​The FIFA World Cup 2026 is winding down, with just eight matches left on the schedule and only eight teams remaining from the 48 who began the tournament. The championship final is set for New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, or more precisely the New York New Jersey Stadium, on Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s next and what to know. FIFA’s rankings place the remaining national squads in their international context, highlighting the teams positioned strongest in offense by goals scored. Based on FIFA’s statistics, the top offensive teams still in the tournament are France and Argentina, each with 14 goals; Belgium with 13; Norway with 12; England with 11; and Morocco with 10.
The remaining schedule, all times listed in Eastern Time, unfolds as follows:
– Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m.: France vs. Morocco
– Friday, July 10 at 3 p.m.: Spain vs. Belgium
– Saturday, July 11 at 5 p.m.: Norway vs. England
– Saturday, July 11 at 9 p.m.: Argentina vs. Switzerland
– Tuesday, July 14 at 3 p.m.: the winner of the July 9 match vs the winner of the July 10 match
– Wednesday, July 15 at 3 p.m.: the winners of the July 11 matches
– Saturday, July 18 at 5 p.m.: the third-place game
– Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m.: the final
This article includes input from Juan Carlos Castillo, a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today network, who covers weather and national events with a focus on impacts for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The piece originally appeared in the Asbury Park Press and notes that FIFA ranks France and Argentina as the top two teams, with the full ranking available for readers seeking broader SEO context. (Word count note: this rewrite aims to capture the essential details and structure while ensuring clarity and coherence for readers.)