​East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 30, witnessed Kylian Mbappe of France celebrate his team’s first goal as they advanced in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 against Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium. The victory, captured by Mattia Ozbot of Getty Images, set the stage for the elite eight as the tournament moves toward crowning a champion. Among the eight remaining teams are four former World Cup winners: defending champions Argentina (with titles from 1978, 1986, and 2022), France (1998 and 2018), which recently fell to the South Americans in Qatar’s final, and two other past champions, Spain (2010) and England (1996). Remarkably, these four teams also occupy the top four spots in the latest FIFA rankings, underscoring their continued strength and pedigree.
Joining the four reigning champions are four challengers with their own storied histories and recent upgrades: Morocco, which finished fourth in 2022; Belgium, which defeated the United States in the Round of 16; Norway, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998; and Switzerland, which reached the quarterfinals for the first time since hosting in 1954. My own knockout-round predictions have settled into an 18-6 record after starting the Round of 16 with a 5-3 mark, reflecting a blend of analysis and a bit of educated instinct.
Here’s a closer look at the four quarterfinals, with FIFA rankings noted for context:
On the field in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the action continues with a notable matchup on Thursday, July 9: No. 1 France faces No. 6 Morocco at Gillette Stadium, set for a 4 p.m. ET kickoff. This is a high-stakes rematch of the 2022 semifinals, where France edged Morocco 2-0. France has yet to suffer a defeat in this campaign, standing undefeated at 5-0-0 as they chase a third consecutive World Cup final appearance. Their run has been built around a potent blend of attacking quality and depth: Mbappe, who has seven goals, is supported by a dazzling midfield trio featuring Ousmane Dembele (four goals), Michael Olise, and Mbappe himself, creating a dynamic that opponents have found nearly impossible to slow.
Morocco, for their part, arrive off a Round of 16 win in which they were briefly stretched by Canada in the opening half but surged to a commanding 3-0 result in the second half. The Moroccan squad will be hoping for a different dynamic on the day and will likely rely on key contributors across the lineup. A potential caveat is the fitness of forward Ismael Saibari, who suffered a hamstring injury in the Round of 16 win and faced a race against time to be ready for the quarterfinals. Saibari has been a primary offensive threat, having scored in each of Morocco’s Group C matches and becoming only the second African player to reach three World Cup goals, following Senegal’s Papa Bouba Diop in 2002. He also delivered the winning penalty in the decisive shootout over Canada, adding another dimension to Morocco’s attack and their chances to complicate France’s elegant, cohesive forward play.
As the quarterfinals approach, the landscape of expectations centers on elite competition, tactical prowess, and a continuing narrative about who will emerge from the bracket with momentum, confidence, and the history books on their side.