France already awaits after the French defeated Morocco 2-0.

Spain would continue its unbeaten tournament, extend its historic defensive run, and move within one victory of reaching its first World Cup final since winning the competition in 2010. Belgium, meanwhile, would see its tournament come to an end despite its late resurgence.

The victory would also reinforce Spain’s status as one of the leading favorites to capture a second World Cup title under Luis de la Fuente.

What happens if the match is tied after 90 minutes?

A draw at the end of regulation would not decide the bracket. Instead, the quarterfinal would move into two 15-minute periods of extra time.

Should the teams remain level after 120 minutes, the semifinal spot would be decided through a penalty shootout. Only then would one team officially secure its place against France while the other would be eliminated.

Unlike the group stage, there is no possibility of both teams advancing or sharing points once the knockout rounds begin.

What happens if Belgium wins and Spain loses?

A Belgian victory would produce one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. The Red Devils would advance to their first World Cup semifinal since finishing third in 2018 and earn a meeting with France in Dallas.

Spain’s impressive unbeaten streak would come to an end, eliminating one of the strongest contenders before the final four. Such a result would also mark another memorable chapter for Belgium’s experienced generation led by Courtois, De Bruyne, and Lukaku.

Spain stumbled into the tournament with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, but have looked sharper with every match since, cruising to the top of Group H before thrashing Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 and edging out Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 on a late Mikel Merino strike.

Much of the attention heading into Friday’s match falls on Lamine Yamal. The young forward has managed just a single goal through five appearances this tournament and will start today alongside Mikel Oyarzabal, who is leading the squad with four goals.

Belgium, meanwhile, needed a dramatic turnaround to reach this stage, coming from behind to beat Senegal in extra time after topping Group G, before putting together their most complete performance of the tournament in a 4-1 rout of the USMNT to reach the quarterfinals.

Spain’s confirmed lineup

Luis de la Fuente will make only one change to the lineup that eliminated Portugal, opting to use midfielder Fabian Ruiz from the start, leaving Pedri on the substitutes’ bench.

Spain’s confirmed starting XI: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri,Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal.

Belgium’s confirmed lineup

Rudi Garcia will lean once again on Belgium’s veteran core, with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings in midfield with a front line built for pace and directness.

Belgium’s confirmed starting XI: Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Nathan Ngoy, Maxim De Cuyper; Hans Vanaken, Nicolas Raskin; Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku; Charles De Ketelaere.

The tribute arrived only days after the Selecao das Quinas’ 2026 World Cup campaign came to an end, giving supporters another opportunity to reflect on a victory that transformed the nation’s soccer history. Ronaldo’s post quickly attracted thousands of reactions as fans revisited the remarkable journey that ended with Portugal lifting the European Championship for the first time.

Friday, July 10, 2026, marked exactly 10 years since Portugal defeated France 1-0 after extra time in the UEFA Euro 2016 final at the Stade de France. That victory remains the country’s first major international title and one of the proudest moments in Portuguese soccer history.

Title that changed Portugal forever

Euro 2016 represented far more than another tournament victory for Portugal. It ended decades of heartbreak and delivered the country’s first major international championship after several near misses on the biggest stages.

Portugal reached the knockout rounds after drawing all three group-stage matches before overcoming Croatia, Poland and Wales. Despite criticism during parts of the competition, the squad continued finding ways to progress until reaching the final against host nation France.

The decisive match produced one of the most dramatic stories in European Championship history. Ronaldo suffered a knee injury following an early challenge from Dimitri Payet and was forced to leave the field after only 25 minutes.

Although unable to continue playing, Ronaldo remained an emotional presence on the touchline, passionately encouraging his teammates throughout the match. His leadership from the sidelines became one of the defining images of the final.

Eventually, Eder produced the moment that every Portuguese supporter still remembers. The striker scored from outside the penalty area in the 109th minute of extra time, giving Portugal a famous 1-0 victory over France and securing the nation’s first European Championship.

Ronaldo revisits Portugal’s greatest soccer triumph

To commemorate the occasion, Ronaldo shared two iconic photographs from the celebrations following the final. One image showed him lifting the Henri Delaunay Trophy alongside his teammates, while another captured him proudly posing with the silverware.

In the middle of the celebration, Ronaldo revealed the message that accompanied the post. “Uma vitória de milhões!” he wrote, a phrase that translates to “A victory worth millions!” The short caption resonated with supporters, who flooded the comments with messages praising the former Portugal captain and recalling the emotions of that unforgettable night in Paris.

Ronaldo recently explained why Euro 2016 means so much

The anniversary came shortly after Ronaldo reflected publicly on the importance of Euro 2016 following Portugal’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. “I won three titles for Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal hadn’t won any. The best title I won with the national team was the 2016 European Championship, which, for me, is the same size as a World Cup”, the 41-year-old veteran said.

Those comments generated widespread debate. While many supporters viewed the FIFA World Cup as the sport’s ultimate prize, Ronaldo made it clear that Portugal’s first major trophy carried equal emotional value for him because of what it meant to his country. The latest social media post reinforced that message, showing that Euro 2016 continues to occupy a special place in his career.

The Real Madrid attacker has already built a remarkable tournament legacy, but his latest performance for France against Morocco showed why he belongs in conversations with legends from previous generations. With the biggest matches still ahead, the 27-year-old has placed himself within reach of records that have stood untouched for decades.

Les Bleus continued their pursuit of another World Cup trophy after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals. Mbappe played a decisive role in the victory, scoring one goal and creating another as France secured a place in the semifinals for the third consecutive tournament.

The forward endured a dramatic evening after missing a first-half penalty opportunity, but he quickly responded when it mattered most. Mbappe found the net after the missed spot kick before assisting Ousmane Dembele shortly afterward, completing another influential performance on the biggest stage.

The result also moved him closer to Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the race for the World Cup’s all-time scoring record. Messi currently leads the historic ranking with 21 goals, while Mbappe has continued closing the gap during his third World Cup appearance.

The record-breaking World Cup achievement revealed

Mbappe’s performance against Morocco helped him reach a historic mark that had not been achieved since Germany legend Gerd Muller dominated the 1970 tournament.

According to Opta’sstatistics, Mbappe has recorded 11 direct goal involvements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with eight goals and three assists. That makes him the first player since Muller in 1970 to reach at least 11 combined goals and assists in a single World Cup campaign.

Muller produced one of the greatest individual tournaments in history during the 1970 World Cup, scoring 10 goals and adding three assists for West Germany. Mbappe’s current numbers match that legendary level of influence more than five decades later.

Before Muller’s achievement, France icon Just Fontaine delivered the most extraordinary scoring tournament ever recorded, scoring 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup. Fontaine’s record remains the highest single-tournament goal tally in World Cup history.

Mbappe creates history with consistent World Cup excellence

The French superstar’s latest milestone adds another achievement to an already impressive World Cup résumé. Mbappe has now also become the first player in World Cup history to score at least eight goals in two different tournaments.

The 27-year-old scored eight goals during France’s run to the 2022 final and has matched that total during the 2026 competition. Before Mbappe, only a small group of players had managed to score eight or more goals in a single World Cup.

His performances have also surpassed some of the greatest individual campaigns in soccer history. Diego Maradona’s iconic 1986 tournament included five goals and five assists as Argentina lifted the trophy, while Mbappe has already produced greater attacking numbers during France’s current campaign.

Mbappe’s incredible physical ability has produced another historic World Cup moment, with the forward recording the fastest sprint speed among several of the tournament’s biggest stars. While goals, assists and trophies often define a player’s legacy, this latest statistic highlights the rare athletic qualities that make the France captain such a nightmare for defenders.

According to data from FIFA and Sofascore, Kylian Mbappe recorded the fastest top speed at the 2026 World Cup, reaching an incredible 37.6 km/h. The number places him comfortably above some of the quickest players in world soccer, including Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Norway’s Erling Haaland and Spain’s Lamine Yamal.

Mbappe’s 37.6 km/h sprint was the highest recorded mark among the leading names tracked during the tournament. His ability to explode into open space has remained one of his defining qualities, allowing France to create dangerous moments through quick transitions and direct attacking moves.

The French forward has built much of his career around devastating bursts of speed, and his latest World Cup performance has reinforced that reputation. FIFA’s recorded data once again shows why defenders often struggle when Mbappe has even a small amount of space to attack.

The record-breaking speed list revealed

The complete list of the fastest top speeds among some of the biggest 2026 World Cup stars shows just how impressive Mbappe’s advantage is.

Top speed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Mbappe finished nearly two kilometers per hour ahead of his closest competitors, Hakimi and Haaland, who both reached 35.6 km/h. The difference may appear small on paper, but at elite soccer level, those extra fractions of speed can decide whether a defender wins or loses a crucial duel.

Haaland and Hakimi show speed is not about position

While Mbappe dominated the rankings, the players behind him also highlighted the changing nature of athleticism in modern soccer. Achraf Hakimi and Erling Haaland both reached 35.6 km/h, proving that elite speed is no longer limited to traditional wingers.

Hakimi’s pace has become one of Morocco’s biggest weapons, with the full-back regularly combining defensive responsibilities with explosive attacking runs. His ability to cover huge distances at maximum speed has made him one of the most complete wing players in the world.

Haaland’s inclusion is perhaps even more surprising because of his size and playing style. The Norway striker is known for his strength, finishing and physical dominance, but his top speed shows that defenders must also worry about his ability to run behind the defensive line. The Manchester City forward’s combination of power and pace makes him one of the most difficult strikers to contain at the 2026 World Cup.

Lamine Yamal continues to prove elite potential, but Messi highlights different type of greatness

Another name near the top of the ranking is Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona star reached 35.5 km/h, placing him among the fastest players at the entire tournament despite his young age.

Yamal’s speed adds another dimension to his already impressive technical ability. His close control, creativity and acceleration allow him to beat defenders in multiple ways, making him one of Spain’s biggest attacking threats.

At only 18 years old, reaching such a high physical level alongside established superstars like Mbappe and Haaland highlights the extraordinary potential of the Spanish winger.

Further down the list, Lionel Messi’s 30.9 km/h top speed still attracted plenty of attention. At 39 years old, Messi remains capable of competing physically with much younger players while continuing to influence matches through intelligence, technique and timing.

Unlike younger attackers who rely heavily on explosive running, Messi has adapted his style over the years. His ability to read situations, conserve energy, and accelerate over short distances allows him to remain decisive at the highest level.

Belgium arrives at the match with growing confidence after overcoming several challenges during the tournament. The Red Devils finished top of their group before producing dramatic knockout performances that restored belief in their chances of reaching the final stages.

Rudi Garcia and his players survived a thrilling encounter against Senegal in the Round of 32, winning 3-2 after extra time after falling behind late in the match. The team then delivered one of its best performances of the tournament with a 4-1 victory over the United States, showing the attacking quality that made it a dangerous opponent.

Spain, meanwhile, entered the quarter-final without conceding a single goal in the tournament, while also carrying a long unbeaten streak. Luis de la Fuente’s team had progressed through the competition with impressive control, combining defensive organization with the creativity of players such as Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Mikel Oyarzabal.

Why Youri Tielemans is missing for Belgium

Belgium entered the quarter-final hoping to continue its impressive turnaround at the tournament, but the team suffered an immediate blow before the match even started. Tielemans was forced out of the lineup after picking up an injury during the warm-up, leaving coach Rudi Garcia with no choice but to make a late adjustment.

According to reports from BEIN Sports France’s John Ferreira and The Athletic, Tielemans experienced discomfort during the warm-up and was removed from the starting XI despite initially being named in the lineup.

The change came only minutes before kickoff, with Belgium confirming the midfielder’s absence through its official channels. The Red Devils stated: “Following an injury during the warm-up, Youri Tielemans is replaced in the starting XI by Hans Vanaken.”

The decision meant Hans Vanaken replaced Tielemans in midfield, joining Nicolas Raskin and Kevin De Bruyne as Belgium attempts to maintain its balance against one of the strongest teams in the competition.

Major loss for Belgium’s midfield structure

Tielemans’ absence represented a significant tactical problem for Belgium because of his ability to influence matches in several areas. The midfielder provides creativity, passing range, defensive work rate, and the ability to arrive in attacking positions at important moments.

The 29-year-old had been one of Belgium’s key players during the 2026 World Cup campaign, helping the team navigate a difficult path toward the quarter-finals. His leadership and experience were especially valuable as Belgium attempted to challenge Spain’s dominant possession-based style.

The timing of the injury made the situation even more difficult. Belgium was preparing to face a Spain side that had been nearly impossible to break down, entering the match as the only team at the tournament yet to concede a goal.

Without Tielemans, Garcia had to quickly reorganize his midfield setup and rely on Vanaken to provide a different profile alongside De Bruyne and Raskin.

Garcia continues to trust Charles De Ketelaere as a false nine up front, the same setup that has anchored Belgium’s attack since the group stage, with Lukaku kept in reserve as an option off the bench.

Part of the decision to use Lukaku as a sub stems from his injury-plagued season leading up to the World Cup. The striker was injured during the preseason with Napoli and was limited to just 64 minutes of action across seven appearances.

That lack of sharpness put his World Cup spot in real doubt heading into the tournament, but Rudi Garcia ultimately trusted the veteran forward, naming him to the final roster in North America.

Lukaku’s impact as a substitute

That role suits Lukaku just fine — he’s been most effective for Belgium precisely as a substitute this tournament, forcing an own goal in the opening draw with Egypt and scoring against New Zealand in the group finale.

The one time Garcia did hand him a start during the group stage, against Iran, the striker struggled to get into the game, failing to register a shot before picking up a yellow card and being hauled off in the 73rd minute.

Lukaku’s role coming off the bench paid off again in the Round of 32 against Senegal. Coming on at halftime with Belgium trailing 2-0, he scored in the 86th minute to spark a late comeback that forced extra time, where Belgium eventually secured the win. Additionally, the striker scored off the bench once again to seal a 4-1 victory over the USMNT in the Round of 16.

Spain enter this match ranked 3rd in the FIFA World Ranking with 1,912.34 points. They are one spot lower than the June 11 update after advancing to this round by winning Group H with a draw against Cape Verde and victories over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

The team improved as the tournament progressed, first beating Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 before earning a huge 1-0 victory over Portugal with a late goal from Mikel Merino in the quarterfinals.

Belgium’s ranking

It will not be an easy match for Spain because Belgium also arrive with one of the best rankings in the world. Belgium are currently ranked 8th in the FIFA World Ranking with 1,778.36 points, one spot higher than the June 11 update.

Their campaign began with a first-place finish in Group G with five points after drawing with Egypt and Iran before beating New Zealand. Belgium then produced a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time before a convincing 4-1 victory over the USMNT in the quarterfinals.

Belgium continue to establish themselves among the strongest national teams in Europe, reaching their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 1st for the first time in 2015, while their lowest position was 71st in 2007.

Spain’s highest ranking

Spain’s place among the world’s best teams has been built over decades of success. They reached the top of the FIFA World Ranking for the first time in 2008 and have returned to 1st on several occasions since, while their lowest position was 25th in 1998.

Spain enters the contest in outstanding form after reaching the last eight without conceding a single goal, while Belgium arrives full of confidence following an emphatic victory over the United States. With a semifinal against France awaiting the winner, every selection decision carries enormous significance.

La Roja has continued the impressive run that began after lifting the UEFA European Championship, extending its unbeaten streak while producing one of the tournament’s strongest defensive displays. The national team topped Group H before defeating Austria and edging past Portugal thanks to Mikel Merino’s dramatic stoppage-time winner.

Belgium has enjoyed a very different path but has gathered momentum at exactly the right time. After drawing its opening two group matches, the national team responded with victories over New Zealand, Senegal, and a dominant 4-1 triumph over the United States to book its place in the quarterfinals.

Both teams have plenty of attacking quality, although they have reached this stage in contrasting fashion. Spain has yet to concede a goal in the competition, while Belgium has scored 13 times in five matches, making Friday’s meeting one of the most anticipated fixtures of the World Cup.

Why Pedri is not starting against Belgium

The biggest surprise ahead of kickoff came when Spain released its official lineup, and Pedri was not included in the starting XI. Instead, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz was selected alongside Rodri, while Dani Olmo retained his place in a more advanced midfield role.

The decision is purely tactical rather than injury-related. Luis de la Fuente chose to reshape his midfield by giving Ruiz the starting role after his impressive performances during the knockout stage, particularly his contribution after coming off the bench against Portugal.

The New York Times has also suggested that Pedri has not quite reached his highest level during the tournament. While he has remained an important member of the squad, the coaching staff preferred the physicality, balance, and control that Fabian Ruiz provides against Belgium’s midfield.

Several analysts also pointed out that La Roja’s midfield combinations have functioned more smoothly with Rodri and Fabian operating deeper while Dani Olmo plays closer to the attack. That tactical balance appears to have convinced De la Fuente to make the only change from the side that eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

De la Fuente backs squad depth in crucial quarterfinal

Leaving Pedri on the bench represents one of Luis de la Fuente’s boldest decisions since taking charge of the national team. However, Spain’s remarkable consistency throughout the tournament has given the coach confidence to trust a system that continues to produce results.

The 23-year-old midfielder remains one of Spain’s most influential players and could still play a decisive role later in the match. His creativity and ability to control possession make him a valuable option if Spain needs to change the rhythm of the contest.

For now, though, De la Fuente has placed his faith in Fabian Ruiz, believing the midfielder’s recent performances and tactical profile offer the best solution against Belgium. Whether that gamble proves decisive will become clear as Spain pursues a place in the 2026 World Cup semifinals.

The reason Williams isn’t starting against Belgium is because he is still recovering from a groin injury and is not yet 100% fit. Spain’s coaching staff decided not to risk the winger, who could be used later if the team needs him.

It wasn’t a surprise that Williams isn’t in the lineup because he missed the matches against Austria and Portugal. The winger picked up the injury during the final group-stage match against Uruguay after a tackle by Nicolás de la Cruz.

The replacement

Williams suffered the injury during Spain’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay, a result that secured first place in the group. Even though he was able to leave the field on his own, the discomfort has prevented him from being fully available since then.

There aren’t many players in Spain’s squad with Williams’ profile on the left wing, especially because of the pace he brings, which led Luis de la Fuente to choose a player with more control on the ball but less speed.

The manager’s decision was Alex Baena, who started every match except the opener against Cape Verde, when Gavi played on the left wing. Baena scored against Uruguay and also recorded an assist in the victory over Austria.

Williams’ recovery

Spain have taken a cautious approach with Williams’ recovery, as the winger has not yet fully recovered from the groin injury he suffered against Uruguay. While he has continued working with the team, the coaching staff decided he was not ready to start.

De la Fuente is set to send out Rodri and Fabian Ruiz in central midfield, behind an attacking line of Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Alex Baena, supporting Mikel Oyarzabal up top.

That setup leaves no room in the XI for Merino, who has spent the majority of this tournament coming off the bench rather than starting, with the exception of Spain‘s third group-stage match against Uruguay.

The decision is purely tactical rather than any reflection of Merino’s form, which has been outstanding in limited minutes. De la Fuente has simply preferred to stick with the same core group that has carried Spain through the knockout rounds, using Merino as an impact option late in matches rather than disrupting the starting shape.

Merino’s five-minute heroics against Portugal

Merino’s role off the bench has already produced one of the biggest moments of Spain’s tournament. Brought on late in the Round of 16 clash against Portugal, the Arsenal midfielder needed only around five minutes on the pitch to make his mark.

At first, he won a quick free-kick that kickstarted the winning move before being played through by fellow substitute Ferran Torres and slotting home in stoppage time to seal a 1-0 win, eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal from the tournament.

Listen to the full tactical review on Spotify to catch up on the entire tournament breakdown.

The show leads with an analytical review of France’s convincing 2-0 quarterfinal masterclass over Morocco. Didier Deschamps’ clinical side proved exactly why they are heavily favored to claim the trophy, shutting out a resilient Moroccan outfit.

Despite an early first-half penalty miss by Kylian Mbappé, the French captain made history in the second half by hammering home his eighth goal of the tournament, taking his total 2026 tournament contributions to an astonishing 11. Ousmane Dembélé quickly added a second-half insurance goal to book Les Bleus’ ticket to a third consecutive World Cup Semifinal.

The hosts dissect the game’s tactical shapes, a contentious handball incident involving Mbappé, and debate whether this current roster represents the greatest national team ever assembled.

The focus then shifts entirely to the impending blockbuster tie between Spain and Belgium in Los Angeles. The duo previews the crucial tactical elements, questioning if Spain’s possession-heavy framework and depth can suffocated a red-hot Belgian team. The discussion dives deep into whether this is finally the summer where the remnants of Belgium’s Golden Generation, led by Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, push all the way to a historic final.

The program winds down with score predictions for the remaining high-stakes final-eight fixtures. The hosts look at Erling Haaland’s lethal form with Norway ahead of their clash with England, evaluate Rudi Garcia’s tactical impact, and map out the margins separating Lionel Messi’s Argentina from a stubborn Switzerland side.You can stream the entire daily overview right now.

Check out The 90th Minute on Spotify to stay entirely up to date on final scores, updated bracket configurations, and expert knockout coverage.

The quarterfinal in Los Angeles brings together two of Europe’s strongest national teams, with Spain chasing a second World Cup title and Belgium hoping to reach the semifinals for the first time since its memorable run in 1986. While Luis de la Fuente’s squad enters the match with remarkable defensive form, Belgium has been forced into a major adjustment before kickoff.

La Roja has enjoyed an impressive tournament under Luis de la Fuente. It topped its group before eliminating Austria and edging past Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 thanks to Mikel Merino’s dramatic late winner.

Belgium has also recovered from a slow start. After opening the tournament with two draws, the Red Devils responded with victories over New Zealand, Senegal and the United States, scoring 12 goals across those three matches.

Rudi Garcia’s side produced one of its finest displays of the tournament by defeating the United States 4-1 in the Round of 16. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice before Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku added further goals to secure Belgium’s place in the last eight.

Why Amadou Onana is missing against Spain

The lingering questions surrounding Amadou Onana’s absence have been met with a devastating reality. Belgium recently confirmed that their midfield warrior suffered a catastrophic ruptured ACL in his right knee during the fierce battle against the United States, cruelly ending his tournament and leaving a massive void in the heart of the squad.

The injury occurred in the 18th minute when Onana challenged for the ball alongside United States forward Christian Pulisic. The Belgian immediately grabbed his right knee before receiving treatment from the medical staff and attempting to continue.

Although he briefly returned to his feet, it quickly became clear he could not carry on. Belgium substituted him three minutes later, replacing him with Hans Vanaken in the 21st minute. Medical examinations later confirmed the worst fears for Belgium, Aston Villa and the player himself.

Belgium confirms devastating diagnosis

Belgium team doctor Brahim Hacene revealed the extent of the injury after further testing. “This is devastating news, both for him personally and for the team,” Hacene said.

The Belgian medical staff has already begun coordinating with Aston Villa regarding the midfielder’s recovery. “We immediately consulted with Amadou and with Aston Villa to agree on the best approach to his recovery. Over the coming days, we will jointly determine the next steps in his medical treatment and rehabilitation.”

Despite being ruled out of the remainder of the tournament, Onana will stay with the Belgium squad through the quarterfinal to continue supporting his teammates.

Huge blow for Belgium’s midfield as Spain looks to capitalize

The injury represents a significant setback for Rudi Garcia’s tactical plans. Onana had featured in every Belgium match during the tournament and had become a crucial presence in midfield because of his defensive work, physicality and ball-winning ability.

The Red Devils’ injury concerns arrive at the worst possible time. Spain enters the quarterfinal with virtually a full-strength squad and continues to build momentum after another disciplined defensive display against Portugal.

While Belgium still boasts attacking stars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Charles De Ketelaere and Jeremy Doku, losing Onana removes one of the team’s most important defensive shields against Spain’s creative midfield led by Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo.

Portugal confirmed the appointment on Friday, ending speculation over who would guide one of Europe’s most talented squads into the next international cycle. According to the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Jesus has signed a four-year contract that will keep him in charge through the 2030 World Cup.

The Portuguese Football Federation welcomed its new coach with a simple message on social media. “A new journey begins today. Welcome to the National Team, Mister Jorge Jesus.”

Jesus will oversee Portugal in the UEFA Nations League, Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup, with his first assignment coming during the next international window. The 71-year-old becomes the national team’s head coach for the first time after building an impressive club career that included spells with Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Flamengo, Fenerbahce, Al-Hilal, and most recently Al-Nassr.

His arrival follows the Selecao das Quinas’ disappointing World Cup exit against Spain, a result that prompted the federation to part ways with Martinez after three years in charge. Despite possessing one of Europe’s deepest squads, Portugal failed to progress beyond the Round of 16, extending its frustrating run at the tournament.

Jesus finally addresses Cristiano Ronaldo’s international role

One of the biggest questions surrounding Jesus’ appointment concerned Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with Portugal. The legendary forward previously indicated that the 2026 World Cup would be his final appearance at the tournament, but he has yet to officially announce his retirement from international soccer.

Speaking during his introductory press conference, Jesus made it clear that Ronaldo remains an important figure while also stressing that every decision will be discussed privately. “No, I haven’t spoken to Cristiano yet. Cristiano will never be a problem for the national team, nor for me,” Jesus said.

The new manager explained that Ronaldo deserves the same respect as every other player while acknowledging everything he has accomplished for Portuguese soccer. “Cristiano is an icon of Portuguese soccer, an icon of the Portuguese national team, an icon of Portugal, and he will always remain so in history.”

Relationship already built at Al-Nassr

Unlike many international coaches, Jesus already knows exactly what it is like to manage Ronaldo. The pair worked together at Al-Nassr, where they celebrated the Saudi Pro League title, with Ronaldo producing another prolific campaign in front of goal. The Portuguese captain scored 30 goals in 37 appearances under Jesus last season, continuing a partnership that now appears set to continue on the international stage.

Jesus praised the working relationship they developed in Saudi Arabia, insisting there were never any issues between them. “It has been a great pleasure working with him over the past year. Working with him has been very easy, extremely easy.”

Ronaldo’s future remains open, but selection will depend on one factor

Although Ronaldo has repeatedly suggested the 2026 World Cup would be his final tournament, Jesus indicated that no final decision has yet been made regarding the striker’s international career. The veteran coach revealed that he plans to meet individually with every member of the squad before making any long-term decisions.

“When the time comes to make any decision, I will speak with Cristiano. But I won’t speak with him alone; I will speak with him and all the players, each one individually.” Jesus also explained that their conversation will focus on Ronaldo’s ambitions for the remainder of his playing career. “We’ll discuss his future career plans and whether he wants to continue playing for Al-Nassr.”

Despite Ronaldo’s legendary status, Jesus emphasized that every player will be judged by the same sporting standards. “As long as he continues playing and meets the criteria for selection, I’ll manage him within the boundaries and standards I deem best for the national team.”

Those comments suggest Ronaldo’s experience alone will not guarantee a place in future squads, but neither will his age automatically end his international career. The final decision will depend on his performances and physical condition over the coming months.

Belgium sit 8th in the latest FIFA World Ranking, with 1,778.36 points, a total that fluctuated throughout the group stage. Rudi Garcia’s men dropped points after drawing both Egypt (1-1) and Iran (1-1), before bouncing back with a 5-1 win over New Zealand that was enough to top Group G.

That inconsistency carried into the knockout rounds too, where Belgium needed a dramatic turnaround to see off Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the Round of 32, rallying from two goals down. They looked far sharper in the Round of 16, cruising past the USMNT 4-1 to punch their ticket to the last eight.

Standing across from them is a Spain side ranked 3rd in the world with 1,912.34 points, sitting just behind Argentina and newly crowned No. 1 France. Luis de la Fuente’s men have been the most defensively airtight team left in the tournament, having not conceded a single goal through their first four matches, a run that included a 1-0 win over Portugal in the Round of 16.

Belgium eyeing a shot at their best-ever World Cup finish

A place in the semifinals would put Belgium within reach of matching, and potentially surpassing, their best-ever World Cup result. The Red Devils finished third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, part of Belgium’s so-called golden generation led by Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, who beat England in the third-place playoff.

Nearly a decade later, with De Bruyne still on the team alongside a new generation of players like Youri Tielemans, Jeremy Doku, and Leandro Trossard, Belgium find themselves close to achieving a new historic mark at the World Cup.

Match Overview

Spain enters this quarter-final clash at SoFi Stadium as one of the tournament’s most formidable teams, built on an unbreakable defense. Luis de la Fuente’s squad has yet to concede a single goal in the competition, a historic run that includes a disciplined 1-0 victory over a talented Portugal side in the Round of 16. La Roja’s campaign is about re-establishing their golden standard on the world stage, and their methodical, possession-heavy style has so far suffocated every opponent they have faced.

In stark contrast, Belgium arrives as the tournament’s great entertainers, powered by a high-octane offense. For the remnants of their famed ‘Golden Generation,’ this is the definitive last chance to claim a major trophy. After a thrilling injury-time escape against Senegal, the Red Devils delivered a statement performance by dismantling the host United States 4-1. This match is a legacy-defining crossroads where Spain’s control meets Belgium’s chaos for a coveted spot in the semi-finals.

Tactical Analysis & Match Context

The two nations have followed wildly different paths to the quarter-finals. Spain has been a model of consistency, calmly dispatching Austria and Portugal without conceding a goal, relying on their suffocating possession game. Their defense has been historically brilliant, becoming the first team to keep six consecutive clean sheets in the tournament’s history. Belgium, meanwhile, has been defined by thrilling, high-scoring encounters. They have scored 13 goals in five matches but have also shown significant defensive fragility, conceding five times.

This quarter-final presents a classic clash of styles. Spain will aim to control the tempo, targeting upwards of 65% possession to starve Belgium of the ball and prevent the game from becoming a track meet. Belgium will likely concede possession, sitting in a compact mid-block and waiting for opportunities to unleash their devastating counter-attack. The key battle will be whether Belgium’s direct, high-transition offense can exploit Spain‘s high defensive line before La Roja‘s relentless pressure wears them down.

For Spain, victory would validate their patient, possession-based philosophy and cement the status of their new generation. For Belgium, this match carries immense emotional weight. It is the final opportunity for this group of players to turn years of promise into a tangible legacy. A win propels either side from a strong contender into a favorite to lift the trophy, making the stakes incredibly high.

Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends

Historically, Spain has held a clear advantage in this fixture. In 12 meetings, La Roja has secured six victories to Belgium‘s three, with three matches ending in a draw. This dominance is even more pronounced in recent history, though the teams have not met since the qualifiers for the 2010 tournament.

Looking at the last five encounters, Spain has been utterly dominant, winning four and drawing one. During that span, the goal difference stands at a staggering 12-2 in favor of the Spanish side. Their last meeting in 2009 ended in a comprehensive 5-0 victory for Spain, a result that underscores their historical superiority in this matchup.

When facing fellow European nations at the international tournament, Belgium has often struggled, posting a record of five wins, eight draws, and nine defeats. In contrast, Spain has a more favorable record against UEFA opponents and has already defeated two European teams in the knockout stages of this competition. This trend suggests Spain is more comfortable in these high-stakes continental clashes.

Squad News & Projected Lineups

Spain heads into this monumental quarter-final with a clean bill of health and no suspensions, while Belgium is sweating on the fitness of key midfield personnel.

Luis de la Fuente has the luxury of a fully fit squad, allowing him to field his strongest lineup. While the starting eleven has been consistent, the impact of substitutes was crucial against Portugal, with Mikel Merino scoring the late winner. This depth gives Spain a significant advantage in a match that could be decided in the final stages, especially in the California heat.

Belgium‘s preparations have been hampered by injuries. Midfielder Amadou Onana suffered a knee injury against the USA and remains a major doubt for the match. Defender Zeno Debast is also questionable, forcing coach Rudi Garcia to adjust his backline. These potential absences could disrupt Belgium‘s defensive structure and midfield balance against a team that excels at exploiting any weakness.

Spain Projected XI (4-2-3-1): Simón; Cucurella, Cubarsí, Laporte, Porro; Pedri, Rodri; Baena, Olmo, Yamal; Oyarzabal.
This lineup is designed for total midfield dominance, with Rodri and Pedri controlling the tempo. The creative burden will fall on the young wingers Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena, who will look to supply striker Mikel Oyarzabal.

Belgium Projected XI (4-3-2-1): Courtois; De Cuyper, Ngoy, Mechele, Castagne; Raskin, Vanaken; Trossard, Tielemans, Doku; De Ketelaere.
Forced into changes by injury, this Belgian side will rely on the speed and dribbling of Jérémy Doku and the craft of Youri Tielemans to create chances. Charles De Ketelaere is expected to lead the line, with the powerful Romelu Lukaku providing a game-changing option from the bench.

More details on how to watch

You can watch the Spain vs Belgium live stream on Fubo. The service is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and mobile devices running iOS or Android.

In addition to the 2026 tournament, a subscription to Fubo gives you access to a host of other top soccer competitions from around the world. You can watch leagues such as Liga MX and LaLiga, giving you year-round soccer action.

A subscription to the platform costs just $14.99 per month, offering incredible value for soccer fans who want to follow multiple competitions. The plan includes access to all live games, replays, and expert analysis.

SEE MORE: For a complete list of tournament games, see our World Cup TV schedule.

How to watch anywhere with VPN

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Collina said: “A foul is a foul, regardless of whether it seems obvious. If the referee did not see it on the field, the VAR can intervene. There is no defined limit regarding the distance from the goal, nor the amount of time that has passed between the incident and the goal.”

This explanation from the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee referred to the disallowed goal scored by Mostafa Zico after VAR called Letexier to review the play in which Lisandro Martínez was stepped on by Marwan Attia near Egypt’s corner flag.

Collina on the final goal

Even after Zico had a goal disallowed, he scored again a few minutes later on a fantastic counterattack to put Egypt 2-0 ahead. Then the comeback began with a Cristian Romero header before Lionel Messi equalized.

The winning goal also generated controversy from Egypt’s perspective, as Mohamed Salah fell inside the penalty area when Julián Álvarez won the ball back from him in the move that ended with Enzo Fernández scoring the winner.

Collina said: “Stepping on an opponent’s foot is a foul, whereas a defender who plays the ball first and then makes normal contact with the opponent does not commit a foul. The referee and the VAR considered it to be normal contact.”

Collina on possible influence from Infantino

There was plenty of frustration from Egypt after the elimination. Hossam Hassan was the main figure fueling the protests with his gestures toward the referee. It was not just the manager who delayed the match for a few minutes, as several members of the coaching staff were also yelling at Letexier. Collina responded to the claims that the competition had been influenced by Infantino.

Collina said: “No one can claim that FIFA’s refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even the FIFA president. He has always shown his full support, trusting us to work with complete independence. Referees make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always strive to do their very best.”

Tuesday’s match looked like it might spell the end of Messi’s World Cup run, with Argentina trailing 2-0 until the 78th minute before the Inter Miami star once again dragged his side to victory. Despite the performance leaving plenty of questions unanswered, the coaching staff appears unwilling to shake things up significantly.

According to TyC Sports journalist and Argentina insider Gaston Edul, no major changes are expected between the Egypt and Switzerland lineups for Saturday’s quarterfinal on July 12th. During Thursday’s training session, Scaloni did not run a full practice game as he typically does at this stage, suggesting the adjustments will be minimal, with Friday’s session expected to be the final one before the match.

Players who earned their spot in the starting XI against Egypt are also expected to retain it. Nicolas Tagliafico, fully fit, will hold the left back position, while Leandro Paredes appears set to keep his place after a standout defensive contribution that included a crucial recovery to stop a dangerous Egyptian counterattack.

Julian Alvarez is also expected to remain as Messi’s attacking partner despite continued questions about his form. While Lautaro Martinez has looked the sharper finisher in the final third, Alvarez’s work rate and explosiveness are seen as better suited to breaking down a well-organized Swiss defensive block on Saturday.

Two doubts in Argentina’s squad

The right back position remains a genuine competition, with Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel both pushing for the starting spot. Neither has been particularly convincing throughout the tournament, leaving the position unsettled heading into a quarterfinal.

Montiel came on in the 73rd minute against Egypt with the score at 0-2 and made an immediate impact, setting up Messi for the 2-2 while positioned as a No. 9 inside the box in the 83rd minute. Even so, both players have shown vulnerabilities on and off the ball, and their inclusion may hinge on how they come through Friday’s training session.

The other open question is whether Nicolas Gonzalez will force his way into Argentina‘s midfield picture. The Atletico Madrid winger came on against Egypt as a substitute and immediately injected the pace that had been missing throughout, and with Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul both below their best, Gonzalez’s ability to change the tempo makes him a compelling wildcard option against Switzerland.

Projected lineup for Argentina

• Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez.
• Defenders: Nahuel Molina/Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, and Nicolas Tagliafico.
• Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Leandro Paredes, and Alexis Mac Allister.
• Forwards: Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez.

Their matches were vastly different, not just because they were played in different rounds. Argentina needed to suffer to come back from 0-2 against Egypt and score three goals in 14 minutes, while France eliminated Morocco with a convincing 2-0 victory.

What those matches had in common was the performance of their main players, as Messi and Mbappé pushed their teams forward by scoring one goal, adding an assist and also missing a penalty kick during the match.

Their goals weren’t surprising

In almost every single match France and Argentina have played in the competition, Mbappé and Messi have scored a goal. Their performances have been so impressive that they are leading the race to be the top scorers with eight goals each.

The context was similar because neither of their recent goals came in a decided match in favor of their teams. One helped France open the scoring against Morocco in a goalless match, while the other rescued Argentina by bringing them level against Egypt.

Scoring is not the only way these talented players help their teams, and they showed that again with assists. Mbappé assisted Ousmane Dembélé to seal the victory that sent France into the semifinals, while Messi began Argentina’s comeback with an assist for a Cristian Romero header to make it 2-1.

The missed penalties

The most surprising coincidence was that both players missed a penalty kick, even though it had no consequence for the final results.

Messi missed his second penalty of the tournament while Argentina were trailing Egypt 1-0 in the first half. After previously missing from the spot against Austria, he kicked weakly to the goalkeeper’s left, where the shot was easily saved.

Mbappé also missed from the spot during the first half against Morocco, when the match was still 0-0. The French forward rarely misses penalties but found an experienced opponent in Yassine Bono, who stopped his shot by diving to his left.

After missing a first-half penalty and joining Karim Benzema in an unwanted chapter of France World Cup history, Mbappe responded in the best way possible. He broke the deadlock in the 60th minute before turning provider six minutes later, assisting Ousmane Dembele’s goal to make it 2-0.

The relief was short-lived, however, as Mbappe went down on the pitch in the 76th minute, visibly signaling to the bench to be replaced. He walked off under his own power in the 77th minute, making way for Jean-Philippe Mateta, but the sight of France’s talisman leaving the field raised immediate concern heading into the final stages of the tournament.

Speaking to beIN Sports and M6 after the game, Mbappe played down any serious concern while explaining the substitution: “I’m okay, I took a blow to the ankle but I’m fine. At that moment, JP (Jean-Philipe Mateta) was better suited than I was to play the final 15 minutes, so I came off and he came on. It’s good, plus he almost scored.“

Deschamps echoed that assessment and also addressed the condition of Manu Kone. “With Kylian, it was a bit of his ankle, he was feeling a bit of pain. Manu took a blow to the knee—it’s normal, the matches are coming thick and fast. It’s good for Warren, though I can’t please everyone,” the France boss told beIN Sports and M6.

Third consecutive World Cup semifinal for France

The victory over Morocco sends France to their third straight World Cup semifinal, having also reached the last four in 2018 and 2022. Les Bleus now stand as the third most frequent semifinalists in World Cup history with eight appearances, level with Italy, behind only Brazil with 11 and Germany with 13, and ahead of Argentina with six.

Mbappe reflected on the achievement of reaching the top four once again: “We are aware that there is only one way to relax, and that is to win. We are in the semi-finals, we are very happy, but there is still a long way to go. We are aware that what lies ahead of us is even tougher than what we’ve been through, but we are ready to face anything; we are going to quietly recover and watch tomorrow’s (Friday) match to see who we will be facing.“

Alongside teammates Dembele and Lucas Hernandez, Mbappe is now appearing in his third consecutive World Cup semifinal. The benchmark in that regard belongs to Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who featured in four straight between 2002 and 2014. With the semifinal scheduled for Tuesday, July 14th at Dallas Stadium, Mbappe will have four days to recover from the ankle knock before France’s bid for a place in the final.

Gavi said: “I hope to be important at the World Cup. I dream of scoring the winning goal. I have always dreamed of scoring an overhead kick in the final. They are dreams, and hopefully they come true. I would like Argentina because of Lionel Messi, but as long as we reach the final, it doesn’t matter who it is.”

It will not be easy for Spain to reach the last match of the competition, as they first need to beat Belgium, a team that has improved throughout the tournament, before a possible semifinal against France.

Gavi does not underestimate Belgium

While Spain may have more chances on paper, Belgium are coming from their best performance of the competition. After struggling to come back against Senegal, they beat the USMNT 4-1 in a convincing performance.

Even if they did not look like a team capable of going far at the beginning, Belgium still have many players of great quality who can be competitive, something the midfielder mentioned when discussing their next rivals.

Gavi said: “I don’t like talking about that. Belgium have great players, just like Portugal. We have to do our job very well. If we do that, things will surely go well. The important thing is beating Belgium.”

Gavi on his lack of participation

The competition has not gone as Gavi expected individually, as he has not participated in three matches. Even though he was in the lineup against Cape Verde, the draw made Luis de la Fuente change his plans. This left the midfielder out of the team, with him playing just six minutes against Austria.

Gavi said: “I came here to win the World Cup. The manager knows me better than anyone. We all want to play more, but what really matters is winning the World Cup. He knows he can count on me for whatever he needs.”

The trouble began in the second half against Mexico, when Quansah brought down Jesus Gallardo and was initially shown a yellow card. Following a VAR review, however, referee Alireza Faghani upgraded the decision to a red card in the 54th minute, leaving England to see out the remaining 36 minutes with ten men.

On Wednesday, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee confirmed the length of the ban. “2-match suspension for a breach of article 14 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” the statement read. “The suspension will be served in the upcoming match(es) of the representative team of England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and in accordance with art. 69 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.“

The Mexico match was only Quansah’s second start of the tournament, having previously featured against Panama before being forced off with an injury. Now recovered, the Bayer Leverkusen defender will miss the quarterfinal against Norway and a potential semifinal against either Argentina or Switzerland, with his earliest possible return coming in the final should England get there.

Tuchel running short of right-back options

One of the more surprising omissions from Tuchel‘s World Cup squad was Trent Alexander-Arnold, leaving Reece James, Djed Spence, and Quansah as the options at right back. Injuries have steadily thinned that group throughout the tournament.

James started the first two matches against Croatia and Ghana before a hamstring problem ended his run in the team. More than two and a half weeks have passed since that injury, and the Chelsea defender has yet to return to action for England.

With James sidelined, Quansah stepped in at right back, a position he has covered at club level as part of a back three at Bayer Leverkusen. He started against Panama and again against Mexico before the red card and subsequent ban removed him from the equation entirely.

That leaves Djed Spence as Tuchel’s last recognized option at right back, one of the more unexpected names in the original squad selection. The Tottenham Hotspur defender has appeared in every match of the tournament, starting the Round of 32 clash against DR Congo at right back before coming off the bench in subsequent games to cover both flanks.

Spence entered the Mexico game as a substitute in the 74th minute after missing the final training session with a minor issue. With England unable to appeal Quansah’s suspesion and both James and Spence carrying fitness concerns, Tuchel faces a genuine problem heading into the Norway quarterfinal, with center back Ezri Konsa emerging as a contingency option if neither right back is available.

Harry Kane establishes as England‘s undisputed leader. Head coach Thomas Tuchel builds the team around him, making him key in the build-up play and the finishing of attacks. With the freedom to move across the pitch, he is very difficult to mark, as opponents need to defend him zonally rather than man-to-man. As a result, he has scored six goals in five matches, making him one of the tournament’s standout performers.

Despite not coming from his best season, Erling Haaland has managed to deliver an outstanding performance at the 2026 World Cup. Scoring 7 goals in 4 matches, he becomes one of Norway‘s most outstanding players. Being the first time in history that they have reached the quarterfinals, he is facing the best opportunity to enlarge his legacy. Because of this, the debate between the 25-year-old striker and Kane has several angles to discuss.

Pure Box Finishing & Technical Strike

Although Harry Kane and Erling Haaland are among the best strikers in the world, they are far from being similar. The 32-year-old Englishman is one of the most complete forwards in the world. Not only does he drop deep to receive the ball, but he also builds play for Thomas Tuchel’s team. His link-up play elevates him to extraordinary levels, as he creates space in the opposition defense and constantly makes runs from the second line.

Unlike the Englishman, Erling Haaland is a striker more focused on physical power and goalscoring ability. The Norwegian star stands out for his excellent vision, which allows him to find spaces. In addition, he is capable of winning counterattacks with his pace and dominating physical duels, making him a lethal player with a conversion rate of 38.89%. Nevertheless, he also possesses brilliant technique, allowing him to score goals in many different ways.

Throughout the 2026 World Cup, Haaland has scored seven goals for Norway, averaging one goal every 14 touches of the ball. As a result, he has been one of the tournament’s most productive players. Not far behind, Kane has already scored six goals in the tournament, posting a conversion rate of 31.58%, which allowed him to surpass Pelé on the World Cup’s all-time scoring list with 14 goals.

Aerial Power & Physical Dominance

Erling Haaland has proven to be one of the most physical strikers in the world. Since making his debut for Borussia Dortmund, he has been a player who thrives attacking space, using his physical strength to overpower defenders. Nevertheless, Harry Kane is not far behind, as he is also a standout player physically, but in different aspects, making him a very different profile from the young Norwegian.

As a veteran striker, Kane has spent many years shining at the highest level of soccer. Standing at 6’2″, he is outstanding in the air, as he showed against Mexico at the 2026 World Cup. Although he is not a particularly fast player on the counterattack, he creates space through his intelligence, while also excelling in physical one-on-one duels against strong defenders. His physicality complements his overall game, but it is not the central aspect of it.

While he is only 25 years old, Haaland is a physical powerhouse, making him lethal against defenders. Standing at 6’4″, he usually wins his aerial duels, which makes him stand out. In addition, he is capable of completely dominating physical battles against strong defenders, showing clear superiority. Although he has good technique, his physical power is a central part of his game, making him especially dangerous when he gets into the penalty area.

Playmaking & Midfield Link-Up

As the strongest aspect of his game, Harry Kane is one of the most complete link-up strikers in the world. Recognizing that pace is not his greatest strength, he has learned to combine with teammates and create space on the pitch. Although he is one of the world’s best goalscorers, he rarely stays fixed in one position. Erling Haaland is not one of the most complete link-up strikers in the world, but he is not ineffective in this aspect either.

Unlike during his time at Borussia Dortmund, Haaland has learned much more about link-up play at Manchester City. However, he does not drop deep to create play. Instead, he serves as a focal point to receive the ball and combine with his teammates in the penalty area to create advantages. In addition, his pace allows him to play out wide on the counterattack and find passes to his teammates, as he has excellent vision.

Harry Kane is one of the best players in the world both inside and outside the penalty area. He is capable of dropping all the way back to the defense to receive the ball and create attacking moves. In addition, he is outstanding at linking up with the midfield, something he has shown alongside Jude Bellingham. It is precisely his playmaking ability and link-up play that make him one of the world’s best goalscorers.

International Pedigree & Leadership

As a 32-year-old veteran star, Harry Kane has already played 119 matches for England, making him the third-most capped player in the national team’s history. Demonstrating his historic impact, he has scored 85 goals, making him England’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Wayne Rooney, who scored 53 goals. In addition, he is his country’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, with 14 goals, making him the undisputed leader of the project.

Despite being only 25 years old, Erling Haaland is already a historic player for Norway. At his young age, he has already played 54 matches for the national team, scoring 62 goals. As a result, he has surpassed Jørgen Juve as Norway’s all-time leading scorer, nearly doubling his total. In addition, he has been the best player of his country’s best-ever World Cup campaign, reaching the quarterfinals. Nevertheless, Martin Ødegaard is the leader of the group on the pitch.

This semifinal is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET. The winner will move within one victory of lifting the trophy.

The match will be played at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With a capacity of 80,000 spectators, it will host its final match of the competition after Spain beat Portugal there a few days earlier.

France’s campaign

France have enjoyed a perfect tournament so far after winning every match. They opened Group I with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, followed it with a 3-0 win against Iraq and completed the group stage with a 4-1 victory over Norway.

Their dominance continued in the knockout stage, where they beat Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32 before edging Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals in which they beat Morocco in a clear way with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.

The next rival

If France beat the winner of the match between Spain and Belgium, they will advance to the final, where the opponent can be England, Norway, Argentina or Switzerland, depending on who emerges from the other side of the bracket.

Lionel Messi currently stands as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 21 goals. After opening his account with one goal at the 2006 tournament, he added four in Brazil 2014, one in Russia 2018, seven in Qatar 2022, and eight in the 2026 edition across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the tournament in which he broke the record outright.

His place at the top, however, is under serious threat from Kylian Mbappe in second. The French star has been relentless in front of goal at every World Cup he has played, netting four times in Russia 2018, eight in Qatar 2022, and eight in North America 2026, bringing his career total to 20 goals across just three editions and 20 games.

Before the 2026 tournament, Miroslav Klose had held the record for twelve years. The German legend scored five goals in Korea/Japan 2002, five more in Germany 2006, four in South Africa 2010, and two in Brazil 2014, reaching 16 and lifting the trophy in what turned out to be his final World Cup appearance.

Rounding out the next tier are Ronaldo Nazario and Gerd Muller. The Brazilian icon scored 15 goals in 19 games while claiming two World Cup titles in 1994 and 2002, while “Der Bomber” found the net 14 times in just 13 games at a rate of better than one goal per match across the 1970 and 1974 editions, the latter of which West Germany won.

Harry Kane is among the most active chasers of history in the current field. With six goals in 2018, two in 2022, and six more so far in 2026, the England captain sits fifth alongside Muller with 14 goals. With the Three Lions still alive in the tournament, Kane remains one of the headline acts of this edition alongside Mbappe and Messi in the race to extend his tally.

All-time World Cup top scorers

A sharp recovery from Desire Doue sparked a lethal French counterattack, with Michael Olise slipping a through ball into the path of Mbappe to exploit the space in behind. Already inside the box, the Real Madrid forward was brought down by Noussair Mazraoui after cutting to the outside, earning France a penalty in the 25th minute.

After a 3-minute VAR review confirmed the call, play resumed in the 28th minute with Mbappe stepping up to take the spot kick. He waited for Bounou to commit, but the Morocco goalkeeper read the shot correctly, diving to his left to make the save and keep the game level.

The miss not only denied France the lead but also marked the first penalty Mbappe has ever missed at a World Cup. He had previously converted four in the competition, scoring one in regulation and one in extra time against Argentina, plus one in the shootout, and one in regulation against Paraguay, making this his fifth attempt and his first failure on soccer’s biggest stage.

When it comes to the national team, it also ends up being another negative record, being the second miss ever in Mbappe’s career with France after 13 consecutive successful takes during regular and extra time. The last time Mbappe ever missed a penalty with Les Bleus was back in the 2022 UEFA World Cup qualifiers in a 2-0 win against Kazajstan back in March 2021, and more than five years later, that streak has come to an end.

Mbappe joins Benzema in unwanted history

The miss was not only Mbappe’s first penalty failure at a World Cup, but also just the second time a France player has missed a penalty outside of a shootout in the history of the competition. The first was Karim Benzema, who suffered the same fate against Switzerland in 2014.

In that group stage match, France were already leading 2-0 when Benzema stepped up in the 32nd minute, only to be denied by Diego Benaglio. He would go on to score France’s fourth goal in the 67th minute of a 5-2 victory, but the earlier miss etched his name into an unwanted piece of French World Cup history.

Even if the greatest players have not always shined at the World Cup, the list of Golden Boot winners features many names that rank among the best in the history of the sport, even if some never won the tournament.

The list also includes some surprising winners who produced the best month of their careers when it mattered most, such as James Rodriguez in 2014 and Salvatore Schillaci in 1990.

Nearly a century has passed since the first edition in 1930, played entirely at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, where hosts Uruguay claimed the title by defeating Argentina in the final. Thirteen national teams from South America, North America and Europe took part in that tournament, and much has changed since then, culminating in the 48-team format that will debut this summer.

Since then, every World Cup trophy has been won by countries from just two continents. Europe accounts for the majority of champions, with 12 titles shared among five different nations, while South America has claimed the remaining 10 through three countries.

As for hosting the World Cup, Oceania remains the only continent yet to stage the tournament. Eleven editions have been held in Europe, five in South America, four in North America (including this year’s tournament), two in Asia and one in Africa.

Which countries have won the World Cup?

Uruguay were the first FIFA World Cup champions, lifting the trophy on home soil in 1930. They repeated the feat 20 years later with their famous victory over Brazil at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium in 1950.

The other World Cup titles won by South American nations belong to Brazil and Argentina. Led by Pele, the Brazilians captured the trophies in 1958, 1962 and 1970 before adding titles in 1994 and 2002. Argentina, meanwhile, won their first World Cup in 1978, repeated the feat in 1986 under the leadership of Diego Maradona, and lifted the trophy again in 2022 with Lionel Messi.

The first European champions were Italy, who won back-to-back titles in 1934 and 1938 before adding crowns in 1982 and 2006. Germany have also won four World Cups: 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014. France are next with two titles, having won on home soil in 1998 before triumphing again in 2018. England have one World Cup title, earned in 1966, while Spain claimed their only championship in 2010.

Which national team has won the most World Cup titles?

After 22 editions, Brazil remain the most successful nation in FIFA World Cup history with five titles. Italy and Germany are next with four each, while Argentina have won three. Uruguay and France have been crowned champions twice, while England and Spain have each lifted the trophy once.

Complete list of World Cup winners

“Lamine Yamal reminds me a little of when I started playing. I was about the same age, and everyone had great expectations of me. But, ultimately, if he enjoys himself on the pitch the way only he knows how, I’m convinced he’ll have a great World Cup. He’s the kind of player people love to watch. That’s what soccer is all about: Enjoying yourself and making people dream,“ Eden Hazard revealed, via Marca.

Even though the final years of Eden Hazard’s career were affected by injuries and a decline in form, the Belgian established as one of the Premier League’s best players for several years. Scoring 110 goals and providing 88 assists, he cemented his place among Chelsea’s greatest players. Like Lamine Yamal, he operated from the wing before cutting inside, combining exceptional dribbling ability with a strong goalscoring threat.

Lamine Yamal already has nearly half the goals and more than half the assists that Hazard achieved in all his years at Chelsea. In 151 games, he has scored 49 goals and has provided 52 assists. Although Eden played as a left winger and Yamal plays as a right winger, their style of play is quite similar, as they have a lot of impact in the inside game. The 18-year-old star could be destined to surpass the legacy of the Belgian legend.

Lamine Yamal has yet to make an impact at the 2026 World Cup

Throughout the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappé have established as the tournament’s standout players, excelling in front of goal. Although Lamine Yamal was expected to make a huge impact, he has not even been Spain’s main player, with Mikel Oyarzabal taking on that role instead. With only a few matches remaining, the 18-year-old star has scored just one goal in the tournament.

After suffering a significant injury, Lamine missed Spain’s opening match and has gradually been regaining his physical condition. Having gone largely unnoticed over the last three matches, he now has his best opportunity to turn things around by scoring and shining creatively against Belgium in the quarterfinals. While it appears unlikely that he will finish as the tournament’s top scorer, he can still lead his national team to the World Cup title.

The reason Barcola isn’t starting against Morocco is because Didier Deschamps has chosen Désiré Doué instead. This has been the only spot in doubt during the competition for the manager, as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise are certain starters.

Even though the talented Paris Saint-Germain winger has been the winger for France, his teammate Doué has rotated with him and has often replaced him during matches.

The replacement

While the attack has been France’s main strength, they didn’t display their best performance against Paraguay. It was precisely Barcola who struggled to make an impact before being substituted.

That substitution proved to be crucial in France’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay because Doué entered the field with much better pace on a day when he looked very difficult to stop whenever he had the ball on the left flank.

It was such an important impact that Doué was the player who changed the match when he dribbled into the penalty area from the left before being brought down for a penalty. After the referee reviewed the play on the monitor, the penalty was confirmed and Mbappé converted it.

Doué’s minutes

That position has been the one Deschamps has rotated the most during the competition. Doué will make his third start after previously starting the victories over Senegal and Norway, scoring one goal. He then came off the bench in the other three matches against Iraq, Sweden and Paraguay.

Tchouameni has been left out of the starting XI due to a tactical decision by head coach Didier Deschamps. With Morocco‘s defensive block presenting a specific challenge, Deschamps has opted for a more technical and creative midfield profile, dropping the Real Madrid midfielder in favor of a different approach.

Tchouameni had also been dealing with a minor injury sustained during the tournament, which kept him out of the Round of 16 match against Paraguay entirely, with the midfielder watching from the bench without logging a single minute.

At Wednesday’s press conference, Deschamps offered a cautiously optimistic update on his condition while hinting at a possible return: “Aurelien Tchouaméni is doing better, we’ll see. I can’t say more than that. He might participate in the training session today.“

The coach ultimately decided to deploy Manu Kone in his place, who’ll partner Adrien Rabiot in France’s double pivot. The AS Roma midfielder featured in both the group stage win over Iraq and the Round of 16 victory over Paraguay, and with Deschamps sticking to a similar tactical setup, Koné gets the nod once again for this quarterfinal.

A difficult World Cup for Tchouaméni

At just 25 years old, Tchouameni had established himself as a cornerstone of Deschamps’ setup, starting every match at the 2022 World Cup. But injuries have complicated his journey in the years since, and the 2026 tournament has been no different.

A hamstring injury sidelined him during the November international break, and from that point France played nine matches, four friendlies and five at the World Cup, with Tchouameni appearing in six of them. He went the full 90 minutes against Senegal, Norway, and Sweden, but a recurring fitness issue cost him his place against Paraguay, and that same concern has him starting on the bench against Morocco.

Kylian Mbappé will start for France, as he has no suspensions or injuries. Head coach Didier Deschamps continues to view him as an undisputed starter, building the team’s play around him to maximize his goalscoring threat. As one of the tournament’s top scorers, he could arrive highly motivated, looking to score and equal or surpass Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.

Alongside Mbappé, Deschamps will keep his attacking trio of Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué. Beyond their goals, they will need more than ever to excel in counter-pressing after losing possession to prevent Morocco’s counterattacks. In addition, he will not make many changes to his starting lineup, as his team are in outstanding form and are highly versatile.

While they do not arrive as top contenders, Morocco could still surprise France. Despite the significant absence of Ismael Saibari, they have alternatives in his roster, with Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi expected to take on leadership roles. Nevertheless, the main challenge will be the defensive aspect, as controlling it would give them a strong chance to hit France on the counterattack and push for victory, requiring quality finishing in front of goal.

France confirmed lineup vs Morocco

With their outstanding performances at the 2026 World Cup, France arrive as clear favorites for their match against Morocco. Head coach Didier Deschamps appears determined not to make any changes to his starting lineup, keeping Kylian Mbappé as the focal point of his team. Although they are outstanding in attack, their most important aspect will be the defensive recovery of their full-backs, where they can limit Morocco’s attacking threat.

Considering this, Les Bleus will lineup as follows: Mike Maignan; Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Desiré Doué; Kylian Mbappé.

Morocco confirmed lineup vs France

Unlike France, Morocco arrive for today’s match with absences in their roster. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi will be without his top scorer, Ismael Saibari, due to a physical issue. As a result, Brahim Díaz will be under the spotlight, as he will have to take on a leading role. Nevertheless, the main challenge will be defensively, as they must contain the goalscoring threat of their opponents, who are one of the tournament’s top contenders.

With this in mind, Morocco will play as follows: Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Anass Salah Eddine; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui; Brahim Diaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilel El Khanouss; Chemsdine Talbi.

The 39-year-old has once again become the heartbeat of Argentina‘s campaign, combining goals, assists and world-class creativity to inspire another deep run. His performances have reminded fans why he remains one of soccer’s greatest players, even as younger stars challenge for the spotlight.

Messi played a decisive role in La Albiceleste’s victory over Egypt, scoring once and providing an assist as the defending champion booked its place in the quarterfinals. The result set up a meeting with Switzerland and kept alive the dream of winning a second consecutive World Cup title.

His individual numbers have been equally impressive. Messi has scored eight goals at the tournament, leaving him one behind Kylian Mbappe of France and Erling Haaland of Norway in the Golden Boot race, while sitting two clear of Harry Kane.

Messi achieves World Cup record unlike any other

As Argentina celebrated qualification, Opta revealed a statistic that highlighted just how complete Messi’s performances have been throughout the tournament. Since detailed statistical tracking began in 1966, Messi has become the only player in a single FIFA World Cup to create at least 10 chances, complete at least 10 dribbles, make at least 10 through balls, and win at least 10 fouls.

His numbers underline the achievement even further. Messi has created 15 chances, completed 10 successful dribbles, delivered 11 through balls and won 13 fouls, becoming the first player in nearly six decades of Opta‘s records to reach all four milestones in the same World Cup.

The record illustrates every aspect of his influence on the field. Beyond scoring goals, the 39-year-old has consistently unlocked defenses with incisive passing, carried the ball through pressure, drawn fouls in dangerous areas, and dictated Argentina’s attacking rhythm.

Defying age on soccer’s biggest stage

Many players excel in one statistical category during a major tournament, but Messi has dominated across several different areas simultaneously. His vision, close control and decision-making have allowed him to remain one of the competition’s most influential performers despite being one of its oldest outfield stars.

Rather than relying solely on finishing ability, the Argentina captain has contributed in virtually every attacking phase. Whether creating opportunities for teammates or carrying the ball through crowded defenses, he has remained the focal point of his national team’s offense.

At 39 years old, Messi continues to deliver performances that many expected from players entering their prime instead of approaching the twilight of their careers. His consistency throughout the tournament has surprised even longtime observers, proving that experience, intelligence, and technical brilliance can still dominate at the highest level.

Saibari won’t be taking part of the game against France due to an injury. The striker suffered a discomfort in his hamstring during Morocco’s 3-0 Round of 16 win over Canada, which forced him off the field as early as the 22nd minute, and has been unable to recover in time for the quarterfinal clash with Les Bleus.

Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi addressed the situation at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference: “Everyone is available for the match, except for Ismael Saibari, for whom this game comes too soon, although he is not ruled out for the rest of the competition, I hope.“

Saibari has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, carrying the form he showed at PSV Eindhoven during the 2025-26 season directly into the World Cup. He scored in every group stage match and converted the decisive penalty in the shootout victory over the Netherlands in the Round of 32.

His performances have attracted major attention off the field as well, with Bayern Munich announcing his signing in the middle of the tournament. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the deal was completed for a fee of €55 million, making it the second most expensive transfer involving a Moroccan player, behind only the €60 million PSG paid Inter Milan for Achraf Hakimi.

Who will replace Saibari against France?

Having missed the 2022 World Cup, Saibari has established himself as Morocco’s undisputed first-choice striker, registering 12 goals in 35 international appearances. Two names stand out as candidates to fill the void against France.

The frontrunner is Soufiane Rahimi, who has come off the bench in each of Saibari’s absences throughout the tournament, picking up minutes against Brazil, Scotland, and Canada, where he contributed a goal and an assist. The other option, though considered less likely, is Ayoub El Kaabi, who started against Haiti when qualification was already secured and the pressure was off.

The Argentina national team has relied heavily on Messi throughout the 2026 World Cup, and the captain has continued to answer every challenge with decisive performances. His latest accomplishment further strengthens an already unmatched legacy and highlights how he continues to redefine what is possible for players approaching the latter stages of their careers.

Messi’s newest milestone arrived during one of the most memorable matches of the tournament. The Argentina national team produced a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 after trailing by two goals late in the second half.

Messi first provided the assist for Cristian Romero’s goal before scoring the equalizer himself, allowing Enzo Fernandez to complete the turnaround with a dramatic stoppage-time winner. Despite missing a penalty earlier in the match, the Argentine captain refused to let the setback define his evening.

Instead, he played a decisive role in keeping the defending champion’s World Cup dream alive. The victory also sent Argentina into the quarterfinals, where it will continue its pursuit of consecutive World Cup titles.

The astonishing record that sets Messi apart

The comeback against Egypt also produced another piece of soccer history. According to Opta, 47% of every World Cup goal ever scored by a player aged 38 or older has now been scored by Lionel Messi. What’s more, every one of those goals has come during the 2026 World Cup.

Messi has now scored eight goals at the age of 38 during this tournament, accounting for eight of the 17 goals ever scored by players aged 38 or older in World Cup history. The statistic perfectly illustrates the extraordinary level the Argentine continues to reach long after most players have either retired or accepted significantly reduced roles.

Standing above World Cup legends

Goals from players aged 38 or older have historically been exceptionally rare.

For decades, Roger Milla stood as the symbol of longevity after scoring four memorable goals for the Cameroon national team during the 1990 World Cup. Other veteran players, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Pepe, added isolated goals across later editions, but the overall total remained remarkably low.

Messi’s extraordinary 2026 campaign has completely reshaped those historical numbers. His eight goals alone nearly equal the combined contributions produced by every other player in that age category throughout World Cup history, underlining just how unprecedented his tournament has become.

“Incredible. I think everyone knows who Messi is, but nobody expected him to be performing at such a high level. I’m really happy for him, just as I’m happy for Neymar, even though he’s no longer here, and Cristiano. For me, they shaped the childhood of everyone who is playing now, and anything good that happens to them is good for me,” Lamine Yamal revealed, via Mundo Deportivo.

Far from viewing Lionel Messi as competition, Lamine has made it clear that he sees him as a role model for his career. By breaking records, Messi continues to attract more fans to the tournament and raise the bar even higher, while leading the race for the tournament’s MVP award. While the Argentine legend and Yamal do not share an identical playing style, the 18-year-old star has made it clear that Messi has had a major influence on his professional career.

Unlike Messi, Lamine Yamal arrived at the 2026 World Cup as the clear favorite to shine. However, the 39-year-old veteran has outperformed him by a considerable margin. While the Argentine star has scored eight goals, the young Spanish star has managed just one in five matches. With that in mind, Lionel continues to prove why he is one of the greatest players in history, with more matches still ahead to further expand his legacy.

Lionel Messi vs Lamine Yamal: A potential 2026 World Cup final clash

Before the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi’s Argentina were set to face Lamine Yamal’s Spain in the Finalissima. However, the match was canceled after both sides failed to reach a logistical agreement. As a result, they shifted their focus to shining at the highly anticipated tournament. With both teams having reached the quarterfinals, a showdown between Barcelona’s greatest legend and its brightest young star could still take place in the final.

With Argentina and Spain on opposite sides of the bracket at the 2026 World Cup, they could still meet in the final. If Luis de la Fuente’s team defeat Belgium, they would face either France or Morocco in the tournament’s semifinals. As one of the top contenders, they have a strong chance of reaching the final and competing for the title they have not won in 16 years. There, they could face Argentina.

If Argentina defeat Switzerland in the quarterfinals, they would face either Norway or England in the semifinals. With Messi in outstanding form, they arrive as the clear favorites to reach the final. As a result, the clash between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi could still happen, but on the biggest stage in international soccer, making it one of the tournament’s most anticipated matchups.

The Norway national team has enjoyed a memorable campaign, with Haaland leading the attack through a series of decisive performances. His latest accomplishment has sparked widespread admiration across the soccer world and strengthened his position among the favorites to finish as the tournament’s leading scorer.

The latest statistic, highlighted by OptaJoe, showcases just how versatile Haaland has been throughout the tournament. The Norwegian star is the only player at the 2026 World Cup to score with his left foot, right foot, header, from inside the penalty area, and from outside the box. The achievement demonstrates an extraordinary level of finishing ability that few players have displayed on soccer’s biggest stage.

Rather than relying on one signature finish, Haaland has shown he can punish defenders from virtually every situation imaginable. Whether attacking crosses, finishing from close range, or striking from distance, the Norwegian has found different ways to influence matches.

Norway’s star continues to lead historic World Cup run

The milestone arrives during what has already become a historic tournament for the Norway national team. Haaland’s goals have played a central role in helping his country reach the latter stages of the competition while exceeding many pre-tournament expectations.

His performances have included two goals against Iraq, two more against Senegal, another strike versus Ivory Coast, and perhaps his biggest display yet during the Round of 16 victory over Brazil.

Against the Brazil national team, Haaland produced one of the defining moments of the World Cup. He first equalized late in the match before scoring a dramatic winner in the closing minutes to seal a stunning 2-1 comeback victory that booked Norway’s place in the quarterfinals. That performance reinforced his reputation as a striker capable of deciding the biggest matches when his country needs him most.

Why the record is so difficult to achieve

Modern soccer has become increasingly specialized, with many forwards excelling in one particular area of attacking play. Some strikers dominate aerially, while others thrive inside the penalty area or depend heavily on their stronger foot. Haaland, however, has displayed excellence across every category.

Scoring with both feet, winning aerial duels, finishing from inside the box, and beating goalkeepers from long distance in a single World Cup requires exceptional technical quality, movement, positioning, athleticism, and confidence. The achievement underlines why opposition defenses continue to struggle against him. Removing one option simply opens another.

Listen to the full tactical matchday breakdown on Spotify to catch up on the complete analysis.

The program leads with a comprehensive autopsy of Argentina’s miraculous 3-2 victory over Egypt in Atlanta. Hossam Hassan’s clinical Pharaohs threatened one of the biggest shocks in tournament history, exploiting the high defensive line to build a stunning 2-0 lead through Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, while goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir brilliantly denied a Lionel Messi penalty. However, the reigning world champions mounted an unprecedented, late 14-minute siege. Cristian Romero initiated the lifeline in the 79th minute, Lionel Messi struck a blistering equalizer to notch his 8th tournament goal, and Enzo Fernández hammered home a dramatic 92nd-minute match-winner—marking the 3,000th goal in World Cup history.

The hosts dissect the intense refereeing controversies and the structural adjustments that rescued the tournament favorites from the brink. The analysis then transitions into a gritty, ultra-defensive battle between Switzerland and Colombia. Following 120 minutes of tense, scoreless tactical chess where the Swiss backline completely suffocated a passive Colombian attack, Switzerland held their nerve to prevail in a high-stakes penalty shootout. The guys evaluate Switzerland’s structural defensive shape and explain why their organized low-block continues to look incredibly difficult to dismantle in single-elimination football.

The episode concludes by laying out the highly anticipated Quarterfinal landscape. With both tournament survivors locking in their places, Argentina and Switzerland are officially set for a massive blockbuster showdown on Saturday in Kansas.

You can stream the entire daily overview right now. Check out The 90th Minute on Spotify to get the latest match reactions, detailed tactical player ratings, and expert bracket projections.

The Round of 16 delivered high-octane drama, agonizing penalty shootouts, and heavy-pedigree exclusions—leaving a hyper-competitive quarter-final matrix where there is officially no safety net and zero margin for strategic error.

To navigate this elite tactical terrain, soccer analyst Adrian Sousa of Rabona TV has dropped a thorough, game-by-game preview guide detailing who will punch their ticket to the final four, where the tactical battle lines are drawn, and how the global brackets will shake out.

From a massive cross-confederation rematch of a 2022 classic to an unprecedented heavyweight striker duel, the comprehensive video breakdown below exposes the structural adjustments that will mold the tournament’s semi-finalists.

Watch: Full Quarter-Final Tactical Forecast

Mapping the Elite Eight: Key Battles & Video Chapters

The final eight features an exceptional blend of historical heavyweights, reigning holders, and history-making modern powerhouses. For those looking to slide directly to a specific sector of the bracket tree, the video guide coordinates every single fixture using explicit chronological chapters:

Video Chapter Navigation Guide

• 00:00 – Intro: Outlining the physical constraints, scheduling structures, and baseline fatigue factors governing the quarter-final bracket.
• 00:27 – France vs. Morocco: An epic reboot of the 2022 semi-final that the French secured 2-0. This time, the Atlas Lions march into the tie as the first African nation in soccer history to secure back-to-back quarter-final appearances.
• 04:07 – Spain vs. Belgium: A classic European tactical collision. La Roja have looked completely impenetrable, navigating the entire tournament without conceding a single goal, but they must now choke out an in-form Belgian vanguard spearheaded by Romelu Lukaku and Charles De Ketelaere.
• 07:04 – Norway vs. England: A historic, heavyweight focal point marking Norway’s first-ever appearance in a World Cup quarter-final. The fixture presents a mouth-watering direct forward duel as Erling Haaland clashes with England’s structural talisman Harry Kane.
• 10:49 – Argentina vs. Switzerland: Lionel Scaloni’s reigning world champions continue their quest to become the first back-to-back crown holders since Brazil in 1962. With Lionel Messi leading the Golden Boot race, they face a stubbornly organized Swiss block appearing in the last eight for the first time in over 70 years.
• 14:44 – FIFA’s dream come true: Breaking down the commercial landscape, structural narratives, and global television implications of this elite final-eight lineup.

Norway’s history at the World Cup has been short but memorable. The national team has qualified for the tournament only four times: 1938, 1994, 1998, and 2026.

The first appearance came in the 1938 World Cup in France. At that time, the tournament used a straight knockout format, and Norway faced eventual champions Italy in the opening round. The match finished 1-1 after normal time, but Italy eventually won 2-1 after extra time, ending Norway’s campaign immediately.

The 1994 World Cup in the United States brought one of the most unusual eliminations in tournament history. Norway defeated Mexico 1-0 but failed to reach the knockout stage because all four teams in their group finished level on points. The deciding factor was goals scored, leaving Norway painfully eliminated.

Four years later, Norway produced its most famous World Cup moment. During the 1998 tournament in France, the national team shocked defending champions Brazil with a dramatic 2-1 victory in the group stage. That result helped the country reach the knockout stage for the first time. However, the journey ended in the Round of 16 after a narrow 1-0 defeat against Italy.

Norway finally returns after 28-year wait

The 2026 World Cup marked Norway’s first appearance since 1998 and represented a major achievement for coach Stale Solbakken. After years of disappointment in qualifying campaigns, Solbakken finally built a team capable of competing at the highest level.

Norway dominated European qualifying extraordinarily. The national team won all eight qualifying matches, scored 37 goals, and conceded only five.

The attacking numbers have been historic, with Erling Haaland leading the way. The Manchester City striker scored 16 goals during qualifying, matching the record for most goals by a player in a World Cup qualifying campaign.

Norway’s best World Cup finish

Norway’s best World Cup result is now reaching the Quarter-finals in 2026. Before this historic run, the national team’s best finishes were reaching the Round of 16 in both 1938 and 1998, having never progressed beyond that stage until now.

In the 2026 World Cup, Norway shattered their previous ceiling by advancing to the Quarter-finals to face England, marking an unprecedented achievement after their long absence from the tournament.

Although the team entered the tournament with ambitions of making a deep run, reaching the knockout stage already represents a major step forward.

The national team’s journey has also produced a unique World Cup record. Norway remains one of the few teams to have faced Brazil multiple times without losing, earning victories and draws against one of soccer’s greatest powers.

The United States’ 4-1 Round of 16 defeat to Belgium not only ended the national team’s hopes on home soil, but also left its biggest star facing another spell on the sidelines. While criticism initially centered on Pulisic’s decision to leave the match and his comments afterward, subsequent medical evaluations painted a very different picture.

The injury occurred in the 52nd minute of the United States’ 4-1 defeat to Belgium, when Pulisic attempted a shot and accidentally struck Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans’ leg. Although he initially tried to continue, the pain eventually forced him off the field in the 59th minute.

According to The Athletic, subsequent examinations confirmed that Pulisic suffered a bone bruise along with a microfracture of both the tibia and fibula in his lower right leg. He was later seen using crutches, highlighting that the injury was considerably more serious than first believed.

Medical staff later confirmed the extent of the damage after scans, and Pulisic was subsequently seen using crutches at the team hotel. Had the USMNT progressed to face Spain in the quarterfinals, the forward would have been unavailable due to the injury.

Recovery timeline offers positive news for Milan

Despite the alarming diagnosis, the recovery outlook is considerably better than many initially feared.

According to The Athletic and Calciomercato, Pulisic is expected to miss three to six weeks rather than several months, with an anticipated return sometime in August. That timeline could allow him to resume training before AC Milan‘s Serie A opener against Torino on August 23, giving new manager Ruben Amorim reason for optimism ahead of the new campaign.

The injury means that the American will almost certainly miss the Rossoneri’s preseason friendlies, but those matches were already viewed as unlikely appearances following his involvement at the World Cup.

The timing is particularly important for Milan, where new head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly planning to make Pulisic a central figure next season. After an inconsistent second half of the previous campaign, the American will hope to begin the new season fully fit.

Amorim expressed confidence in his player, saying: “I know he had some criticism after the World Cup elimination, but I am here to say we believe a lot in him, and have a clear plan to use all the qualities that he has. Pulisic is really important for us.”

Frustrating tournament for the USMNT star

The Belgium match marked the forward’s second injury setback of the tournament. He had already aggravated a calf problem during the opening victory over Paraguay, forcing him to miss the following match against Australia before returning later in the group stage.

The tournament itself proved disappointing from an individual perspective. Pulisic finished the competition without scoring a goal, although he did register an assist in the opening match against Paraguay.

After the elimination, the Milan attacker admitted his frustration with both the injury and his performances. “It’s just frustrating to end like that, of course, but now I have time to rest, so hopefully it’ll be OK,” Pulisic said.

Later, he added: “With one earlier and then another injury now, it just sucked. It was tough. It was difficult for me to deal with.” Despite his disappointment, the player praised his teammates for stepping up throughout the tournament: “But we have a great team. There’s so many guys that stepped up this tournament, that should be really the focus.”

Match Overview

France, the tournament favorite, enters this quarter-final clash on a formidable 12-match competitive unbeaten run, having won their last seven straight. Les Bleus have been a scoring machine, netting 14 goals in five games, and are now just one victory away from becoming only the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup semifinals. Their path has been dominant, and they look to continue their march toward the final against a familiar foe.

Morocco, however, is no longer a surprise package. The Atlas Lions are aiming to become just the second African nation to reach multiple semifinals after their historic 2022 run. Unbeaten in their last 10 matches, they have evolved from a purely defensive side into a potent attacking force, scoring 10 goals so far. This rematch of the 2022 semifinal promises a high-stakes battle between two of the world’s elite international teams.

Tactical Analysis & Match Context

The trajectories of these two nations set the stage for a compelling encounter. France has looked every bit the part of a champion, winning all five of its matches with an offensive power that has overwhelmed opponents. In contrast, Morocco has proven its 2022 performance was no fluke, navigating a tough group and knockout stage to extend a long unbeaten streak. Their progress past the Netherlands and Canada has been a statement of their quality and resilience on the world stage.

The tactical battle will be fascinating. In 2022, Morocco ceded possession and relied on counter-attacks. Now, their style has completely transformed, with the Atlas Lions averaging 60% possession, matching France‘s own metrics. This shift promises a more open, fluid game, but it could also play directly into France‘s hands. If Morocco pushes forward, they risk leaving space for the blistering pace of Kylian Mbappé and France‘s other attackers to exploit on the break.

For France, the motivation is clear: to solidify their legacy by reaching a third straight semifinal and taking another step toward lifting the trophy. For Morocco, this match is about more than just revenge for 2022. It’s an opportunity to make history once again and prove they belong among the world’s best, capable of going toe-to-toe with any opponent and winning.

Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends

History favors the French in this fixture. France remains unbeaten in all six previous meetings with Morocco, recording four wins and two draws. Their most significant encounter was the 2-0 victory in the 2022 World Cup semi-final, which stands as their only competitive matchup to date.

That 2022 clash in Qatar was a tense affair. An early goal from Theo Hernandez gave France the lead, but Morocco dominated possession for large spells of the game without finding a breakthrough. A late goal from Randal Kolo Muani ultimately sealed the win for Les Bleus and ended the Atlas Lions‘ dream run.

France has a strong historical record against African opposition at the tournament, with five wins and three losses in eight matches. Morocco, meanwhile, has a more balanced record against European teams, with five wins, eight draws, and seven defeats. This quarter-final is a true test of whether Morocco‘s new, progressive style can finally overcome a historically dominant French side.

Squad News & Projected Lineups

Both teams enter this crucial quarter-final with significant injury concerns that could impact their starting lineups and tactical approaches.

France is monitoring the fitness of key holding midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is recovering from a thigh injury. If he is unable to feature, Didier Deschamps will likely rely on the partnership of Manu Koné and Adrien Rabiot to control the center of the park, a combination that proved effective in the tough match against Paraguay.

Morocco faces a major blow with their top scorer, Ismaël Saibari, likely out after sustaining a hamstring injury against Canada. With three goals to his name, his absence will be felt, with Soufiane Rahimi expected to step into the starting forward role and carry the attacking burden.

France Projected XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne; Koné, Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Barcola; Mbappé.
This is a lineup brimming with attacking talent, led by captain Kylian Mbappé. The creativity of Michael Olise, who has five assists in the tournament, will be vital in breaking down Morocco‘s defense, while the midfield duo of Koné and Rabiot provides a solid foundation.

Morocco Projected XI (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Brahim Díaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Rahimi.
Even without Saibari, Morocco fields a technically gifted side. The attacking thrust from PSG’s Achraf Hakimi at right-back is a constant threat, while the playmaking of Brahim Díaz and the dynamic runs of Azzedine Ounahi from midfield will be crucial to their offensive chances.

More details on how to watch

You can watch the France vs Morocco match on Fubo. The service is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and mobile devices, ensuring you can catch the action from anywhere.

In addition to this massive World Cup quarter-final, a subscription to Fubo gives you access to a host of other top-tier soccer competitions. You can stream games from LaLiga or Liga MX.

The service is available for a monthly fee of $14.99/month, offering a comprehensive package for soccer fans looking to follow all the major tournaments and leagues in one place.

SEE MORE: Full World Cup TV schedule

How to watch anywhere with VPN

If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as Nord VPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.

According to the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, France are ranked first with 1,925.86 points. Reflecting their strong form, they have climbed two places, remaining the best national team in the world. Head coach Didier Deschamps has built a national team that is highly dominant in both defense and attack, making them extremely difficult to beat. In addition, they have remained near the top of the rankings for several years.

While Didier Deschamps’ team are the top-ranked national team in the world, Morocco are not far behind. Mohamed Ouahbi’s team are ranked sixth with 1,803.99 points. Following their strong run of form, they have climbed one place, showcasing their attacking strength and overall quality. With their defensive solidity, they could surprise France and look to win through effective counterattacks.

Facing one of the best African teams, France need to be at their best defensively. Although they excel with their high press, they often leave space behind the back line. Because of this, the defensive recovery of Jules Koundé and Lucas Digne will be essential in stopping any opposition attacks. In addition, the counter-press from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé will be key, as they are highly effective at winning the ball back.

Desiré Doué and Michael Olise poised for key France roles

Just as they did against Paraguay, France could face a very difficult defensive challenge against Morocco. Although Mohamed Ouahbi’s team are outstanding in possession and attacking quality, they have shown they are capable of sitting deep against elite opponents. Therefore, head coach Didier Deschamps could need the best version of Désiré Doué and Michael Olise on the pitch.

If Doué and Olise shine on the wings, they would create space for Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. In addition, they could dribble inside and create openings, looking to score and break down Morocco’s defensive structure. Although they are not the team’s top goalscorers, they will be essential in allowing the rest of the attack to shine, requiring plenty of individual quality.

Thursday’s clash at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is a rematch of the unforgettable 2022 World Cup semifinal, where France ended Morocco’s historic run with a 2-0 victory. Four years later, both nations arrive with ambitions of writing another memorable chapter.

France enters the quarterfinal as one of the tournament favorites after another impressive campaign. Didier Deschamps’ squad has advanced through the competition with a series of convincing performances, although Paraguay pushed Les Bleus harder than any previous opponent during the Round of 16.

Morocco continues to prove that its remarkable run in Qatar was far from a one-time achievement. The Atlas Lions reached another World Cup quarterfinal after eliminating Canada and remain one of the tournament’s most disciplined and dangerous sides.

The fixture also carries emotional significance because several Moroccan internationals were born in France, while multiple French players share North African or Middle Eastern heritage. That unique connection gives this encounter an added layer beyond soccer.

France arrives with confidence, while Morocco hopes to create more history

France has scored freely throughout the tournament thanks to one of the deepest attacking units in international soccer. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, and Desire Doue have consistently troubled opposing defenses.

Mbappe has already found the net seven times during this World Cup and continues battling for another Golden Boot. France has also produced 14 goals while conceding only two, underlining why many consider Les Bleus the strongest remaining contender.

Morocco, meanwhile, has continued building on the momentum created during its groundbreaking 2022 World Cup campaign. Under head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, the Atlas Lions remain unbeaten in their last ten matches and have become one of Africa’s leading soccer powers.

The reigning Africa Cup of Nations champion has impressed with organization, patience, and technical quality. Players like Achraf Hakimi, Azzedine Ounahi, Brahim Diaz, and Yassine Bounou have given Morocco genuine belief that another upset is possible.

What happens if France wins and Morocco loses?

If France wins, regardless of whether it comes in regulation, extra time or a penalty shootout, Les Bleus will advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals.

France would then face the winner of Belgium vs Spain, keeping alive its pursuit of a third consecutive World Cup final appearance. Morocco’s remarkable tournament would come to an end before reaching another semifinal.

What happens if France and Morocco draw?

Although many supporters wonder what a draw would mean, a World Cup quarterfinal cannot finish level.

If the match is tied after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will be played. Should neither side find a winner, the semifinal place will be decided through a penalty shootout, ensuring one nation progresses while the other is eliminated.

What happens if Morocco wins and France loses?

A Moroccan triumph would represent one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. France would be eliminated, while Morocco would book another place in the World Cup semifinals, exacting revenge for the 2022 loss to Les Bleus.

Another semifinal appearance would also strengthen Morocco’s growing legacy on the global stage after its groundbreaking run in Qatar four years ago.

According to the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, Morocco are ranked 6th with 1803.99 points. Recognizing their strong form, they have gained one position, remaining among the best national teams of the world. Under Mohamed Ouahbi, they have keep their offensive brightness, emerging as the best scorers national teams. They are experiencing their best position in the ranking in their history, improving their competitiveness.

Despite their historic run, Mohamed Ouahbi’s team remain far behind France in the rankings. Didier Deschamps’s team sit in 1st place with 1925.86 points, having climbed two positions since the start of the tournament. As the best offensive national team, they are expected to shine in the scoring side, having Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé as their leaders. However, they can still have some defensive problems, emerging as the main issue to resolve.

Morocco also arrive in excellent form for their match against France. Not only have they been outstanding defensively, but they have also impressed in attack. Without Ez Abde on the pitch, they have turned to Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi as their attacking leaders, as Ismael Saibari will be absent through injury despite being one of the team’s biggest stars. They will need to take advantage of the pace of their full-backs to launch counterattacks.

Morocco’s strategy must first be solid on defense against France

Unlike their previous matches at the 2026 World Cup, Morocco face one of the highest-scoring teams in the world: France. While they also favor an attacking approach, they could suffer a heavy defeat if they maintain that strategy. With this in mind, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi could keep his lineup with only slight changes, while making structural adjustments to the team’s defensive setup.

If Mohamed Ouahbi’s team manage to maintain a compact and deep defensive block, they could limit the space available to Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. While Michael Olise and Désiré Doué can look to create openings with their dribbling, Morocco have proven to be very difficult to break down defensively. Moreover, they could take advantage of France’s high press by hitting on the counterattack and creating dangerous chances.

Both defensively and offensively, Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui will be crucial. They will be responsible for containing the wingers while also providing the team’s first attacking outlet. Meanwhile, the intelligence of Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi could alsoprove decisive, helping Morocco control possession and distribute the ball efficiently. Nonetheless, their biggest challenge will be being clinical in front of goal.

Mbappe was the difference-maker in France‘s 1-0 Round of 16 win over Paraguay, converting the decisive penalty. The victory earned Les Bleus 9.26 additional ranking points, pushing their total to 1,925.86 and returning them to first place.

Argentina, meanwhile, engineered a stunning comeback to advance, overturning a 2-0 deficit against Egypt to win 3-2 in another Messi masterclass. The victory was not enough to hold onto top spot in the rankings, however, and the Albiceleste now sit second with 1,925.15 points.

Argentina had entered the tournament ranked first after France’s shock group-stage loss to Ivory Coast sent Les Bleus tumbling to third behind Spain. With both nations now among the last eight, the points accumulated in the knockout rounds have been enough to flip the order, with France now leading Argentina by just 0.71 points.

Six of the top 10 nations remain in the quarterfinals

The 2026 World Cup quarterfinals have already made history, marking the first time Brazil, Germany, and Italy are all absent at this stage of the competition. Despite that shake-up, six of the eight remaining teams were ranked inside the FIFA Rankings‘ top 10 before the tournament began.

Argentina (1st), Spain (2nd), France (3rd), England (4th), Morocco (7th), and Belgium (9th) all entered the World Cup among the world’s elite. The two sides who gate-crashed the party are Switzerland, who came in ranked 19th with 1,650.06 points, and Norway, Erling Haaland’s side, who were 31st with 1,557.44 points.

FIFA Rankings top 10 ahead of the World Cup quarterfinals

1. France — 1925.86 points.
2. Argentina — 1925.15 points.
3. Spain — 1912.34 points.
4. England — 1871.39 points.
5. Brazil — 1804.92 points.
6. Morocco — 1803.99 points.
7. Portugal — 1787.85 points.
8. Belgium — 1778.36 points.
9. Netherlands — 1775.54 points.
10. Mexico — 1754.30 points.

Lionel Messi’s next match with Argentina is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, when La Albiceleste take on Switzerland for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup at Kansas City Stadium. The forward is heading to the game after scoring and assisting in the thrilling 3-2 win over Egypt, extending his record in the competition to 21 goals.

As for his next game with Inter Miami, Major League Soccer has implemented break for the World Cup, with the 2026 regular season slated to resume after the international tournament concludes in mid-July. To jumpstart their defense of the MLS Cup trophy, the Herons will return to action by hosting the Chicago Fire at Nu Stadium on Wednesday, July 22.

During the World Cup, Messi featured in all five matches for Argentina scoring eigth goals to cement his legacy as the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 21 career World Cup goals. As for the 2026 MLS campaign, Messi has featured in 16 official matches so far across all competitions for Inter Miami, scoring 13 goals with 7 assist registered thus far.

Lionel Messi and the task of defending the World Cup title

The year 2026 will be especially significant for Messi, not only because of Inter Miami’s ambitions but also because he’ll head into the 2026 World Cup aiming to defend the title. The triumph in Qatar in 2022 marked one of the defining peaks of his career, and now in North America he’ll enter another tournament wearing the champions’ badge for the first time.

Drawn into Group J, Argentina will open its campaign against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16, in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. The second match will be against Austria on Monday the 22nd in Arlington at AT&T Stadium, before closing the group stage against Jordan on Saturday the 27th, also in Texas.

The Argentina FA has announced that the national team will base itself in Kansas City during the tournament, though training facilities have yet to be confirmed. Expected to be his final World Cup appearance, Messi will have a chance to add to his record haul with a squad coached by Lionel Scaloni that remains one of the strongest in international soccer after winning the last World Cup and back-to-back Copa América titles.

Odegaard said: “Obviously we know the quality they have. I know them really well. Outstanding players, world-class players, playing for probably one of the best national teams in the world at the moment, so it’s going to be a big test for us.”

While Brazil did not show its best version in this tournament, eliminating a powerhouse like that was a huge achievement. A saved penalty in the first half kept Norway in the match before Erling Haaland scored twice in the 2-1 victory after a late goal.

Odegaard hails Declan Rice

With Odegaard playing in England, it’s natural for him to face players who are his teammates or opponents throughout the season. This match features several players with Arsenal connections, including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.

Even if all of them are important players for England, Odegaard focused more on the midfielder as he shares the midfield and the captaincy role with Rice at Arsenal. The Norway captain had plenty of praise for Rice, describing him as one of the most complete midfielders in the game.

Odegaard said: “Rice’s someone who always gives everything for the team, always fighting for every single ball, bringing his energy to the pitch, to the team, driving the team forward. He can do so many things on the pitch. He can defend, he can attack, he can be physical, he can be good on the ball. He’s a very complete player, so it’s going to be a good test for all of us.”

Odegaard on Norway’s confidence

Norway may not be the favorite in this matchup with all the talent England has, but nothing can stop them from believing in themselves after eliminating Brazil.

Odegaard said: “We have to have the belief in ourselves. We’ve shown the whole world that we’re a good team. In football, anything is possible. Even though we’re the underdogs again, let’s see what happens and let’s prepare well.”

The evening was not without its frustrations. With the chance to pull Argentina level from the penalty spot, Messi was denied by Egypt‘s goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, extending his own unwanted record as the player with the most missed penalties in World Cup history to four, doubling the previous mark of two held by Asamoah Gyan.

But as he acknowledged after the game, he pushed through the emotional blow and kept pressing forward. In the 78th minute, with Argentina trailing 2-0, Messi delivered a perfectly weighted cross for Cristian Romero to head home and begin one of the great World Cup comebacks.

That assist moved Messi to nine in World Cup history since 1966, making him the most prolific playmaker in the modern era of the competition. While the marks of Pele and Fritz Walter sit at ten when accounting for earlier editions where stats remain in question, within the post-1966 era Messi has surpassed the eight assists attributed to Diego Maradona, also cementing his place as Argentina’s all-time leading provider.

Messi and a record-breaking goal

The equalizer arrived in the 83rd minute, with Gonzalo Montiel laying the ball off inside the box for Messi to strike a half-volley that rattled the bar and went in for 2-2. Beyond pushing Argentina toward the greatest comeback in World Cup history, the goal continued to build a legacy that seems to have no ceiling.

On a personal level, the strike made 2026 the World Cup in which Messi has scored the most goals in a single edition, bringing his tally to eight. He had previously set the record with seven in Qatar 2022, while his four goals at Brazil 2014 ranked third on his own list.

Now leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals, Messi joins a short list of players to have reached that mark in a single tournament. Only Just Fontaine (13), Sándor Kocsis (11), Gerd Muller (10), Ademir de Menezes (9), and Eusebio (9) stand above him. The goal also drew him level with Kylian Mbappe and Ronaldo Nazario at eight, while matching Guillermo Stabile’s 1930 tally, which had stood as Argentina‘s single-edition record for nearly a century.

He also extended his own record for scoring in consecutive World Cup matches, with Egypt becoming the ninth straight game in which he found the net. A new dimension was added to that streak as well: he is now the first player in history to score in six consecutive World Cup knockout stage matches, surpassing the marks of Brazil’s Leonidas da Silva and Vava, and Hungary’s Gyorgy Sarosi, who each achieved the feat in five.

Finally, Messi became the oldest player to both score and assist in a single World Cup match at 39 years and 13 days old, surpassing the previous record held by Swedish legend Nils Liedholm, who accomplished the feat in 1958 at 35. It stands as yet another reminder that, even as a new generation takes hold of the sport, Messi remains in a class of his own.

The list begins in 1930, when Uruguay’s Alberto Suppici guided the hosts to the inaugural title at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Since then, the trophy has been passed between coaches from Europe and South America, mirroring the same two continents that have produced every World Cup-winning nation.

A handful of names appear more than once on the list. Vittorio Pozzo remains the only manager to win back-to-back titles in World Cup history, leading Italy to glory in both 1934 and 1938.

Mario Zagallo also holds a unique distinction, having won the World Cup as a player with Brazil in 1958 and 1962 before doing it again as head coach in 1970. Didier Deschamps matched that same feat with France, winning the title as captain in 1998 before leading Les Bleus to the title again as head coach in 2018.

More recently, Lionel Scaloni joined this list of champions, guiding Argentina to their third star in 2022 behind the brilliance of Lionel Messi, in what remains the most recent World Cup title before the current 2026 tournament.

Complete list of World Cup winning coaches

Courtois said: “In recent days, we have been disrespected here in the United States. It was being said that they could beat us easily, but I think today we showed that we are a good team. We played a great match.”

Coming into the match, there were doubts after Belgium had to come back from a 2-0 deficit against Senegal in the final minutes, but that didn’t happen against the USMNT, as a convincing 4-1 victory showed who was the better team.

Courtois on the plan against the USMNT

For the goalkeeper, the most recent match between Belgium and the USMNT was important: “We wanted to pin the United States back from the start and tried to create chances. Then they started to doubt themselves. Perhaps the 5-2 defeat against us in the friendly was affecting them.”

The main topic of the week was probably the unprecedented rescinding of Folarin Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which allowed the forward to play even though he had originally been sent off. That prompted a response from Courtois, who admitted he found the situation surprising.

Courtois said: “I read about it and it amused me. I understand that they want to generate excitement around the United States, but today I had more confidence in our victory than against Senegal, which has a better team than the United States.”

Courtois on Spain

After beating the USMNT, Belgium earned a place in the quarterfinals against Spain. Courtois said: “The quarterfinal against Spain, my second country, will be special. My young son will have to support Belgium, otherwise I won’t let him come back home! I am very happy to be able to play against them.”

The forward began by thanking supporters, while also acknowledging that the tournament’s ending wasn’t good enough on his part. “Tough to find the words. I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who believed. The support carried us all the way through. It simply wasn’t good enough from us in the end and I wanted to deliver so much more,” Pulisic began.

The AC Milan forward closed his message by noting that this is only the beginning of growth for this team and for the sport in the country. “I still feel blessed to be a part of this team. The memories this summer will last a lifetime. It’s just the start for us and for this sport in America,” Pulisic wrote.

While the USMNT were thrashed by Belgium in the Round of 16, the team came within one match of matching their best-ever finish, when they reached the quarterfinals at the 2002 edition in South Korea-Japan before falling to Germany.

Pulisic faces intense criticism

Despite the heartfelt message to fans, Pulisic is facing the harshest criticism of anyone right now. The forward was forced off in the 59th minute of the loss to Belgium after twisting his ankle, but what upset fans was what he said after the match.

“It’s just frustrating to end like that, of course. But now I have time to rest. I feel it’ll be OK,” Pulisic said on Fox, referring to his recovery. The 27-year-old was criticized by Landon Donovan, along with former U.S. women’s national team players Carli Lloyd and Sydney Leroux.

“He rested the entire World Cup,” Leroux wrote on her X (formerly Twitter) account, while Lloyd also piled on, writing, “You rest when your playing career is over. Period.”

Following the 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, Martinez confirmed his departure with a measured farewell: “My era is over; now it is important to make a fresh start, and it is legitimate for the president to choose his own coach. I am grateful for all the support I received.“

The Portuguese Football Federation had already been thinking about a successor, with Martinez’s contract set to expire after the World Cup regardless of the result. According to Fabrizio Romano, Jorge Jesus is now set to take over, having agreed to a four-year deal with the Selecao.

Jesus arrives having spent several years in Saudi Arabia, most recently at Al Nassr, where he guided the club to the Saudi Pro League title alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Now at the helm of Portugal, the 71-year-old inherits a new cycle that includes the upcoming UEFA Nations League, Euro 2028, and the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host.

Jorge Jesus and a significant salary gap

Al Nassr had been keen to extend Jesus’s contract by another year, a move that would have aligned with Ronaldo’s current deal running through June 2027, and the club even raised its salary offer to keep him. Jesus, however, chose to hold out for the Portugal job, and the opportunity has now arrived.

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Jesus will earn less than €4 million gross per year with the national team, totaling approximately €16 million over the life of the contract through 2030. That represents a dramatic reduction from the €12 million per year he was earning at Al Nassr, less than a third of his previous salary.

Will Ronaldo play under Jorge Jesus at Portugal?

Having gotten the best out of a 41-year-old Ronaldo at Al Nassr, Jesus’s appointment naturally raises the question of whether the legendary forward will continue his international career under his former club manager. After the Spain defeat, Ronaldo reiterated that 2026 was his last World Cup, but stopped short of announcing a full international retirement, saying he would “have time to think, be with my family, not make decisions in the heat of the moment, and move on with life.“

With his Al Nassr contract running through 2027, Ronaldo is expected to remain in club football for at least one more season. In that window, Portugal’s next international fixtures begin in September with UEFA Nations League matches against Wales and Norway, with the quarterfinal round scheduled for March 2027 and the Final Four in June 2027. That timeline makes the Nations League a realistic candidate to serve as the final chapter of Ronaldo’s international career.

While Donovan tried to be careful when discussing Pulisic, who was heavily criticized on social media, the USMNT legend noted that the AC Milan forward’s tournament was simply disappointing.

“In the end, he’s your best player, he’s your star player, and it just didn’t happen for him,” Donovan told Howard. “I want to be careful because I’m sure people are piling on him, a lot of it he deserves, of course. That’s part and parcel with this role. It’s just disappointing. I was waiting for a moment for him… and it just didn’t happen“.

Donovan went further, pointing to a pattern he believes has become undeniable — when the team needs its best player to show up in crucial moments against top opposition, Pulisic simply hasn’t answered the call.

“I’m starting to look back, Tim — it’s more than just a trend now,” Donovan added. “Like, when the games are easy, and it’s a home qualifier, and it’s Jamaica, yes. But in the big moments and the big games, he just hasn’t — I’m not criticizing, I’m just saying it factually. He is who he is at this point”.

Donovan on how he would’ve handled Pulisic’s injury

Donovan also addressed reports that Pulisic asked to be substituted off after suffering an ankle injury, saying he couldn’t confirm the claim but making clear how he’d have handled it himself.

“He came out of a World Cup knockout game at home, with his leg still intact. Because you would have had to f— drag me off the field. And I would have punched the doctor in the face and said, ‘You’re not taking me off the field. Put whatever you need to put in me, and I’m staying on the field,'” Donovan said.

Pulisic was forced off in the 59th minute of the loss to Belgium after twisting his ankle in a challenge with Youri Tielemans while attempting a shot on the edge of the box.

On Wednesday, July 8th, FIFA released a statement confirming that Canadian pop star Justin Bieber will join the bill as a co-headliner of what has officially been dubbed the World Cup Final Halftime Show, alongside Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino spoke to the announcement: “When it comes to what the world needs, there is nothing more important than education. We are proud to have Justin Bieber joining Madonna, Shakira and BTS to co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world.“

Bieber also weighed in on joining the lineup. “The World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can. I’m grateful to be part of this Halftime Show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world,” he said to FIFA.

The complete World Cup Final Halftime Show lineup

Bieber joins the previously announced co-headliners Madonna, Shakira, and BTS for a show curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. The latest announcement also introduced several new additions to the bill, including Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS 22 Chorus.

Burna Boy became one of the tournament’s most recognizable musical presences, his collaboration with Shakira on “Dai Dai” becoming the anthem that greeted players onto the field throughout the competition. Also joining the lineup is Gustavo Dudamel, the Venezuelan conductor and Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic, alongside the PS 22 Chorus, a group of elementary school students from Graniteville, Staten Island directed by Gregg Breinberg and past winners of a Webby Award.

All seven artists, each representing a different region of the world, are set to perform across an 11-minute broadcast window. Whether FIFA will extend the traditional 15-minute halftime break to accommodate the full show remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: MetLife Stadium is set to host one of the most ambitious halftime performances in sports history.

Guimaraes wrote: “Soccer, which has given me everything I have, is now the reason I’m feeling the greatest pain of my 28 years of life. Missing the penalty and being eliminated in the Round of 16 is tough. It hurts deeply, but it’s another obstacle for me to overcome. I’ve been through so much that only I truly know.”

While the goals did not arrive until late in the second half, Brazil had a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute. Surprisingly, it was Guimaraes who stepped up, but his weak shot to Orjan Nyland’s left was comfortably saved.

The full message

“I’ve written and deleted this so many times that I’ve lost count. I’ve always been here through the victories, so it’s only fair that I show up and don’t shy away from speaking to you after a defeat.

Soccer, which has given me everything I have, is now the reason I’m feeling the greatest pain of my 28 years of life. Missing the penalty and being eliminated in the Round of 16 is tough. It hurts deeply, but it’s another obstacle for me to overcome. I’ve been through so much that only I truly know.

I’m certain that, no matter how bad I feel right now, this too shall pass. The craziest part of it all was getting home after the saddest day of my life, and the first thing my children said when I woke up was, ‘Dad, let’s go play soccer.’ That’s when I realized that, whether the days are good or bad, soccer will always be my greatest love.

I take full responsibility, as I always have, and this time is no different. I’m deeply saddened by the way it ended, but I’m certain that God knows everything. I gave You glory in victory, and I’ll give You glory in defeat. Thank You for this opportunity, Jesus.

The dream isn’t over. It remains alive in my heart and in the hearts of thousands who love our country. Now it’s time to reflect, recover my strength with my family, and come back even stronger.”

Deschamps said: “You can ask yourselves questions, but I won’t pay any attention to them. I hope the referee is just as good as Mr. Letexier and his assistants were in the match. My opponent is Morocco, not the referee. On the contrary, he’s there to enforce the rules of the game as fairly as possible.”

When everything pointed toward Argentina’s elimination after falling behind 2-0 against Egypt, Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez scored in a 14-minute span to complete a 3-2 comeback. However, much of the discussion after the match centered on referee Letexier.

Deschamps on Morocco

That wasn’t the only thing Deschamps said before the semifinal: “In every match there are situations that can go one way or the other. The complaints depend on which side you’re on. In some situations, a foul could have been called. This isn’t about revenge, what has already happened can’t be changed. We hope there are as few mistakes as possible from both sides.”

While that may be the main topic of discussion, France still has an important semifinal against a tough Morocco side, which Deschamps said is very different from Paraguay.

Deschamps said: “As for the match, Morocco are not the same team as Paraguay. We played against Morocco four years ago, and they reached the Africa Cup of Nations final. They have very good players. They’re a team that likes to keep possession and attack. They have great quality.”

Michael Olise’s yellow card

The controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s rescinded red card gave France hope of appealing Michael Olise’s yellow card, which he received against Paraguay during an altercation. Even if there were no clear grounds for it to be overturned, the Balogun decision raised the possibility.

The French Football Federation submitted an appeal because another yellow card would rule Olise out of the final if France defeats Morocco. Deschamps confirmed that FIFA rejected the request: “The situation with the yellow card hasn’t changed. We received a notification from FIFA this morning.”

After a legendary, trophy-laden era at Real Madrid, Modric moved to the San Siro last summer to fulfill a childhood dream, signing a one-year deal designed to keep him in peak condition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Now a free agent, Modric has a mutual option to extend for another season, but Milan‘s failure to secure a UEFA Champions League berth for the upcoming campaign is expected to weigh heavily on his final decision.

During his introductory press conference, Amorim was incredibly direct about his desire to retain the Croatian icon, making it clear that Modric remains central to his project: “Luka is a player we want to keep; I’ve spoken to him twice, and if necessary, I’ll go and pick him up myself. He is a fundamental cornerstone for us. I’m not saying he will play every match, but we want to count on him. I told him that I expect to have him back in a few days, but for now, I’m letting him rest.”

Turning his attention to the American winger, the former Manchester United boss was equally effusive about what the Hershey, Pennsylvania native brings to the table. “Pulisic is a great talent; he is perfect for the way football is played in Italy, especially against teams that defend well. He can make the difference. I have very clear ideas on how I want to see him play, using his inverted foot,” he stated.

Both Modric and Pulisic are currently enjoying extended summer breaks following their demanding shifts at the World Cup. It was Pulisic who suffered the more frustrating tournament exit, as the American forward recently revealed he twisted both his ankle and knee during the Belgium game, though he expects to use this mandatory time off to fully rehab the injuries.

Modric served as the metronome for Milan’s midfield during the 2025-26 campaign, while Pulisic flashed elite potential despite enduring a frustrating goal drought throughout 2026. Looking ahead, Amorim’s tactical blueprint involves using the USMNT star as an inverted winger operating in the half-spaces as a dual number 10, a role designed to let him unlock defenses by cutting inside onto his preferred stronger foot.

Amorim: ‘Don’t expect a Mourinho from me’

During his formative coaching years in Portugal, Amorim spent time studying under Jose Mourinho during the latter’s stint at Manchester United, crossing paths with a man who has ironically just taken over at Real Madrid. However, Amorim was quick to dismiss any stylistic comparisons to his legendary compatriot, who famously engineered a historic European treble for Milan’s cross-town rivals, Inter, back in 2010.

When pressed on whether his tactical philosophy or touchline persona would mirror Mourinho’s pragmatic approach, the new Milan boss categorically shut down the narrative: “No, I am completely different, even though I learned a tremendous amount from him. Every coach has their own style of play. I have so much respect for Mou, and I think I can call him a friend, but don’t expect a Mourinho from me.“

After getting through the shootout, Switzerland‘s head coach Murat Yakin didn’t hold back in assessing their next opponent, acknowledging both the danger and the vulnerability of the world champions.

“We’re playing against the world champion. There’s nothing better than having this opportunity. But it’s also been clear, over the last two matches, that Argentina is vulnerable,” Yakin said during his press conference.

“I think we’ve earned that respect, and we’ve worked for it. It’s going to be an interesting tactical match. We can challenge the world champion. For a nation like Switzerland, there’s nothing better than playing a World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina. So the anticipation is huge. I think I still need a couple hours, or a day, to process it,” he added.

Argentina’s last two knockout matches back up Yakin’s claim. Cape Verde pushed the world champions to extra time in the Round of 32 before falling 3-2, and Egypt had them on the ropes in the Round of 16, leading 2-0 with just ten minutes to go before Scaloni’s side produced a frantic comeback to win 3-2.

Djibril Sow recalls beating France in 2020

Midfielder Djibril Sow echoed his coach’s confidence, pointing back to one of Switzerland’s biggest results in recent memory as proof they can compete with soccer royalty.

“For us, this is a very special match. It’s the first time we get to play a quarterfinal against a team that, for me, is one of the favorites to win the Cup. I think it’s going to be very difficult, but I see chances to win. We’re capable of beating great teams, like we’ve done in recent years, like France in 2020,” Sow told reporters after defeating Colombia.

Sow’s reference points to Switzerland’s stunning upset of France at Euro 2020 (played in 2021), when the Swiss came back from 3-1 down in the Round of 16 to force penalties against the reigning world champions — eventually winning the shootout in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history.

Argentina vs Switzerland head-to-head World Cup record

History strongly favors Argentina heading into Saturday’s match. The two nations have met twice at the World Cup, and Switzerland have never beaten Argentina in either meeting.

The first came at the 1966 World Cup in England, a 2-0 Argentina win in the group stage. The second came at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Argentina needed until the 118th minute of extra time to break the deadlock, with Angel Di Maria’s strike sending La Albiceleste through to the quarterfinals on their way to the final.

England and Morocco lead the list with four players apiece in danger of suspension, while Switzerland follow with three players and France round out the podium with two.

The risk comes down to how FIFA’s disciplinary rules stack across the knockout rounds. Any player booked in two of the three matches spanning the Round of 32, Round of 16, and quarterfinals will be automatically suspended for the semifinals, should their team advance that far.

Yellow cards reset twice during the tournament: once after the group stage, and again after the quarterfinals. That means no player can be suspended for the final over card accumulation — the only way to miss that match is with a red card.

The biggest names on the list

Among the players on the edge of missing a potential semifinal, a handful of genuine stars will need to be extra careful in their matches. Achraf Hakimi is one of those at risk, facing France in the quarterfinals, where Michael Olise finds himself in the same boat.

For England, things get trickier still — in their quarterfinal against Norway, star man Jude Bellingham joins Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice, and Marc Guehi on the brink of suspension.

The 17 players at risk of missing the World Cup semifinals

• Morocco: Issa Diop, Achraf Hakimi, Redouane Khalhal, Bilal El Khannouss.
• France: Manu Kone, Michael Olise.
• Spain: Ferran Torres.
• Belgium: Brandon Mechele.
• Argentina: Gonzalo Montiel.
• Switzerland: Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria, Miro Muheim.
• England: Jude Bellingham, Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice, Marc Guehi.
• Norway: Antonio Nusa.

The complaint stems from a string of contentious officiating decisions throughout the match, which the Egyptian federation believes went against them at key moments.

Among the grievances, Egypt points to their second goal being disallowed after a VAR review flagged a foul on Lisandro Martinez in the buildup, wiping out what would have made it 2-0. The federation’s complaint also references a penalty claim for a foul on Mohamed Salah, moments before Enzo Fernandez’s header put Argentina up 3-2.

After Argentina‘s third goal completed an impressive 10-minute comeback, Egypt’s bench erupted at the referee, who showed a yellow card to head coach Hossam Hassan and sent off one of his staff members.

Egypt coach sounds off after elimination

Head coach Hossam Hassan was similarly critical in his post-match comments, directing his frustration squarely at the officiating rather than the result itself. “I’m going to say what I think regardless of the consequences, because I don’t care anymore. Clearly, the match was fixed, and everyone saw it,” Hassan said.

“And I want to say something else — if they wanted Argentina to win so badly, why bother inviting everyone to compete? We were the better team on the day, but soccer is unfair. We had a penalty claim, and the referee disallowed our third goal, and I don’t know why,” he added.

Hassan was also shown crossing his arms multiple times during the match while protesting Letexier’s decisions — a gesture that resembles FIFA’s anti-racism protocol signal, sparking confusion on social media.

Egyptian players and staff were seen trying to get him to stop mid-protest, and Letexier ultimately did not treat it as an anti-racism complaint.

After 27 consecutive days of action, Wednesday, July 8 has no World Cup matches scheduled. Checking the day’s slate turns up nothing from the tournament, catching plenty of fans off guard after weeks of nonstop games.

The pause comes down to the gap between the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals. With the Round of 16 now finished, the competition needs a breather before the next stage begins.

Between the group stage and the Round of 32, and between the Round of 32 and the Round of 16, no rest day was needed since each round had enough teams and games spread out to give every nation sufficient recovery time.

Now, with just eight teams left in the tournament, there isn’t enough game volume to fill a daily schedule without at least one pause — hence Wednesday’s empty slate.

When and where are the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals?

Action resumes Thursday, July 9, with the quarterfinals playing out one match per day to stretch the calendar enough for the final to be held on July 19:

• Thursday, July 9: France vs Morocco — Boston Stadium
• Friday, July 10: Spain vs Belgium — Los Angeles Stadium
• Saturday, July 11: Norway vs England — Miami Stadium
• Saturday, July 11: Argentina vs Switzerland — Kansas City Stadium

Hassan said: “I thought maybe he was hiding something, that perhaps he had something to conceal. People who have something to hide sometimes can’t keep it hidden completely, and that’s exactly how I felt during that conversation.”

His team let a two-goal lead slip in 14 minutes to be eliminated, with the winning goal coming in stoppage time. That led to Hassan’s explosive comments after the match as he claimed Letexier missed a foul before Enzo Fernandez’s goal, even making a gesture crossing his arms to show his frustration.

Hassan claims strange things occurred

In the buildup to Fernandez’s goal, there was a slight jersey pull by Alexis Mac Allister inside Argentina’s penalty area that Hassan believed should have resulted in a penalty: “There wasn’t even a VAR review. We all saw his jersey being pulled, but the play wasn’t reviewed to disallow the goal. That’s how life is: unfair.”

This wasn’t the manager’s only complaint about the referee. The match also featured a disallowed goal, with Hassan claiming there were several questionable decisions throughout the game.

Hassan said: “The outcome was influenced by internal factors on the field and during the match, as well as external factors leading up to the game. It appeared that Argentina had put pressure on the referee, which contributed to this result. We had already expressed our concerns about that referee.”

Hassan on his protest after the match

Even though his team came close to eliminating a powerhouse like Argentina, Egypt left the tournament disappointed after leading for most of the match. The way it ended also led Hassan to take a personal stand in protest for the remainder of the competition.

Hassan said: “I won’t continue, and I promise you this: from the moment I return, I will not watch any more matches in this World Cup. This is my personal protest, my own objection, my way of making my voice heard and standing by my principles. I won’t watch a single match in this tournament.”

Messi said: “It was a huge relief for all of us. I was really frustrated after missing the penalty, especially because of the way I took it. I felt like I had let the team down at an important moment. Thankfully, God had something special in store for me in the end. I was able to score the equalizer, and it was an incredible relief and a huge moment of happiness for all of us.”

While it wasn’t his best match of the tournament, Messi bounced back from a missed penalty in the 21st minute, with Egypt leading 1-0 at the time, to score the equalizer late in the match before Enzo Fernandez completed the comeback.

Messi on why the penalty was important

The hard-earned victory over Cape Verde in the previous round, which ended in a 3-2 overtime win after Argentina had taken the lead twice, was not the only difficult moment the team faced. The Round of 16 proved to be even more challenging, albeit for Messi, the match could have taken a different path.

Argentina struggled in the first half, with Egypt controlling possession for long stretches until the hydration break. After play resumed, the team improved, and a long pass from Leandro Paredes to Nicolás Tagliafico led to a penalty. It was a chance for the captain to change the course of the match.

Messi said: “If I had scored it, the game could have taken a different direction because we were playing well, even after they had scored. We still created some clear chances, like Alexis Mac Allister’s and Julian Alvarez’s, when the goalkeeper made a save right on the goal line. It was all of that together. This team deserved to keep going. In the end, we’re just really happy.”

Messi posts message on Instagram

Many players are quick to go to social media and post pictures after such an important victory, but Messi took his time to process everything that happened during a thrilling day. The captain shared several pictures, including one with the team lineup as the first image, and wrote: “This team never gives up. What a crazy day today, once again… this group is INCREDIBLE!!! Let’s goooo.”

This match is scheduled for Saturday, July 11. What comes after it could be an even greater challenge, as a place in the final will be at stake in the semifinals against the winner of England vs Norway.

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. With a capacity of 69,045 spectators, the venue is expected to provide another memorable atmosphere for one of the biggest matches of the tournament.

Their previous matches

The paths taken by these teams to reach this stage have been stressful in their most recent matches, as the winners were not decided until late when Argentina and Switzerland secured their places in the quarterfinals.

After needing extra time to beat Cape Verde, the drama increased for Argentina against Egypt in a match that saw them trail 2-0 with ten minutes remaining before producing a remarkable comeback to win 3-2.

Switzerland won Group B with seven points after drawing with Qatar and beating Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada before defeating Algeria 2-0 and Colombia in a tense ending after a 0-0 draw to reach the quarterfinals.

Their furthest World Cup run

Argentina are one of the most successful nations in World Cup history, winning the tournament three times, while Switzerland’s best finish was reaching the quarterfinals in 1934, 1938 and 1954.

The round produced no shortage of upsets. Norway ended Brazil’s run behind a brace from Erling Haaland, while Morocco knocked out tournament co-host Canada to continue their historic run.

England needed a 3-2 win over host nation Mexico to advance, and Argentina produced the biggest twist of the round, coming back from 2-0 down in the final ten minutes to beat Egypt 3-2 and book their spot in the last eight.

On the other side of the bracket, the results were more straightforward. France eased past Paraguay, Spain edged out Portugal 1-0, and Belgium got the better of the USA with a commanding 4-1 win. Switzerland rounded out the bracket with a penalty shootout win over Colombia to close out the round.

2026 World Cup quarterfinals schedule

With every Round of 16 tie decided, here is the complete schedule for the quarterfinals, running from July 9 to July 11, with one match per day — except Saturday, which will have two — to stretch the calendar toward the July 19 final.

Thursday, July 9

• France vs Morocco — Boston Stadium

Friday, July 10

• Spain vs Belgium — Los Angeles Stadium

Saturday, July 11

• Norway vs England — Miami Stadium
• Argentina vs Switzerland — Kansas City Stadium

Zico said: “The referee is unfair; God is sufficient for me and the best disposer of affairs. He’s wasting the effort of an entire nation. Congrats Argentina for this World Cup. The game is rigged.”

While there was protest for a slight grab by Alexis McAlister in Argentina’s third goal, there were also doubt from Argentina before the match because the appointed referee was from a direct rival like France in François Letexier.

The controversial play

Zico’s frustration was understandable because the main source of polemic was probably a disallowed goal that had been scored by him. In the 58th minute, Egypt produced a fantastic counterattack that ended with Zico making it 2-0.

With the fans celebrating, VAR called Letexier to the monitor, where he spotted a clear foul on Lisandro Martínez at the beginning of the move near the corner flag in Argentina’s defensive half.

The frustration could have disappeared when Zico scored again later in the match, with that goal standing. However, Argentina completed an incredible comeback through Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández to advance.

The rule

The decision left Egypt furious, with even members of the coaching staff unable to hide their emotions. While there was a significant amount of play between the foul and the goal, Argentina never regained possession, meaning the entire sequence remained part of the same attacking possession phase.

The IFAB details: “For decisions/incidents relating to goals, penalty/no penalty and red cards for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO), it may be necessary to review the attacking phase of play which led directly to the decision/incident; this may include how the attacking team gained possession of the ball in open play”.

Pulisic’s injury update and his biggest regret after the World Cup have now emerged, offering fresh insight into what the Milan star was feeling after the final whistle. His comments came after another difficult night for the USMNT, whose dream of a historic run on home soil ended with a heavy defeat.

Mauricio Pochettino and his players suffered a 4-1 loss to Belgium in Seattle, bringing an end to a tournament that had begun with genuine optimism. After impressive victories earlier in the competition, the national team struggled to reproduce its best football against one of Europe’s strongest sides.

Belgium built a commanding lead before Pulisic was forced off through injury in the second half. The defeat denied the United States a place in the World Cup quarterfinals and left players visibly devastated after the final whistle.

The result also extended a frustrating trend for the American national team, which has now fallen in the Round of 16 in several consecutive World Cup appearances despite entering tournaments with increasing expectations.

Pulisic offers injury update after Belgium clash

The biggest concern immediately after the match centered on Pulisic’s condition after he limped off in the 59th minute following a challenge involving Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans.

According to ESPN, the American forward confirmed exactly what happened after the collision. “I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play,” Pulisic explained. “I mean, whatever. I have time to rest. It’s just unfortunate way to finish.”

Mauricio Pochettino also addressed the situation after the match, explaining that the injury appeared to involve Pulisic’s ankle while expressing hope that the forward would recover in time for preseason with the Rossoneri.

The major regret Pulisic leaves the World Cup with

While discussing his injury, Pulisic admitted his biggest disappointment had little to do with the physical pain. Instead, he regretted not being able to produce the decisive moments he believed the United States needed against elite opposition.

Speaking after the defeat, the 27-year-old said: “I felt really good this summer with the guys and I thought my level was high. Yeah, it’s disappointing. I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to and to try to help us to really push and get over this next step of beating a really good team. I’m disappointed with myself, of course, but I’m going to try to stay positive. I did a lot of good things and the team did as well.”

Those remarks summed up the frustration surrounding his tournament. Pulisic finished the World Cup without scoring a goal, despite arriving as the nation’s biggest star and primary attacking threat.

Injuries disrupted Pulisic throughout the tournament

The Belgium match was not the first physical setback Pulisic experienced during the competition. He suffered a left calf injury in the opening match against Paraguay, forcing him to miss part of the group stage before returning later in the tournament. After nearly completing the Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, another injury struck during the biggest match of the campaign.

The latest setback involved both his ankle and knee, ending his evening early and preventing him from influencing the closing stages as Belgium secured qualification. Throughout the tournament, Pulisic was unable to complete a full 90 minutes in any of the United States’ five matches, limiting his overall impact during the competition.

Cristian Romero pulled one back, Messi leveled it at 2-2 with a goal that also matched Guillermo Stabile’s 96-year-old Argentina record of eight goals in a single World Cup, and Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround in stoppage time to send Argentina through to the quarterfinals.

Speaking with TyC Sports after the match, Messi reflected on the difficulty of the comeback and the character of the squad. “I’m happy we made it through and with the way we did it. We knew it was going to be tough. We suffered again, but this is the World Cup. Every game is like this because everything is so evenly matched. It isn’t easy to come back from 2-0 down, but as I always say, this team never gives up. We keep fighting until the very end,” Messi said.

“We were fortunate to get Cuti’s goal early in the second half. There was still plenty of time, and we managed to turn it around before the final whistle. What this team did in this knockout match is unbelievable. I’m very happy that our fans can keep enjoying this journey and what we’re doing. Hopefully we can keep going,” he added.

Messi reaches World Cup records in Argentina’s comeback

Trailing 2-0 with just minutes to play, Argentina turned the match around in a hurry: Cristian Romero pulled one back before Messi leveled it at 2-2 within five minutes, erasing the two-goal deficit in the process.

With that sequence, Messi became only the third player in World Cup history to be directly involved in two goals scored five minutes or less apart to wipe out a two-goal deficit in a knockout match, joining Abdelrahman Fawzi (1934) and Kylian Mbappe (2022 final vs. Argentina) on that short list.

The equalizer carried extra historical weight of its own. It marked the first time any player has scored in six consecutive World Cup knockout matches: vs. Australia (2022), vs. Netherlands (2022), vs. Croatia (2022), vs. France (2022 final), vs. Cape Verde (2026), and now vs. Egypt (2026). The previous record of five straight had stood since it was shared by Leonidas, Gyorgy Sarosi, and Vava.

The reason Córdoba isn’t playing against Switzerland is because he suffered a muscle injury against Ghana in the Round of 32 a few days ago. It was just the sixth minute when the forward felt pain that made him grab the back of his left leg.

It was the worst possible news for Colombia, as it was confirmed that he tore his left adductor, an injury that rules him out for the rest of the competition and usually requires around four weeks of recovery.

The replacement

While Colombia’s tournament is not over, Néstor Lorenzo confirmed in his press conference that the player will not return: “Córdoba won’t be able to play for the rest of the tournament. Unfortunately, he’s no longer available to us.”

There are not many doubts about who could replace Córdoba in the lineup, as he also missed the opening match against Uzbekistan and was not in the starting XI against DR Congo, with Colombia winning both matches.

His replacement in those games was Luis Suárez, who delivered solid performances despite not scoring a goal. He also helped Colombia beat Ghana by providing the assist for Jhon Durán’s winner in the previous round.

Colombia’s campaign

One surprise of the first round was Colombia winning Group K. They opened with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, followed it with a 1-0 win against DR Congo, and then secured first place by drawing 0-0 with Portugal. Their next match was another solid performance as they beat Ghana 1-0.

The dramatic victory in Atlanta was about far more than simply advancing to the next round. Messi’s goal placed him in elite company and moved him closer to another historic World Cup benchmark, adding even more significance to an unforgettable night for Argentina.

Argentina overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 and reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals. The defending champion looked to be heading for a shock exit after Egypt raced into a commanding lead through Yasser Ibrahim in the 15th minute before Mostafa Zico doubled the advantage in the 67th minute.

The African nation, already celebrating its first-ever appearance in the Round of 16, came within touching distance of one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Egypt had even seen another goal ruled out after a video review, making the eventual turnaround even more dramatic. Everything changed during the closing stages as Messi sparked Argentina’s revival.

He first supplied the assist for Cristian Romero’s goal in the 79th minute before scoring the equalizer himself four minutes later, and Enzo Fernandez completed the comeback with a stoppage-time winner in the 92nd minute. According to tournament records, it marked the first time in FIFA World Cup history that a national team won a knockout match in regulation time after trailing by two goals in the 75th minute.

Messi matches Pele in World Cup knockout history

The equalizing goal carried enormous historical significance beyond sending Argentina back into the contest. Messi’s strike moved him onto seven career goals in World Cup knockout matches, drawing level with the legendary Pele in one of soccer’s most exclusive records.

While Argentina celebrated qualification for the quarterfinals, Messi also reached another remarkable personal milestone. His equalizer against Egypt was his seventh career goal in FIFA World Cup knockout matches, allowing him to draw level with Brazilian legend Pele. The updated all-time World Cup knockout scoring leaderboard now reads:

Messi now shares one of the sport’s most exclusive records with Pele while moving within four knockout goals of Mbappé’s all-time mark.

Another collection of remarkable milestones

The goal against Egypt carried even greater historical significance beyond matching Pele. As per Opta, Messi became the first player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive knockout-stage matches.

His strike also extended another extraordinary run, with Messi now having scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches dating back to Argentina’s triumphant 2022 campaign. During that stretch, he has accumulated 13 goals across those appearances.

The Argentine captain also moved further ahead in the race for the 2026 Golden Boot. His eighth goal of the tournament lifted him above both Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, who remain close behind as the knockout rounds continue.

Johan Manzambi suffered a knee injury in Switzerland’s latest training session. After undergoing an MRI scan, he has been ruled out of the match against Colombia. Despite being only 19 years old, he established as the national team’s best player, scoring three goals and providing two assists. Head coach Murat Yakin has been forced to make adjustments to his lineup, needing to find goals from a different approach.

Although Manzambi will miss the match against Colombia, he has not been ruled out for the rest of the 2026 World Cup, according to Blick. If Switzerland advance to the quarterfinals, the 19-year-old star could return to the starting lineup, looking to maintain the team’s goalscoring and creative threat. Nevertheless, it is not yet known whether he will be able to play the full 90 minutes or if he will have limited playing time.

In Johan’s absence, Murat Yakin has decided to start Ardon Jashari as the attacking midfielder. Although he is not a prolific goalscorer, Switzerland could gain much more control of possession, limiting Colombia. Therefore, Dan Ndoye and Fabian Rieder will have the task of contributing in both goalscoring and creativity, as they face a solid defense. Nevertheless, all eyes will be on Breel Embolo, who is the team’s second-leading goalscorer.

Granit Xhaka will be key to Switzerland’s victory over Colombia

Throughout the 2026 World Cup, Colombia have been one of the most solid national teams, dominating possession through Gustavo Puerta. Therefore, Switzerland face one of their biggest challenges, as they will have to go toe-to-toe with their opponents. With this in mind, Murat Yakin’s team will need the best version of Granit Xhaka, as he could be key to controlling the match and leading his team to victory.

In case Granit Xhaka manages to control the tempo of the match, Colombia would lose their best version, forcing them to adapt during the game. By controlling possession, Fabian Rieder and Ardon Jashari will be essential in finding space. Without Johan Manzambi on the pitch, Switzerland need to dominate possession to create more chances in front of goal, as all eyes will be on Breel Embolo.

Colombia topped Group K, opening with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, following it with a 1-0 win over DR Congo, and closing with a goalless draw against Portugal to finish top on seven points. They followed that up with a 1-0 win over Ghana in the Round of 32, courtesy of a 14th-minute Jhon Arias goal.

For this crucial match, James Rodriguez will captain and lead Colombia, who will look to match the best finish in the nation’s history after reaching the quarterfinals at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Switzerland, meanwhile, are unbeaten through four matches, opening with a draw against Qatar on Matchday 1 before rounding out the group stage with wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada. In the Round of 32, the Europeans had no trouble seeing off Algeria 2-0, with goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye.

Switzerland confirmed lineup

For this match, Murat Yakin will be without a key player, as forward Johan Manzambi suffered a knee injury and won’t be available for the crucial clash against Colombia.

Switzerland’s confirmed starting XI: Gregor Kobel; Denis Zakaria, Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez; Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler; Dan Ndoye, Ardon Jashari, Fabian Rieder; Breel Embolo.

Colombia confirmed lineup

For this game, Nestor Lorenzo will stick with the same lineup that defeated Ghana in the Round of 32, with one enforced change: Jhon Cordoba will miss out through injury, with Luis Suarez stepping in as his replacement.

Colombia’s confirmed starting XI: Camilo Vargas; Daniel Munoz, Davinson Sanchez, Jhon Lucumi, Johan Mojica; Gustavo Puerta, Jefferson Lerma, Jhon Arias; James Rodriguez, Luis Suarez, Luis Diaz.

Listen to the full tactical post-mortem on Spotify to see how the Quarterfinal bracket is locking in.

The emotional focal point of the world’s stage centered on an intensely cagey Iberian Derby in Dallas. With Portugal and Spain seemingly locked in a stalemate destined for extra time, Spanish substitute Mikel Merino struck a dagger in the 91st minute. The clinical finish secured a 1-0 victory for La Roja, sending them to the final eight and ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary World Cup journey. The 41-year-old icon left the pitch in tears, confirming this was his final tournament loop—a watershed moment followed quickly by manager Roberto Martínez stepping down as Portugal boss.

Meanwhile, in Seattle, the final remaining co-host suffered a brutal tactical unraveling. Belgium tore a flat United States defensive line to shreds in a dominant 4-1 rout. Charles De Ketelaere bag loaded the first half with a clinical brace, before Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku piled on the misery. Malik Tillman’s spectacular free kick provided the lone consolation for the USMNT, who bow out at the Round of 16 stage for a frustrating fourth consecutive time.

The exit of the United States completes a clean sweep of heartbreak for the organizing continent, following closely behind the sudden departures of Canada and Mexico. Adrian concludes the show by breaking down how the remaining heavyweights stack up on the newly configured road to the final.

You can stream the entire daily breakdown right now. Check out the Rabona TV World Cup Recap on Spotify to get the complete analysis on the end of the Ronaldo era, tactical match ratings, and early Quarterfinal previews.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear the complete tactical matchday breakdown.

The show leads with Belgium’s emphatic, dominant victory over the United States Men’s National Team. Spearheaded by a sensational two-goal performance from Charles De Ketelaere, the Red Devils completely overwhelmed the American tactical setup. The hosts analyze where it all fell apart for the USMNT and evaluate whether this clinical Belgian side has what it takes to go all the way. The result cements a brutal stretch for the tournament organizers, as all three host nations have now officially bowed out in the Round of 16.

The focus then shifts to a high-stakes, legendary Iberian Derby between Spain and Portugal. In a tense tactical chess match that seemed destined for extra time, Mikel Merino popped up to strike a heartbreaking, late match-winner for La Roja. The dramatic victory punches Spain’s ticket to the final eight while abruptly ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup dream. The guys tackle the heavy post-match debate: did Ronaldo’s presence hold a talented Portuguese squad back?

The episode winds down with a comprehensive look ahead to the remaining Round of 16 slate. The duo previews Lionel Messi and Argentina taking on a tricky Egypt squad, alongside Switzerland’s fascinating clash with an in-form Colombia side, before sharing reflections on Vancouver’s atmospheric hosting experience.

You can stream the entire daily overview right now. Check out The 90th Minute on Spotify to stay completely updated on final scores, tactical adjustments, and emerging tournament favorites.

Switzerland enter this match ranked 15th in the FIFA World Ranking with 1,696.30 points. They are four spots higher than the June 11 update after advancing to this round with a first-place finish in Group B following a draw with Qatar and victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada.

They have remained among the world’s most competitive national teams for several years thanks to their consistency, which continued with a 2-0 victory over Algeria to reach this round before a possible quarterfinal against Argentina.

Colombia’s ranking

It is not going to be an easy match for Switzerland because Colombia also arrive with an excellent ranking. They are 11th in the ranking with 1,739.89 points, moving up two places compared to the June 11 update.

Their campaign includes a first-place finish in Group K with seven points after victories over Uzbekistan and DR Congo before drawing with Portugal, followed by a Round of 16 victory over Ghana.

Colombia continue to establish themselves among the strongest teams in South America, maintaining a place near the top of the rankings. Their highest position was 3rd in 2013, while their lowest was 54th in 2011.

Switzerland’s highest ranking

Switzerland’s steady presence among the world’s top teams has been built over several decades. They reached their highest-ever ranking of 3rd in 1993, while their lowest came in 1998 when they dropped to 83rd.

“What a group of players! That’s it, I have to go,” Scaloni revealed while in tears after Argentina’s victory. Adding after the match, assistant coach Ramón Ayala said: “My soul is coming back into my body. We have to thank the boys. They never get tired, they always give more, they are capable of doing these things. They were hurting, but they knew. We have to leave with our heads held high. An incredible group.”

Unlike previous editions, Argentina have achieved something very important: They know how to control the game, but they also know how to suffer. In closely contested matches, they know how to endure and come from behind. It is not only a result of the players’ individual talent, but also of Scaloni. By making hard work a requirement, he has managed to get every player to give 100%, something that makes the difference in the key moments.

Without being a dominant national team, Argentina have already secured their place in the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner between Switzerland and Colombia. Despite their victory, Lionel Scaloni will need to make significant defensive adjustments, as his team have conceded four goals in their last two matches. Nevertheless, Scaloni once again proves that he is one of the most influential figures in the history of the national team.

Lionel Scaloni makes history again with Argentina at World Cup

After winning the 2022 World Cup, many believed Lionel Scaloni had reached the peak of his career with Argentina. Nevertheless, he managed to lead a rebuild of the roster, guiding them to the 2024 Copa América title. Far from easing the pressure in the current edition of the tournament, head coach made World Cup history once again after the comeback against Egypt.

According to MisterChip, via X, formerly Twitter, Scaloni’s Argentina are the first national team to come back from a two-goal deficit in a World Cup knockout match. The only team to achieve something similar were the Netherlands in the 2014 edition, but they only came back from a one-goal deficit. With this in mind, they appear destined to add another chapter to their history in the sport, once again establishing as contenders.

The question now is whether Messi can maintain his advantage over his biggest rivals or whether Mbappe, Haaland, and Kane can overtake him before the tournament ends. The Golden Boot race has become one of the most fascinating individual battles of the 2026 World Cup, featuring champions, record holders, and players chasing immortality.

Argentina booked its place in the last eight after overcoming Egypt in Atlanta, with Messi once again finding the back of the net. The reigning world champion had been pushed to extra time by Cape Verde in the previous round, but this time it produced another composed performance to continue its title defense.

During the match against the Pharaohs, Messi continued his incredible form by scoring again, taking his 2026 World Cup tally to eight goals. The goal strengthened his position in the Golden Boot race and added another milestone to what could be his final World Cup appearance.

Messi’s consistency has been remarkable throughout the competition. At 39 years old, the Argentina captain continues to deliver decisive moments, proving that experience and soccer intelligence can still overcome the physical demands of elite international soccer.

How Messi, Mbappe, Haaland, and Kane compare

Before Messi’s latest strike against Egypt, the Golden Boot race was already one of the closest in World Cup history. Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland were competing at the top of the scoring charts with seven goals each, while Harry Kane remained close behind with six goals.

Mbappe entered the tournament as the defending Golden Boot winner after scoring eight times during the 2022 World Cup. The France superstar also held an advantage through assists, meaning his two assists gave him the edge in the tiebreaker system before Messi moved ahead with his eighth goal.

The current scoring race has shown the incredible longevity of Messi’s career. While Mbappe and Haaland represent the next generation of global superstars, Messi continues competing at the same level despite being nearly two decades older than both players.

Both Colombia and Switzerland have impressed during the tournament, reaching the knockout stage without a defeat and proving they belong among the final contenders. Thus, this matchup brings together two teams with very different strengths. Colombia has built its World Cup campaign around defensive organization, conceding only one goal in four matches, while Switzerland has developed into one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking sides.

Néstor Lorenzo’s Colombia finished top of Group K after collecting seven points, defeating Uzbekistan and DR Congo before securing a valuable draw against Portugal. The team then continued its strong defensive performances in the knockout stage, beating Ghana 1-0 thanks to its ability to control games and limit opponents’ chances.

Switzerland enters the match with growing confidence after recovering from a disappointing opening draw against Qatar. Murat Yakin’s side finished first in Group B after victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada before defeating Algeria 2-0 in the Round of 32.

The Swiss attack has been led by breakout midfielder Johan Manzambi, who has become one of the biggest surprises of the tournament with three goals and two assists. Alongside Breel Embolo, Dan Ndoye, and Ruben Vargas, Manzambi has helped Switzerland become a much more dangerous attacking team.

What happens if Colombia wins and Switzerland loses?

A Colombia victory would send the national team into the World Cup quarterfinals for only the second time in history, matching the achievement from the famous 2014 tournament in Brazil.

If Colombia defeats Switzerland, the next challenge will come against the winner of Argentina versus Egypt. The quarterfinal would take place on July 11 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, placing Colombia one step closer to a possible semifinal appearance.

A victory would also create the possibility of a blockbuster meeting with Argentina, the reigning world champion. The South American rivals could face each other in a knockout match if both teams continue advancing through the bracket.

Colombia’s defensive record would provide confidence heading into the next round. The team has shown it can compete against elite opponents, and another clean sheet could become the foundation for a historic run.

What happens if Colombia and Switzerland draw after 90 minutes?

Although Colombia and Switzerland cannot finish the Round of 16 match with a final draw, a tied score after regulation would create another dramatic scenario. The teams would play 30 minutes of extra time, and if neither side finds a winner, the match would go to a penalty shootout.

A penalty shootout would add another layer of history to the contest. Colombia experienced heartbreak in the 2018 World Cup Round of 16 when England eliminated the national team on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

For Switzerland, penalties would offer another opportunity to continue a tournament where the team has already shown mental strength. The Swiss have struggled in previous knockout rounds, exiting the Round of 16 in their last three World Cup appearances, but this squad appears determined to change that story.

What happens if Switzerland wins and Colombia loses?

A defeat would immediately end Colombia’s World Cup journey and allow Switzerland to take its place in the quarterfinal bracket. The Swiss would then face Argentina or Egypt in Kansas City with a chance to reach the semifinals.

For Colombia, elimination would end an unbeaten run that has made the national team one of the tournament’s most impressive performers. Despite defensive excellence and strong performances from players such as Diaz and Rodriguez, one mistake in a knockout match could send them home.

Switzerland, meanwhile, would continue chasing its best World Cup finish since hosting the tournament in 1954. A quarterfinal appearance would equal the national team’s historic achievements from 1934, 1938, and 1954.

Trailing 2-1, Argentina pushed for the equalizer, and they’d find it after a scramble of rebounds inside the box, where Messi found space to meet the loose ball and drilled a powerful strike that was impossible to stop, leveling the score.

With that strike, the Argentine captain moved to eight goals in this year’s tournament, matching Guillermo Stabile’s long-standing record of eight goals in a single World Cup edition, set at the inaugural 1930 tournament — a mark that had stood for 96 years.

After scoring a crucial goal that fueled Argentina’s impressive 3-2 comeback, the Argentine captain now stands alone atop the scoring table with eight goals, one clear of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Messi awaits quarterfinal opponent

Things looked dire for Argentina, who trailed 2-0 with just ten minutes left to play. But in a heroic turnaround, the team flipped the match late with goals from Cristian Romero, Messi, and Enzo Fernandez.

With their spot in the quarterfinals secured, Argentina will now face the winner of Colombia vs Switzerland on Saturday, July 11, at Kansas City Stadium.

This quarterfinal is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. ET. The winner will move one step closer to the World Cup final, with only the semifinals standing in the way.

The match will be played at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. With a capacity of 69,045 spectators, the venue is expected to provide another memorable atmosphere for the fans.

Argentina’s campaign

Argentina have enjoyed a perfect campaign so far, winning Group J with nine points after beating Algeria 3-0, Austria 2-0 to secure first place, and Jordan 3-1.

Their Round of 32 match against Cape Verde became one of the most thrilling games of the tournament despite the gap in talent. After a 1-1 draw forced extra time, Argentina advanced with a dramatic 3-2 victory.

The next rival

While the celebrations may continue, Argentina already know who could await them if they get past Colombia/Switzerland in the quarterfinals, as the semifinal opponent will be the winner of the match between England and Norway.

After conceding the opening goal, Argentina lost much of their control of the match. Nevertheless, they produced a brilliant counterattack down the left flank, relying on their pace. After winning a foul inside the penalty area, the referee awarded a penalty to Lionel Scaloni’s team. Although Messi has been one of the tournament’s top scorers, he struck his effort toward the right side, but it was saved by Mostafa Shobeir Oufa.

Lionel Messi has already missed two penalties at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the first player in the tournament’s history to do so. As a result, the veteran has now accumulated four missed penalties in World Cup history, excluding shootouts, according to Guinness World Records via X. In addition, he is not having his best match, as he has been limited by the opposition’s tight marking.

Unlike previous matches, Argentina have not managed to control the tempo of the game. Despite having a crowded midfield, they lack play through the middle. Because of this, they have been limited to playing down the flanks, looking for crosses into the box. With this in mind, the absence of a player like Thiago Almada seems to be noticeable, as they have not been able to control the game because Messi is surrounded by too many players.

Lionel Messi’s efficiency from the penalty spot still stands out

Lionel Messi has become one of the greatest goalscorers in history. Although he did not usually excel from the penalty spot, he has become one of the leading penalty takers, improving his conversion rate. As one of the greatest players in history, he usually takes penalties for both his club and Argentina, having taken around 150 penalties with a high success rate despite his recent misses.

Of the 150 penalties Messi has taken, he has converted 114, giving him a 78% conversion rate. In addition, he usually takes them in high-pressure moments, such as UEFA Champions League finals and even the 2022 World Cup final. Having missed two penalties in a row, fans are already calling for Argentina to appoint a different penalty taker. Nevertheless, the statistics still favor the 39-year-old star.

Lionel Messi will start for Argentina, as he has no pending suspensions or recent injuries. Head coach Lionel Scaloni continues to rely on him as the team’s cornerstone, as he has scored seven goals and is competing with Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappé to become the tournament’s top scorer. Because of this, he could arrive fully motivated to score and once again lead his team to victory.

Coupled with Messi, Argentina will start Julián Álvarez as their striker, looking to capitalize on his scoring prowess. Unlike the previous game, Leandro Paredes will start in midfield, partnering Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and Rodrigo De Paul. With this setup, Lionel Scaloni will look to control Egypt’s counterattacks and dominate possession. However, they need to be clinical in front of goal.

Egypt will stick with their tactical approach, building their game around Mohamed Salah as the central figure. They could reinforce their defensive setup to limit the impact of Lionel Messi’s team. In addition, they need to be clinical on the counterattack, making the most of Emam Ashour and Mostafa Zico on the wings. Nevertheless, all eyes will be on Salah, as he is expected to be the difference-maker.

Argentina confirmed lineup vs Egypt

Argentina have shown themselves to be one of the most consistent teams at the 2026 World Cup, as they know how to impose on their opponents, but also how to adapt. Head coach Lionel Scaloni will make a few changes to his starting lineup, bringing in Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Tagliafico, and Julián Álvarez. Nevertheless, all eyes will be on Lionel Messi, as he has been decisive in front of goal.

With this in mind, Argentina will lineup as follows: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez.

Egypt confirmed lineup vs Argentina

Despite struggling in their previous match, Egypt managed to remain highly competitive and reach the Round of 16. Head coach Hossam Hassan will not make many changes to the starting lineup, sticking with his tactical approach. Although Mohamed Salah is the team’s biggest star, Mostafa Zico and Emam Ashour are expected to be the difference-makers on the wings, creating space in the opposition’s defense.

Considering this, Egypt will play as follows: Mostafa Shobeir Oufa; Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Rami Rabia, Karim Hafez; Emam Ashour, Hamdy Fathy, Marwan Ateya, Mostafa Zico; Mohamed Salah, Haissem Hassam.

The meeting at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta brings together two sides that survived dramatic Round of 32 encounters. Argentina needed extra time to edge Cape Verde 3-2, while Egypt prevailed over Australia after a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated knockout fixtures of the tournament.

Argentina arrives in Atlanta having won all four of its matches in the tournament, although the reigning world champion was pushed to the limit by Cape Verde. Lionel Messi scored in that thrilling 3-2 extra-time victory, helping La Albiceleste maintain its title defense despite an uncharacteristically vulnerable defensive display. Lionel Scaloni’s side has already scored 11 goals in four World Cup matches, with Messi accounting for seven of them.

Egypt, meanwhile, has written history simply by reaching this stage. The African nation advanced to its first-ever World Cup knockout victory after defeating Australia in a penalty shootout, continuing an unbeaten run that has been built on defensive organization and resilience.

Mohamed Salah has remained the Pharaohs’ biggest inspiration despite dealing with a hamstring issue earlier in the tournament. After helping eliminate Australia, he praised both his teammates and the opportunity to represent his country.

What happens if Argentina wins and Egypt loses?

Should Argentina win in regulation, extra time, or on penalties, the defending champion would advance to the World Cup quarterfinals, where it would face the winner of Switzerland vs. Colombia.

Such a result would keep Lionel Scaloni’s side on course to defend its World Cup crown while extending its impressive knockout run. It would also move Argentina one step closer to another deep tournament run, with a potential semifinal awaiting beyond the quarterfinal stage.

For Egypt, an Argentine victory would end what has already been a historic World Cup campaign. Even with elimination, the Pharaoh would leave North America having achieved the nation’s first-ever knockout-stage victory at the tournament.

What happens if the match is tied after 90 minutes?

Although many supporters refer to a “draw,” a knockout-stage World Cup match cannot end level. If Argentina and Egypt are tied after regulation, the contest automatically proceeds to 30 minutes of extra time.

Should neither side find a winner during extra time, the quarterfinal place would then be decided by a penalty shootout. Only after penalties would one nation advance, while the other would be eliminated from the competition.

This scenario would also mean another physically demanding match for two teams that already endured extended knockout contests in the previous round, potentially leaving the winner facing additional fatigue before the quarterfinal.

What happens if Egypt wins and Argentina loses?

An Egypt victory, whether in normal time, extra time or on penalties, would produce one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 World Cup.

Instead of Argentina, Egypt would move into the quarterfinals to face either Switzerland or Colombia. The result would also eliminate one of the tournament favorites, dramatically opening that section of the bracket and creating a new opportunity for several remaining contenders.

For Hossam Hassan’s squad, advancing would represent another historic achievement after already securing the country’s first knockout-stage triumph. Salah and his teammates would suddenly find themselves within touching distance of an unprecedented semifinal appearance.

According to the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, Colombia are ranked 11th with 1,739.89 points. Following their solid form, they have gained two places since the start of the tournament. Despite the major doubts ahead of the tournament, Néstor Lorenzo has managed to restore the national team’s competitiveness. However, they have yet to match their highest-ever ranking, which was 3rd, achieved in August 2014, July 2016, and June 2018.

Néstor Lorenzo’s team remain ahead of Switzerland in the rankings, highlighting their status as favorites. Murat Yakin’s team sit in 15th place with 1,696.30 points, having climbed four positions since the start of the tournament. As a well-organized team, they could cause problems for Los Cafeteros with their defensive solidity. In addition, Breel Embolo could be dangerous on the counterattack as he looks to score.

Throughout the 2026 World Cup, Colombia have already faced well-organized teams such as DR Congo and Ghana. After defeating both of them, they have already gained experience playing against defensively solid sides, making the best version of Gustavo Puerta and Jhon Arias essential. In addition, the attacking runs of Luis Díaz and Daniel Muñoz will be crucial to create space. However, their biggest challenge will be their finishing, as they need to be clinical.

Jhon Cordoba’s absence may be harmful for Colombia

Unlike other national teams, Colombia do not build their attacking play around a single star. Instead, they rely on ball possession, with Gustavo Puerta playing a key role in organizing the game. By finding Daniel Muñoz or Luis Díaz out wide, they create gaps in the opposition’s defense. Nevertheless, head coach Néstor Lorenzo will be without Jhon Córdoba, a significant absence when it comes to breaking down Switzerland’s defense.

In the recent match against Ghana, Jhon Córdoba suffered a muscle tear in the opening minutes, ruling him out for the remainder of the tournament. Without him, Colombia lose their most physical striker, who was able to hold off opposing defenders, create space for the wingers and win duels with ease. In his absence, Luis Suárez appears to have a chance of starting, but he does not offer the same profile, forcing them to adapt their attacking strategy.

Match Overview

Switzerland enters this monumental clash having shattered a long-standing barrier. Their victory over Algeria in the Round of 32 was not just a win; it was their first in a knockout stage match since 1954, marking the first time the nation has ever reached the second elimination round of the tournament. Now, riding a ten-match unbeaten streak and chasing an unprecedented third consecutive victory in the competition, the Swiss are playing with house money and historic momentum.

Standing in their way is a formidable Colombian side that has built a fortress around its goal. Allowing just a single goal through four demanding matches, Néstor Lorenzo’s squad has been the model of defensive discipline, topping a difficult group that included Portugal. With their own nine-game unbeaten run in competitive fixtures, Colombia has the defensive credentials and tactical grit to halt the Swiss charge. For both nations, a win means matching their best-ever quarter-final appearance, raising the stakes to a fever pitch.

Tactical Analysis & Match Context

The tournament trajectories of these two teams tell a story of growing confidence. Switzerland overcame a nervy 1-1 opening draw with Qatar to find their rhythm, securing impressive wins over Bosnia, Canada, and Algeria to prove their mettle. Colombia, meanwhile, arrived with high expectations and surpassed them, holding European powerhouse Portugal to a goalless draw to win their group and then clinically dispatching Ghana, showcasing a defensive resolve that few teams can match.

The tactical battle will be a fascinating chess match centered on control and defensive integrity. Both sides favor a possession-based game, with Colombia slightly edging ball retention at 60.1% to Switzerland‘s 57.5%. The key will be which team can successfully disrupt the other’s build-up play. While Switzerland has generated a higher Expected Goals (xG) tally of 8.82, Colombia has been far more aggressive in creating opportunities, firing off 79 shots to Switzerland‘s 56. The game will be decided by whether Switzerland‘s clinical finishers can exploit the few chances they get or if Colombia‘s sheer volume of attack finally breaches the Swiss defense.

Motivation is sky-high on both sides, with a coveted quarter-final berth on the line. For Switzerland, this is an opportunity to build on a historic achievement and prove they belong among the world’s elite. For Colombia, it’s about validating their defensive supremacy and making a deep run that their talent has long promised. In a knockout match of such fine margins, the team that maintains its composure and executes its game plan with more precision will emerge victorious.

Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends

Historically, these two nations have not crossed paths often, but Colombia holds the edge in their limited encounters. They have met three times in total, with Colombia winning twice and Switzerland once. Their only previous meeting in this tournament occurred during the 1994 edition, also hosted in the USA, where Colombia secured a 2-0 victory during the group stage.

More recent history is sparse, with their last game being a friendly back in 2007. Therefore, a more telling indicator may be their respective records against continental opposition. Switzerland has traditionally struggled against South American teams in the tournament, winning just once in nine attempts (1W, 3D, 5L). Conversely, Colombia has a more balanced but still challenging record against European sides, with three wins, four draws, and five losses in 12 matches.

While their historical head-to-head suggests goals, the current form of both teams points to a much tighter affair. Four of Switzerland‘s last seven games have seen under 2.5 goals, a trend mirrored in four of Colombia‘s last five matches. Colombia‘s defense has been nearly impenetrable, conceding just one goal in four games at the 2026 tournament. This clash of an efficient Swiss attack and a lockdown Colombian defense suggests that goals will be at a premium.

Squad News & Projected Lineups

Both managers face crucial lineup decisions, with Colombia managing a significant injury in their attack while Switzerland monitors the fitness of a couple of key players who are nevertheless expected to be available.

For Switzerland, midfielders Luca Jacquez and Denis Zakaria are listed as questionable but are anticipated to be fit for the clash. Their presence would be a major boost for manager Murat Yakin. The spotlight will also be on the sensational Johan Manzambi, whose five goal contributions have made him one of the breakout young stars of the tournament.

Colombia has been dealt a blow with the news that striker Jhon Córdoba will miss the rest of the competition due to a hamstring injury sustained against Ghana. However, his replacement, Luis Suárez, stepped up immediately by providing the assist for the winning goal and is poised to lead the line from the start in this crucial match.

Switzerland Projected XI (4-2-3-1):
Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Ndoye, Manzambi, Vargas; Embolo.
Murat Yakin is expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has brought his side success. The experienced midfield pairing of Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler will be vital in controlling the tempo, while the attacking quartet, led by Breel Embolo and the dynamic Manzambi, will be tasked with finding a way through Colombia‘s disciplined backline.

Colombia Projected XI (4-3-3):
Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Lerma, Arias, Puerta; Rodriguez, Diaz; Suarez.
Néstor Lorenzo will rely on the 4-3-3 system that has provided exceptional defensive balance. While the back four is the team’s bedrock, the attack will depend on the creative spark of James Rodriguez and the electric pace of Luis Diaz to create chances for Luis Suárez, who fills the void left by Córdoba.

More details on how to watch

You can find the Switzerland vs Colombia channel on Fubo. The service is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and mobile devices, ensuring you can watch the game at home or on the go.

In addition to broadcasting every match of the 2026 tournament, a subscription to Fubo gives you access to a host of other top-tier soccer competitions. You can watch leagues like the Premier League, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League all on the same platform.

A subscription to Fubo costs just $14.99 per month, offering incredible value for soccer fans. The package includes live games, on-demand replays, and expert analysis.

For a complete schedule of games and broadcast details, check out our World Cup TV schedule page.

How to watch anywhere with VPN

If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as Nord VPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.

Lautaro Martínez is in peak physical condition after starting all of Argentina’s games. Nonetheless, Lionel Scaloni has decided to leave him on the bench for tactical reasons and to rest him ahead of a potential quarterfinal. While he is not Argentina’s top scorer, he has already found the net and excels in his link-up play with Messi, creating space for him in the opposition’s defense. The 28-year-old striker could still see playing time off the bench.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni has decided to start Julián Álvarez as his striker. With him on the field, they could gain more attacking mobility, opening spaces in Egypt‘s solid defense. In addition, he will look to rediscover his best form in the tournament, as he has not managed to score or make a difference for Argentina. With the quarterfinals on the line, he has the best opportunity to shine.

Although Lautaro Martínez will be on the bench against Egypt, head coach Lionel Scaloni could decide to start him if Argentina advance to the quarterfinals. As a creative focal point in attack, he has proven to be one of Lionel Messi’s best partners. With his movement, he creates plenty of space and draws defenders. In addition, he could come off the bench today and score, silencing the doubts about his place in the starting lineup.

Argentina face a risky bet on Julian Álvarez as starting striker

Julián Álvarez has already proven to be one of the best strikers in the world. After shining at the 2022 Qatar, he earned his place in Argentina’s squad. Nevertheless, he has not started the 2026 World Cup in his best form, making only one start and having little impact. While his collective play is usually outstanding, he has not stood out in a major way. Because of this, his place in the starting lineup against Egypt could be somewhat risky.

Without being in his best form, Julián may not offer the same collective quality alongside Lionel Messi as Lautaro Martínez does. Having not scored in the tournament and with his future uncertain, he appears to be under considerable pressure, something that could affect his finishing against Egypt. If he has a quiet match, his confidence could continue to decline, causing him to lose even more prominence in the tournament.

Scaloni is set to send out four midfielders, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, and Alexis Mac Allister, behind a front two of Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez.

The switch to a 4-4-2 shape means there’s no room for Almada, who had been operating as part of a front three in a 4-3-3 through Argentina’s first two matches of the tournament and against Cape Verde in the Round of 32 clash.

The decision is purely tactical rather than a reflection of any single poor performance, coming down to the shape Scaloni wants on the pitch against Egypt rather than any specific issue with Almada himself.

Scaloni makes more changes to face Egypt

Almada’s absence isn’t the only one Argentina’s lineup will feature compared to their previous matches. Alongside the Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder, Scaloni also decided to leave Lautaro Martinez and Facundo Medina on the bench.

Martinez had started in all four of Argentina’s matches so far, but Scaloni opted to use Julian Alvarez from the opening whistle instead, in a purely tactical decision. The Inter Milan forward is in peak physical condition, carrying no injury of any kind, and will be available among the substitutes, ready to come on if the flow of the match calls for it in the second half.

As for Medina, the left-back finished the match against Cape Verde exhausted, which is why the coach opted to use Nicolas Tagliafico on the left side from the start of the match instead.

Argentina enters the knockout battle looking to continue its title defense, while Egypt is chasing a historic place in the quarter-finals. The Pharaohs have already exceeded expectations by reaching this stage, but facing the reigning champions requires difficult decisions, and coach Hossam Hassan has made a tactical call that has surprised some fans.

The reason why Omar Marmoush is on the bench

Marmoush’s absence from the starting XI is not because of an injury. Instead, Egypt’s decision is linked to his lack of attacking production during the tournament and Hossam Hassan’s desire to use a more compact system against Argentina.

The Manchester City forward arrived at the World Cup as one of Egypt’s most exciting attacking options, expected to provide pace, direct running, and support for Salah. However, his performances so far have failed to reach the level many expected, with Marmoush recording no goals or assists in 316 minutes of action at the tournament.

His finishing has also been a concern. The forward managed only one shot on target from 11 attempts and missed a major one-on-one opportunity against Australia before failing to convert his penalty during the shootout. Those moments appear to have influenced Hassan’s decision ahead of the biggest match in Egypt’s campaign.

Hossam Hassan chooses more defensive setup

Egypt knows that Argentina’s attacking quality can punish even the smallest mistakes. After watching the reigning champions struggle defensively during their dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde, Hassan appears ready to prioritize defensive organization and quick counterattacks.

The Pharaohs are expected to rely heavily on Mohamed Salah’s experience and creativity while using additional runners around him instead of starting Marmoush. The plan is designed to frustrate Argentina’s midfield control and create opportunities when Messi’s team commits players forward.

Although Marmoush is not starting, his role could still become crucial during the match. Egypt is expected to use him as an impact substitute, especially if Argentina begins to tire after their exhausting extra-time battle against Cape Verde.

Egypt enter the match at No. 24 in the latest FIFA World Ranking, with 1,597.04 points, a gap of more than 300 points separating them from their opponent. Hossam Hassan’s men went unbeaten through Group G, opening with a 1-1 draw against Belgium, following it with a 3-1 win over New Zealand, and closing with another 1-1 stalemate against Iran, good enough for five points and second place behind the Belgians.

That group-stage form carried into the Round of 32, where Egypt needed a penalty shootout to see off Australia after a 1-1 draw through extra time, delivering the country’s first-ever World Cup knockout win and setting up just its second-ever Round of 16 appearance, the first having come all the way back in 1934.

Standing in Egypt’s way is an Argentina side ranked No. 2 in the world, with 1,913.71 points. Lionel Scaloni’s men steamrolled through Group J with a perfect nine points, beating Algeria 3-0, Austria 2-0, and Jordan 3-1, before needing extra time themselves to get past a stubborn Cape Verde side 3-2 in the Round of 32.

Egypt chasing history against the defending champions

Few storylines at this World Cup have been as compelling as Egypt’s run so far, a campaign already defined by a handful of tournament records. The Pharaohs have scored six goals through four matches, the most in a single edition in team history.

Much of Egypt’s hopes rest on the shoulders of Mohamed Salah, squaring off in a highly anticipated individual duel against Lionel Messi, who leads the tournament’s Golden Boot race level with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland at seven goals apiece.

Should Egypt find a way through, they would become just the fifth African nation in history to reach the World Cup quarterfinals, joining Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, and Morocco.

A win, by any scoreline, would send Egypt through to a quarterfinal meeting with the winner of Switzerland and Colombia in Kansas City on July 11 — and stand as one of the biggest upsets of this year’s tournament.