​The Round of 16 is progressing rapidly at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the Quarterfinals are starting to take shape, which means we can begin imagining the potential Semifinal matchups. Below are the Quarterfinals pairings as they stand, with updates to come as more results are decided, along with a forward look at what the Semifinals might hold. The World Cup bracket, courtesy of The Sporting News, helps frame the path these teams are on. We’ll first walk through the Quarterfinals, then explore the possible Semifinal pairings.
The Quarterfinals at the 2026 World Cup feature a mix of confirmed results and looming decisions. The first Quarterfinal slot was filled on Saturday when Morocco defeated Canada 3-0, and France edged Paraguay 1-0 thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty. A notable storyline from the 2026 edition features a clash between two teams that met in the 2022 Semifinals; this time, they meet one round earlier with a spot in the Semifinals on the line. In Qatar, France grabbed an early 1-0 lead via Theo Hernández in the fifth minute and wrapped it up when Randal Kolo Muani found the net in the 79th minute.
Let’s sprinkle in a few historical parallels: Norway advanced to the Quarterfinals for the first time in the nation’s history after a 2-1 victory over Brazil on Sunday, with Erling Haaland continuing his Golden Boot pursuit by adding two more goals, bringing his total to seven at the tournament. Norway will square off with England, who survived a challenging night to reach the Quarterfinals in Mexico City thanks to a 3-2 win over Mexico.
The third Quarterfinal matchup was decided on Monday when tournament favorites Spain eliminated Portugal with a late finish from Mikel Merino. The U.S. Men’s National Team, along with the other host nations, bowed out in the Round of 16 following a 1-4 defeat to Belgium. The fourth and final Quarterfinal pairing will be determined on Tuesday: Lionel Messi’s Argentina will aim to rebound and reach the Semifinals by facing Mohamed Salah’s Egypt at noon Eastern time in Atlanta. The winner of that match will meet the victor of Tuesday evening’s Spain, Belgium, or now clarified matchups in that segment of the bracket. Update: Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 comeback over Egypt has confirmed one half of this potential Semifinal pairing, and Switzerland booked the other spot by defeating Colombia on penalties.
As we glance ahead to the Semifinals, the left-hand side of the bracket could showcase a clash between the winner of France vs. Morocco and the winner of Spain vs. Belgium. Update: France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco means they will face the winner of the Spain-Belgium clash. On the right-hand side, the potential Semifinal fixtures would see the winner of England vs. Norway facing either Argentina or Switzerland, depending on how the remaining results unfold.
In sum, we’re watching an increasingly clear path toward some highly anticipated matchups in the Semifinals. If France advances past Morocco, they would await the Spain-Belgium winner, while England or Norway could square off against Argentina or Switzerland. The evolving results will keep refining these possibilities, and we’ll update as more Quarterfinal outcomes are confirmed and the Semifinal picture becomes more precise.