World Cup 2026: France vs. Morocco and Spain vs. Belgium headline quarter-finals

The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals are set to ignite a thrilling weekend of football, with a compelling lineup of matchups. Among the most anticipated is a historic clash between France and Morocco.

Morocco, the final African team standing, enters the quarter-finals after a dominant 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada. Led by captain Achraf Hakimi, they face France, a nation with a colonial past. This encounter is a rematch of the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final, where France defeated Morocco before finishing as runners-up to Argentina. France, aiming to win the Cup this time, relies on star striker Kylian Mbappé, who has scored seven goals in the tournament so far.

Another significant fixture pits Spain against Belgium. Spain advanced by narrowly defeating Portugal 1-0, sending the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo home. Despite a late winning goal, Spain, the 2010 champions, will need to overcome an in-form Belgium side. Belgium, fresh off a commanding 4-1 win against the USA, will be confident, though they aim to surpass their third-place finish from the 2018 World Cup.

Rounding out the quarter-finals is a clash between Norway and England. Norway achieved a stunning upset by defeating five-time champions Brazil 2-1, with striker Erling Haaland emerging as a breakout star. They face England, who have had a more challenging route to this stage, including a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Mexico. England will be looking to build on that momentum as they prepare for the Nordic nation.