​The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals are set to begin Thursday, with Kylian Mbappé and France facing an upset-minded Morocco. The United States, Canada and Mexico—co-hosts of the tournament—will be watching from the sidelines after being eliminated in the Round of 16. Here’s everything you need to know about the World Cup matches being played Thursday, Friday and Saturday across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, with all times listed in Pacific.
France’s Mbappé jogs on the field during a win over Iraq in the World Cup on June 22. The match details: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. TV coverage will be provided by Fox and Telemundo, with streaming available on Fox One and Peacock. The buzz: France is chasing its third consecutive World Cup final appearance and needed a late penalty from Mbappé to eliminate a stubborn Paraguay, a team that finished in third place. France has scored 16 goals so far, with Mbappé contributing seven, giving him 19 career World Cup goals. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan has conceded only two goals in five matches. Morocco, which reached the semifinals four years ago, advanced by routing Canada 3-0, extending its unbeaten streak to 34 games. Azzedine Ounahi scored twice in that victory and is one of three Moroccan players with multiple goals. Morocco’s squad includes six players born in France, compared with seven native Moroccans, reflecting the country’s historical ties with France.
Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simón catches the ball in front of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during Spain’s round-of-16 win on July 6. The match location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood. Kickoff is at noon. TV coverage will be provided by Fox and Telemundo, with streaming on Fox One and Peacock. The buzz: Spain has set a World Cup record by posting six consecutive shutouts, and Simón has not allowed a World Cup goal in 609 minutes, a streak stretching back to the group stage of the previous tournament. Despite the defensive solidity, Spain has struggled to score consistently, registering a goal or fewer in three of its five matches, including a stoppage-time winner by Mikel Merino against Portugal in the round of 16. Mikel Oyarzabal is Spain’s top scorer with four goals.
Belgium earned its place in the quarterfinals by delivering a dominant 4-1 victory over the United States in Seattle, its most complete performance of the tournament. The Red Devils outshot the Americans 15-7, with seven shots on target. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in the first half, and Belgium never looked back. For Belgium’s aging golden generation—featuring Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and Axel Witsel—this could be their last, best chance to win a title.
The action continues with other round-by-round build-ups and post-match analysis as fans across the U.S., Canada and Mexico prepare for a weekend of quarterfinal excitement. England’s Harry Kane celebrated a goal in a 2-0 win over Mexico, and questions continue to arise about team form, tactical adjustments and the next steps toward a possible title. The schedule for the quarterfinals and the surrounding coverage aims to deliver high-stakes matchups, strategic intrigue, and moment-to-moment drama as teams chase a spot in the semifinals.