The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached the quarter-finals and the four remaining matches will determine who competes for the title at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. France have already booked their semi-final place, beating Morocco 2-0 in Boston with a Mbappé goal and Dembélé sealer. Now three more quarter-finals will be played across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to confirm the final four.
The draw has produced extraordinary matchups: England face Norway and Haaland in Miami. Spain and Belgium contest a European heavyweight clash in Los Angeles. And Argentina with Messi seeking a fifth World Cup triumph meet Switzerland in Kansas City. For football fans across Kenya and the entire African continent following every moment of this extraordinary tournament, here is the complete guide to the quarter-final bracket, all fixtures in East Africa Time (EAT), and the routes to the final.
✅ Already in the Semi-Finals
- 🇫🇷 France — beat Morocco 2-0 (Mbappé 60′, Dembélé 66′) — Boston, July 9
France face the winner of Spain vs Belgium in the semi-final on Tuesday July 14 at 11pm EAT in Arlington, Texas.
All Four Quarter-Final Fixtures Full Schedule in East Africa Time (EAT)
| Date (EAT) | Fixture | Venue | KO (EAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Jul 9 | 🇫🇷 France 2-0 Morocco 🇲🇦 | Boston | RESULT |
| Fri Jul 10 | 🇪🇸 Spain vs Belgium 🇧🇪 | Los Angeles | 11pm EAT |
| Sat Jul 11 | 🏴 England vs Norway 🇳🇴 | Miami | 1am EAT (Sun) |
| Sun Jul 12 | 🇦🇷 Argentina vs Switzerland 🇨🇭 | Kansas City | 5am EAT |
England vs Norway: The Haaland Test That Will Define England’s World Cup
The most eagerly anticipated fixture of the quarter-final round and for English supporters, the match that will determine whether this generation of Three Lions players finally delivers a first World Cup semi-final since 1990. England face Norway at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday evening, with kickoff at 1am EAT in the early hours of Sunday July 12.
The surface narrative centres on the Haaland question. The Manchester City striker who rested for Norway’s group-stage loss to France and then exploded with five goals in the knockout rounds arrives at this quarter-final as the most physically imposing striker England have faced in the entire tournament. Haaland has scored five 2026 World Cup goals, including the historic 85th-minute winner against Ivory Coast that gave Norway their first-ever World Cup knockout victory.
England’s defensive case is built on the Konsa-Guehi partnership that delivered the heroic 10-man performance against Mexico, supplemented by the returning John Stones. The right-back position remains unresolved with Reece James’ hamstring situation still uncertain and Quansah suspended following his red card against Mexico. Djed Spence’s availability and form will be critical.
Tuchel’s key offensive question is whether Gordon who won the decisive penalty against Mexico and has now contributed two consecutive knockout-stage assists starts ahead of one of the wingers who have been inconsistent throughout. The England manager’s selection choices in Miami could define England’s tournament.
Has England ever beaten Norway at a World Cup?
England and Norway have met at previous World Cups most memorably in the 1994 World Cup group stage, where Norway defeated England 2-0, with Rekdal’s goal sending Norway through. A quarter-final meeting in 2026 represents the highest-stakes encounter between the two nations in World Cup history and provides England with the opportunity for historical revenge on the grandest possible stage.
Spain vs Belgium: The European Heavyweight Quarter-Final in Los Angeles
Spain and Belgium meet in Los Angeles on Friday evening the quarter-final that will determine France’s semi-final opponent at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Tuesday July 14. Kickoff is at 11pm EAT on Friday.
Spain arrive as the European champions Lamine Yamal’s brilliance having been the defining feature of a tournament campaign that has confirmed the Barcelona teenager as the most exciting young talent in world football. Their defensive solidity, midfield control through Pedri and Gavi, and Yamal’s match-winning individual quality gives the 2024 Euros holders every reason to be confident of a semi-final place.
Belgium enter as one of the tournament’s most credible dark horses their squad featuring the depth and experience of a generation that promised much and has now, at this World Cup, begun delivering on that promise at the critical moments. The combination of Kevin De Bruyne’s creative intelligence even at 34, one of the best passers in world football with Romelu Lukaku’s physical imposing presence gives Belgium a tactical blueprint that Spain’s high defensive line must be alert to.
The winner faces France in the semi-finals a prospect that will concentrate minds considerably on both sides. A Belgium semi-final against France represents a match of enormous cultural and sporting weight between neighbouring nations. A Spain vs France semi-final would be a rematch of the 2024 European Championship final that Spain won 2-1 with revenge on France’s minds and Mbappé’s eight tournament goals making the fixture the most anticipated individual duel available.
Argentina vs Switzerland: Messi’s Path Back to the World Cup Final
The final quarter-final of the round Argentina vs Switzerland in Kansas City on Sunday morning at 5am EAT pits the tournament’s record-breaking individual story against one of European football’s most disciplined defensive systems.
Lionel Messi holds the all-time World Cup goals record with 18 set during the group stage after a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria and the defending champions arrive at the quarter-final stage with the momentum and collective quality of a team that has not been pushed to their limits at any point in this tournament. Messi’s supporting cast Di María, Julián Álvarez, and Mac Allister in particular have ensured Argentina are genuinely dangerous from every area of the pitch and not solely dependent on their captain’s brilliance for results.
Switzerland, under their highly organised defensive structure, represent the kind of opponent that neutralises individual quality through disciplined zonal defending and disciplined shape management. Their run to the quarter-finals has been built on exactly the qualities that test Argentina’s patience: compact lines, quick transitions, and the clinical finishing of Breel Embolo when the counter-attacking opportunities arrive.
The winner faces the Norway-England winner in the semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday July 15 creating the possibility of an Argentina vs England semi-final that would be one of the most loaded fixtures in football’s geopolitical and sporting history, or an Argentina vs Norway encounter that would give Haaland the chance to face Messi on the World Cup’s penultimate stage.
Semi-Finals, Final & the Full Remaining Schedule (EAT)
📅 Full Remaining 2026 World Cup Schedule (EAT)
Quarter-Finals
- 🇫🇷 France 2-0 Morocco — RESULT (Boston, Jul 9)
- 🇪🇸 Spain vs Belgium 🇧🇪 — Fri Jul 10, 11pm EAT — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- 🏴 England vs Norway 🇳🇴 — Sat Jul 11, 1am EAT (Sun) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- 🇦🇷 Argentina vs Switzerland 🇨🇭 — Sun Jul 12, 5am EAT — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Semi-Finals
- 🇫🇷 France vs Spain/Belgium — Tue Jul 14, 11pm EAT — AT&T Stadium, Arlington
- 🏴/🇳🇴 Norway/England vs Argentina/Switzerland — Wed Jul 15, 11pm EAT — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
🏆 World Cup Final
- Sun Jul 19, 11pm EAT — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
🏴 England’s Potential Route to the Final
- Quarter-final (Sat Jul 11, 1am EAT — Miami): 🏴 England vs Norway 🇳🇴
- Semi-final (Wed Jul 15, 11pm EAT — Atlanta): Winner vs Argentina or Switzerland
- Final (Sun Jul 19, 11pm EAT — New Jersey): Winner vs France/Spain/Belgium
Frequently Asked Questions: 2026 World Cup Quarter-Finals
Who are the four 2026 World Cup quarter-finalists?
The four 2026 World Cup quarter-finals feature France vs Morocco (already played France won 2-0), Spain vs Belgium, England vs Norway, and Argentina vs Switzerland. The four semi-finalists will be confirmed after the weekend’s matches.
When does England play Norway in the World Cup quarter-final?
England face Norway in the World Cup quarter-final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday July 11 kickoff at 1am EAT in the early hours of Sunday July 12. The winner advances to the semi-final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday July 15 at 11pm EAT.
Who does France play in the semi-finals?
France — who have already qualified for the semi-finals after beating Morocco 2-0 will face the winner of Spain vs Belgium. That quarter-final is played on Friday July 10 at 11pm EAT in Los Angeles. The France semi-final is on Tuesday July 14 at 11pm EAT at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Can England reach the World Cup final?
Yes England’s route to the final is entirely within their own hands. Beat Norway in Miami, then face either Argentina or Switzerland in the Atlanta semi-final, and they could be in the MetLife Stadium final on July 19. It would be England’s first World Cup final since 1966 and the first World Cup semi-final since Italia ’90 if they make the last four.
When is the 2026 World Cup final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is on Sunday July 19 at 11pm EAT at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. Visit the FIFA official website for confirmed semi-final results and final broadcast information. Kenyan fans can watch live on DStv SuperSport.
How many goals has Mbappé scored at the 2026 World Cup?
Kylian Mbappé has scored 8 goals at the 2026 World Cup including a brace against Morocco in the quarter-final. He has three assists alongside his goals tally and is the outright leader in the Golden Boot race. With a minimum of one semi-final and potentially a final still to play, his total could rise further before the tournament concludes.
