World Cup 2026 · Day 28

Argentina rally from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 and Switzerland edge Colombia on penalties, completing the quarter-final field as the round of 8 opens Thursday with France against Morocco

The 2026 World Cup round of 16 is complete. On Tuesday 7 July, Argentina trailed Egypt 2-0 with eleven minutes left before Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez struck to win 3-2, while Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a goalless game, taking the last two quarter-final places. Wednesday 8 July is a rest day. The quarter-finals run from Thursday 9 July to Saturday 11 July, opening with France against Morocco in Foxborough, a rematch of the 2022 semi-final. Five verified stories.

8 July 2026 · WorldCuply.com daily news archive

Round of 16

Argentina come from 2-0 down with eleven minutes left to beat Egypt 3-2 and reach the quarter-finals

Argentina beat Egypt 3-2 at Atlanta Stadium on 7 July, per NBC News, Yahoo Sports and Al Jazeera. Egypt led 2-0 through Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico before Argentina scored three times late on, with Cristian Romero (79), Lionel Messi (83) and Enzo Fernandez (90+2) completing the comeback with eleven minutes remaining when the second goal went in. The three time world champions advance to the last eight.

Sources: NBC News · Yahoo Sports · Al Jazeera
Round of 16

Switzerland edge Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a goalless game to reach the last eight

Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties at BC Place in Vancouver on 7 July, after the match finished goalless through 90 minutes and extra time, per Al Jazeera, FOX Sports and World Soccer Talk. It was the last quarter-final tie to be decided, and Switzerland join the round of 8, where they will meet Argentina in Kansas City on 11 July.

Sources: Al Jazeera · FOX Sports · World Soccer Talk
Bracket

The quarter-final field is complete: France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina and Switzerland

With the round of 16 finished on 7 July, the eight quarter-finalists are confirmed, per FOX Sports, Sky Sports and Olympics.com. The matchups are France against Morocco, Spain against Belgium, Norway against England and Argentina against Switzerland. Only the four losing sides of the round of 8 will exit next, with the winners moving into the semi-finals on 14 and 15 July.

Sources: FOX Sports · Sky Sports · Olympics.com
Schedule

Quarter-finals run 9 to 11 July across four host cities, opening with France against Morocco in Foxborough

The 2026 World Cup quarter-finals are played from 9 to 11 July, all in the United States, per ESPN, Al Jazeera and TNT Sports. France against Morocco opens the round on Thursday 9 July at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Spain against Belgium follows on Friday 10 July in Inglewood, and Saturday 11 July brings a double header, Norway against England in Miami Gardens and Argentina against Switzerland in Kansas City.

Sources: ESPN · Al Jazeera · TNT Sports
Preview

France against Morocco, a rematch of the 2022 semi-final, opens the round of 8 on Thursday

The quarter-finals begin with a repeat of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, when France beat Morocco 2-0 in Qatar, per TNT Sports and Yahoo Sports. This time the sides meet on 9 July at Gillette Stadium, with Morocco arriving as the team that knocked out co-hosts Canada and France through after beating Paraguay. The winner advances to a semi-final in Dallas on 14 July.

Sources: TNT Sports · Yahoo Sports