2026 World Cup Quarterfinal Predictions: Expert Picks for Every Match

The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals are here, with the final eight teams battling for a spot in the semifinals. From defending contenders to surprise packages, these knockout clashes promise high drama starting Thursday, July 9.

France faces Morocco, Spain takes on Belgium, England meets Norway, and Lionel Messi’s Argentina battles Switzerland. Here are the USA TODAY Sports experts' 2026 World Cup bracket predictions and scorelines for all quarterfinal matches.

Quarterfinal Schedule and Expert Picks


France vs Morocco

Date: July 9, 2026

Venue: Foxborough, Massachusetts


Jon Arnold: France 2-0 Morocco  

Seth Vertelney: France 3-1 Morocco  

Jesse Yomtov: France 2-0 Morocco  

Victoria Hernandez: France 3-1 Morocco

Consensus: France advances comfortably. The 2022 runners-up are heavy favorites against the 2022 fourth-place finishers.

Spain vs Belgium

Date: July 10, 2026

Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

Jon Arnold: Spain 2-1 Belgium  

Seth Vertelney: Spain 2-1 Belgium  

Jesse Yomtov: Spain 1-0 Belgium  

Victoria Hernandez: Spain 2-1 Belgium

Consensus: Spain is the clear pick across the board. The Spaniards’ style and depth should edge out a dangerous Belgian side.


England vs Norway

Date: July 11, 2026

Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami


Jon Arnold: Norway 0-3 England  

Seth Vertelney: Norway 2-1 England  

Jesse Yomtov: Norway 1-2 England (AET)  

Victoria Hernandez: Norway 2-3 England

Consensus: England is favored by three out of four experts, though Vertelney believes Norway can pull off a major upset.


Argentina vs Switzerland

Date: July 11, 2026

Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City


Jon Arnold: Argentina 1-0 Switzerland  

Seth Vertelney: Argentina 2-1 Switzerland  

Jesse Yomtov: Argentina 3-0 Switzerland  

Victoria Hernandez: Argentina 2-1 Switzerland

Consensus: All experts predict Argentina to advance. Lionel Messi and company remain strong contenders for the title.Path to the FinalWinners of these quarterfinals will advance to the semifinals on July 14 and 15. The 2026 World Cup final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.



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