We are officially down to the final eight of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the drama across North America has been nothing short of spectacular. From heavyweights surviving scares to absolute shockers in the Round of 16, the stage is set for a historic weekend of football.
Here is how the quarter-finals are shaping up:
France vs. Morocco, Thursday 9th July 11pm EAT
This is a mouthwatering rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final. Morocco continues to prove that their run in Qatar was no fluke, coming off a commanding 3-0 demolition of Canada in the Round of 16. The Atlas Lions’ defensive structure remains elite, and they will look to frustrate a French squad that knows how to grind out results, evidenced by their tight 1-0 win over Paraguay. The defining battle will be between France’s midfield engine room trying to unlock Morocco’s deep defensive block.
Spain vs. Belgium, Friday 10th July 10pm EAT
Spain comes into this clash riding the high of a dramatic stoppage-time winner to knock out Iberian rivals Portugal 1-0. Their possession-heavy, suffocating style will be put to the ultimate test against a Belgian side that ruthlessly dismantled the host nation, the USA, 4-1. This shapes up as a classic possession versus transition match, where Spain will attempt to dictate the tempo while Belgium looks to capitalize on the counter-attack with pace.
Norway vs. England, Sunday July 11 Midnight EAT
The biggest shockwaves of the Round of 16 came from Norway, who sent Brazil packing in a 2-1 upset. Erling Haaland was unstoppable, bagging both goals to tie for the Golden Boot lead. The Scandinavians now face an England side that showed immense grit to overcome Mexico 3-2, despite playing a large chunk of the match down to 10 men. England’s backline faces a monumental challenge in containing a red-hot Haaland, relying on their tournament resilience to advance.
Argentina vs. Switzerland, July 11 4am EAT
The defending world champions are still alive. Lionel Messi and Argentina survived a massive 3-2 scare against Egypt to keep their back-to-back title dreams intact. On the other side, Switzerland is in dreamland, having held their nerve to beat Colombia on penalties to reach their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954. Switzerland’s goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, was immense in the shootout and will need another heroic performance to hold off an Argentine side bringing unmatched championship pedigree.
Keep it locked on sportsbiz.co.ke for more post-match coverage, business insights, and tournament updates as we head toward the final!
