After 95 games, 40 eliminations, and a month of football across the United States, Mexico and Canada, eight teams remain standing.
We've seen Germany go out to Paraguay. The Netherlands fall to Morocco on penalties. Brazil beaten by Haaland. The USA humiliated 4-1 by Belgium. And Argentina, the reigning world champions, somehow drag themselves from 0-2 down to 3-2 up in the last fifteen minutes against Egypt. The 2026 World Cup quarterfinals are set, and the bracket has delivered a compelling set of fixtures.
Now only reigning world champions Argentina plus Belgium, England, France, Morocco, Norway, Spain and Switzerland are left to dream about winning the final in New Jersey on July 19.
The semi-final bracket is fixed: the winner of France vs Morocco meets the winner of Spain vs Belgium on July 14 in Dallas. The winner of Norway vs England faces the winner of Argentina vs Switzerland on July 15 in Atlanta. The final is July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
Bet on all four World Cup 2026 QF matches at Duelbits.
All Duelbits odds correct at time of writing and subject to change.
| Match | Date | Venue | Home | Draw | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France vs Morocco | Thu 9 Jul | Boston | 1.59 | 4.05 | 6.10 |
| Spain vs Belgium | Fri 10 Jul | Los Angeles | 1.64 | 4.05 | 5.45 |
| Norway vs England | Sat 11 Jul | Miami | 4.15 | 3.70 | 1.85 |
| Argentina vs Switzerland | Sun 12 Jul | Kansas City | 1.71 | 3.55 | 5.45 |
| Team | Duelbits Odds |
|---|---|
| France | 2.90 |
| Spain | 4.55 |
| Argentina | 5.00 |
| England | 6.00 |
| Norway | 16.70 |
| Belgium | 33.00 |
| Morocco | 33.00 |
| Switzerland | 34.00 |
| Player | Team | Duelbits Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Messi, Lionel | Argentina | 2.10 |
| Mbappé, Kylian | France | 2.35 |
| Haaland, Erling | Norway | 8.50 |
| Kane, Harry | England | 9.50 |
| Oyarzabal, Mikiel | Spain | 66.00 |
Before the analysis, the path each team has walked:
| Team | R32 | R16 |
|---|---|---|
| France | Beat Sweden 3-0 | Beat Paraguay 1-0 |
| Morocco | Beat Netherlands 1-1 (3-2 pens) | Beat Canada 3-0 |
| Spain | Beat Austria 3-0 | Beat Portugal 1-0 (Merino 90+) |
| Belgium | Beat Senegal 3-2 AET | Beat USA 4-1 |
| Norway | Beat Ivory Coast 2-1 | Beat Brazil 2-1 (Haaland ×2) |
| England | Beat DR Congo 2-1 | Beat Mexico 3-2 (Azteca) |
| Argentina | Beat Cape Verde 3-2 AET | Beat Egypt 3-2 (from 0-2 down) |
| Switzerland | Beat Algeria 2-0 | Beat Colombia 0-0 (4-3 pens) |
The pattern: Brazil, France, Mexico, England, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, and the USA all advanced without needing extra time through the Round of 32, but the Round of 16 was far more chaotic. Haaland dismantled Brazil. Belgium routed the hosts. Spain edged Portugal in a classic. Argentina survived the impossible.
France 1.59 / Draw 4.05 / Morocco 6.10
Morocco was ranked No. 7 in FIFA's latest rankings, while France was No. 3 behind Argentina and Spain, respectively. On paper, a comfortable French victory. In practice, a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal, the same fixture that ended Morocco's historic run four years ago, and a matchup that carries weight on both sides.
France - The Scoring Machine
France is outscoring opponents 14-2 so far during this World Cup. That goal differential is obscene at this stage of the competition. Behind Kylian Mbappé's Golden Boot campaign, balanced on 2.25 with Messi at 2.15, France have been the most prolific attacking side in the tournament by a clear margin. Dembélé scored a hat-trick against Norway in the group stage before France beat them 4-1. They beat Paraguay 1-0 in clinical R16 fashion despite the lopsided scoreline underselling their dominance.
The case against France? They haven't been truly tested at the back. A 14-2 aggregate tells you they've scored freely but also that they haven't met the best defensive teams, Morocco change that.
Morocco - Africa's Greatest Ever Run
Morocco is now the first African team to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals. Their run is built on the same foundation as Qatar 2022: defensive rigidity, captain Achraf Hakimi's relentless energy on the right, and the ability to hurt you on the counter through Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi.
The main worry will be Ismael Saibari's fitness after coming off early vs. Canada with a hamstring injury. Morocco went on to win 3-0 thanks to its midfield, but les Bleus are a whole different threat.
This is the same semifinal France won 2-0 in Qatar. Revenge is the only thing on Morocco's mind. But France's squad depth and clinical attack at 1.59 reflect the significant quality gap.
Best bet: France to win at 1.59. Their goal differential tells the true story, this is the strongest attacking team in the tournament and Morocco, without Saibari at full fitness, will struggle to contain Mbappé, Dembélé and Griezmann across 90 minutes.
Golden Boot angle: Mbappé to score at any point (check Duelbits first goalscorer market). France vs Morocco creates exactly the high-tempo attacking game where Mbappé produces decisive moments.
Spain 1.64 / Draw 4.05 / Belgium 5.45
Two teams on extraordinary unbeaten runs. Belgium is unbeaten in 18 straight games since March 2025 (12-6-0, W-D-L), the second-longest run in team history. As for Spain, it is unbeaten in 35 straight games (26-9-0, W-D-L) since March 2024, tying the longest undefeated run in team history.
Spain - The Perfect Defence
Spain entered the tournament as one of the favourites for a reason. La Furia Roja have yet to concede a goal with Rodri returning to peak form in midfield. Not conceding a single goal through six World Cup matches is extraordinary. Rodri's return from injury has been the engine of a possession-controlling midfield that opponents simply cannot get through.
The attacking concern is real. Where they're struggling is in attack, as Lamine Yamal has not looked fully fit coming off a hamstring injury. Mikel Oyarzabal has four goals, but he's left some on the table and backup left winger Alex Baena is not at the same level as Nico Williams, who's nursing an injury.
Mikel Merino scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to beat Portugal in the Round of 16, the kind of big-moment delivery from unexpected sources that defines Spanish football at its best.
Belgium - Dark Horses Who Mean Business
Belgium struggled to get going in the group stage and were on the brink of elimination against Senegal, yet are still alive after beating co-hosts United States 4-1 in Seattle. The 4-1 scoreline was emphatic. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice. Belgium played their best football of the tournament with genuine pace and directness.
Belgium's golden generation has passed, but players like Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku are still playing key roles. They've been aided by Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere and Youri Tielemans, among others, while Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku have not impressed head coach Rudi Garcia enough.
Best bet: Spain to win at 1.64. A concession-free tournament record is the strongest statistical indicator on the entire quarterfinal card. Belgium are genuinely good but Spain's defensive structure is the best in the competition.
Value angle: Both Teams NOT to Score (Spain clean sheet) given their tournament record.
Norway 4.15 / Draw 3.70 / England 1.85
The most emotionally compelling match of the four. Norway's incredible journey, built almost entirely around the force of nature that is Erling Haaland, against an England side that delivered the best win on English football's foreign record at Azteca Stadium last Sunday.
Norway - Haaland's World
Norway's star Erling Haaland proved too much for Brazil in the Round of 16, scoring twice in a 2-0 victory for the Norwegians. He has 62 goals in 54 appearances for his country.
Norway beating Brazil is one of the great World Cup upsets. Not through luck or penalties, through two clinical Haaland goals in a genuine performance. This is Norway's first-ever quarterfinals appearance at the World Cup. The entire country is experiencing something their football has never given them before.
Haaland at 36.00 for the Golden Boot is the most value-rich punt on the entire Duelbits card. He's within range of Messi and Mbappé if he scores twice against England. His goal record for Norway, 62 in 54, underlines that international football brings out his very best.
England - Three Consecutive Quarterfinals
England showed its mettle in a 3-2 win over Mexico at Azteca Stadium in the Round of 16, overcoming El Tri on its home turf. England has now made three straight quarterfinals at the World Cup for the first time since doing so between 1962 and 1970.
Ogden: Nobody benefits from FIFA letting Balogun off the hook, there's VAR controversy in England's journey, but the 3-2 win at the Azteca was a genuine footballing achievement. Kane has delivered when needed. The squad has depth and tournament experience.
England at 1.85 is a fair price, they're the objectively more complete team. But Norway with Haaland in this form, in their first-ever QF, with a nation behind them, is not just a numbers bet.
Best bet: England to win at 1.85 but consider Haaland to score anytime as a standalone Golden Boot play at 36.00. England's defensive organisation should ultimately prevail, but backing Haaland at 36.00 for the tournament Golden Boot running alongside is the best value pairing of any QF weekend bet.
Argentina 1.71 / Draw 3.55 / Switzerland 5.45
Argentina surged with three unanswered goals over a span of 13 minutes to pull off one of the most improbable comebacks in World Cup history. Against Egypt in the Round of 16, Argentina trailed 0-2 with the clock winding down. Then Messi, at 39 years old, orchestrated an impossible escape. Pretty much everything is running through him, and he has been so overwhelmingly brilliant (nine goal contributions at age 39 is frankly absurd) that Los Albiceleste's tactical shortcomings, chaotic defending, a questionable midfield structure and barely any quality emanating from the wide areas, have all been papered over.
Argentina - The Messi Problem
There is only one way to stop Argentina: stop Messi. Switzerland know this. At 39, Messi is producing one of the great individual World Cup performances of the modern era. His 9 goal contributions in 6 matches makes him the Golden Boot leader at 2.15 on Duelbits, a price that reflects genuine statistical dominance, not just reputation.
Argentina's defence has been nervy, the comeback against Egypt exposed that this team can be hurt. But no team has successfully shut Messi down across a full knockout round.
Switzerland - History Makers
Switzerland advanced to the quarterfinals after its penalty shootout win over Colombia in the Round of 16. The Swiss have reached their first World Cup quarterfinals since 1954.
Switzerland can hang with the very best, but its lack of superstar quality is the reason this matchup is No. 4 on the ranking list. Granit Xhaka will need to man the midfield, while goalie Gregor Kobel will need to prove why he's one of the best shot-stoppers in the game. The Swiss will hope to get breakout forward Johan Manzambi back from a knock, too, as he possesses the individual brilliance to hurt Argentina's defense that is more susceptible than usual.
Kobel in goal is genuine world-class. If Switzerland are to cause an upset, and their 5.45 price gives them a genuine implied probability of ~18%, it runs through Kobel keeping Messi quiet and Manzambi exploiting Argentina's defensive fragility.
Best bet: Argentina to win at 1.71. The comeback vs Egypt settled them psychologically. Messi with 9 contributions is the most in-form player at the tournament. Switzerland at 5.45 is a speculative each-way punt on Kobel having the game of his life.
| Match | Selection | Duelbits Odds | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| France vs Morocco | France to win | 1.59 | 14-2 tournament goal diff, Mbappé in Golden Boot form, Saibari injury doubt |
| Spain vs Belgium | Spain to win | 1.64 | Zero goals conceded all tournament, Rodri peak form, defensive structure is the best in the QFs |
| Norway vs England | England to win | 1.85 | More complete team, tournament experience, Kane delivers in big moments |
| Norway vs England | Haaland anytime scorer | Check Duelbits | 62 goals in 54 Norway apps, in-form, Golden Boot longshot at 36.00 |
| Argentina vs Switzerland | Argentina to win | 1.71 | Messi with 9 contributions at 39, psychological boost from Egypt comeback |
| Golden Boot | Haaland each-way | 36.00 | Scores vs England here = suddenly in the race. Best long-range value bet on the entire QF card |
Bet on all four World Cup 2026 QF matches at Duelbits World Cup 26.
For our full tournament previews, see our World Cup 2026 winner predictions, and World Cup 26 Showdown guide, predict QF correct scores in Matchday 6 and compete for $8,000.
Which teams are in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals? France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina and Switzerland. All three co-hosts (USA, Canada, Mexico) were eliminated in the R16, along with Brazil, Portugal, Colombia and Egypt.
What are the QF fixtures and when do they kick off? France vs Morocco (Jul 9, Boston), Spain vs Belgium (Jul 10, Los Angeles), Norway vs England (Jul 11, Miami), Argentina vs Switzerland (Jul 12, Kansas City).
Who are the QF favourites on Duelbits? France (1.59) and Spain (1.64) are shortest, both vs Morocco and Belgium respectively. Argentina (1.71) and England (1.85) are next shortest. Norway are the longest QF price at 4.15.
How did Norway beat Brazil? Haaland scored twice. Norway won 2-1 at MetLife Stadium, one of the tournament's biggest upsets. It's Norway's first-ever World Cup quarterfinal.
How did Argentina survive against Egypt? They came back from 0-2 down with three goals in 13 minutes, one of the most improbable comebacks in World Cup history. Messi now has 9 goal contributions in 6 matches at age 39.
Who leads the Golden Boot? Messi leads at 2.15, Mbappé at 2.25 on Duelbits. Haaland at 36.00 is the longshot who could close the gap with a big performance against England.
What is the semi-final bracket? SF1 (Jul 14, Dallas): France/Morocco vs Spain/Belgium. SF2 (Jul 15, Atlanta): Norway/England vs Argentina/Switzerland. Final (Jul 19, New Jersey).
