Quarterfinal matchups confirmed as Egypt challenges officiating decisions and FIFA faces political scrutiny.
Published On 8 Jul 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals are now set following a thrilling round of 16 that featured dramatic comebacks, penalty shootouts, and unexpected results. France, Morocco, Norway, England, Spain, Belgium, Argentina, and Switzerland will compete in four highly anticipated matches across the United States.
Beyond the on-field drama, the tournament continues to grapple with controversy. Egypt has raised concerns about officiating bias after its narrow 3-2 loss to Argentina, while FIFA faces renewed criticism over its handling of disciplinary matters involving the USA team and high-profile interventions.
Quarterfinal Results from Round of 16:
- Morocco defeated Canada 3-0
- France defeated Paraguay 1-0
- Norway defeated Brazil 2-1
- England defeated Mexico 3-2
- Spain defeated Portugal 1-0
- Belgium defeated the USA 4-1
- Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2
- Switzerland defeated Colombia 4-3 on penalties
Quarterfinal Match Schedule
- France vs Morocco on Thursday, July 9, at 4pm (20:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, United States
- Spain vs Belgium on Friday, July 10, at noon (19:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, United States
- Norway vs England on Saturday, July 11, at 5pm (21:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, United States
- Argentina vs Switzerland on Saturday, July 11, at 8pm (01:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, United States
Ongoing Tournament Controversies
The controversy intensified after FIFA controversially overturned USA striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension following a public appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump. Though Balogun returned for the USA’s 4-1 round-of-16 loss to Belgium, the incident raised serious questions about external political influence on football governing bodies.
Two USA team staff members—Sam Zapatka and Frank Pannell—were suspended by FIFA ahead of the round-of-16 match against Belgium. FIFA did not disclose the reasons for the disciplinary action, and the U.S. Soccer Federation declined to comment on whether the suspension was connected to the Balogun controversy.
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