​From France-Morocco to Norway-England, via Spain-Belgium and Argentina-Switzerland, the World Cup has entered its hottest phase. The eight best teams are poised to battle for the sport’s ultimate prize on the night of the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with the championship match scheduled for Sunday, July 19. If you want to stay on top of every development across the USA, Mexico, and Canada, bookmark the World Cup and search for “World Cup” on OneFootball, then click the star to ensure you don’t miss a single update.
This World Cup has already served up plenty: dramatic comebacks, major upsets, controversial moments, and historic feats. One thing is certain, though—nothing is guaranteed. It has also been a tournament of tears and farewells, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal bowing out at 41 without clinching the title he dreamed of, as well as heartfelt exits for Luka Modrić, Manuel Neuer, Guillermo Ochoa, and others. Now only eight teams remain—the very best, ready to decide who will keep title dreams alive through the semifinals.
The quarterfinal lineup is set. In the top half of the bracket, Morocco faces favorites France, while Spain takes on Belgium. In the other half, the tournament’s surprise package Denmark—well, not Denmark, but Norway, with Erling Haaland at the helm—meets England in what promises to be a gripping clash. The fourth pairing pits the reigning champions Argentina against Switzerland, who are proving once again they will not bow out easily, eight decades after their last World Cup quarterfinal appearance.
Here are the quarterfinal matchups and kick-off times (UTC):
– France vs. Morocco, Thursday, July 9 at 22:00
– Spain vs. Belgium, Friday, July 10 at 21:00
– Norway vs. England, Saturday, July 11 at 23:00
– Argentina vs. Switzerland, Sunday, July 12 at 03:00
As always, this is a World Cup full of surprises. With stakes rising, nothing can be taken for granted. If we had to forecast, a plausible semifinal in the top half could be France vs. Spain, though Morocco has been strong and Belgium recently toppled the USA in impressive fashion. On the other side, the big question is whether Norway can upset England, with Haaland becoming increasingly decisive as the tournament progresses. Argentina might have the easiest path through, bolstered by Lionel Messi, yet Switzerland demonstrated grit in their shootout victory over Colombia, making it clear they will not surrender easily.
In short, the story is far from written. Let’s settle in and enjoy the show. The World Cup asks for everything from everyone, and a single mistake can send a team home early. The chase for glory continues, with a dramatic finish in sight and the dream of lifting the trophy still very much alive.