The World Cup has reduced the number of teams from 48 to eight, with quarter-finals and the finish line ahead of us.
As the end of the business approaches, these games are not to be missed. Find out the who, where and when, and find out what to expect from these monumental matches.
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France vs Morocco
Friday, July 10th at 6am EST (5:30am ACST, 4am PT) at Boston Stadium.
Will anyone be able to stop France? This is the question that will define this quarter-final against Morocco, and indeed the rest of the 2026 World Cup.
Les Bleu have been virtually unstoppable so far, their brilliant four-pronged attack of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola or Désiré Douhet a joy to watch, even if they had to contend with a tough Paraguay last time out.
France have been in devastating form throughout the World Cup so far. (Getty Images: Tom Weller)
However, Morocco will come into the game and will certainly not be as defensive as Paraguay in their ill-fated attempt to thwart the French.
Flying full-back Achraf Hakimi is in good form and young midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi has always been an eye-catcher, although there are doubts over the fitness of key striker Ismael Saibari.
Make no mistake, it would be a shame if Morocco won this game. But this is by far the toughest test France has ever faced, and its credentials will be questioned like never before.
The winner will play against Spain or Belgium.
Spain vs Belgium
Saturday, July 11, 5am AEST (4:30am ACST, 3am AWST) at Los Angeles Stadium.
Before the round of 16, it would have been fair to say that Spain would be clear favorites against a Belgian team that stuttered in the early stages.
But that all changed in the final round when Belgium produced a composed, professional, ruthless and highly impressive performance to beat the United States 4-1 at home.
Belgium played a sensational role in the match against the USA. (Getty Images: Alex Grimm)
Meanwhile Spain, who appeared to be at their best in the round of 16 against Austria, stuttered to a 1-0 win over Portugal.
Spain will be looking to retain possession and beat Belgium, while the Red Devils showed against the USA they are prepared to be more direct and dynamic if they achieve their goal. With superstars on both sides, this has the potential to go big.
The winner will play France or Morocco.
Norway vs England
Sunday, July 12, 7:00 AEST (6:30 AM ACST, 5 AM AWST) at Miami Stadium.
Erling Haaland has scored in each of Norway’s last 14 international games. (Getty Images: Al Bello)
Norway advanced to the final eight for the first time, edging past a weak Brazilian team thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland.
They will take on an England team that descended into hellfire at the Azteca and emerged victorious despite being reduced to 10 men in the final half hour of the game.
English Aztec thriller
The certainty that such a result could occur is incredible. However, they should also avoid falling into the trap of feeling like their date in Miami with so many familiar faces will take place the morning after the previous evening.
The most familiar and fearsome of these faces is certainly Haaland, who now has seven goals in this World Cup and could strike the same primal fear in the hearts of the Englishmen he faces on Sunday that his ancestors did during their raids in the ninth century.
He has scored in each of his last 14 caps for Norway and, with Ståle Solbakken building his entire squad around a huge Nordic star, England know where they need to focus their increasingly threadbare defense to reach the next semi-final.
But Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are both in great form; Kane is the only striker who can match Haaland’s prowess this season, scoring a whopping 73 goals for club and country.
The winner will play Argentina or Switzerland.
Argentina vs Switzerland
Sunday, July 12, 11:00 AEST (10:30 ACST, 9:00 AWST) at Kansas City Stadium.
Lionel Messi’s aura inspires Argentina. (Getty Images: Photo Alliance/Tom Weller)
Argentina have had to fight for their lives in both knockout games so far, given Cape Verde’s surprisingly tough time in Miami, before securing all comebacks to defeat Egypt in Atlanta.
On the other hand, Switzerland looked pretty solid, winning Group B and edging out a disappointing Algeria in the round of 16.
The situation is completely different in Colombia, with the Swiss perhaps riding their luck against the horribly wasteful South Americans in Vancouver.
If Lionel Messi, who has scored more goals and provided more assists than anyone at any World Cup in history, is given the same opportunities as Colombia in Kansas City, one imagines the Swiss will have to find a way to score if they want to advance.
That said, the defending champions have looked desperately vulnerable at times, falling into the trap of thinking they can all ease off the gas and hope Messi will pull them out of the hole.
The winner will play Norway or England.