The 2026 World Cup's 48-team format is no longer just theory — it is living tournament reality: after 95 matches and three knockout rounds, eight national teams and four quarterfinal matchups remain. Tonight at 23:00 Kyiv time in Boston the first of them kicks off — France against Morocco. The other three will be played by Saturday inclusive, and each carries its own tournament logic.
How the 48-team WC 2026 format shaped this final eight
A quick recap of the mechanics: the 48-team WC 2026 format featured 12 groups of four, where the top two finishers plus the eight best third-placed sides advanced to the Round of 16. From there it was a standard single-elimination bracket. That is precisely why the quarterfinals include more than just traditional powerhouses: Norway, Morocco and Switzerland are teams that in a different format might have been eliminated earlier. All three tournament hosts — Canada, Mexico and the United States — were knocked out in the Round of 16.
France vs. Morocco: revenge for 2022 or a new chapter?
These two sides have already met at the business end of a tournament: France won 2–0 in the 2022 World Cup semi-final. Now they meet again in a quarterfinal in Boston. France have played six matches and scored 14 goals, though in the Round of 16 against Paraguay they needed a Mbappé penalty to settle the tie. Morocco, for their part, arrive on a run of 10 consecutive wins and a 3–0 demolition of Canada in the Round of 16. There is one caveat, however: forward Ismaël Saïbari is dealing with a hamstring issue and his participation is in doubt — yet he is the man who scored three goals in the group stage. The key tactical knot: Deschamps builds France around a high press and quick transitions through Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise. Morocco counters with a double defensive midfield and Brahim Díaz as the chief creative force in attack.
Spain vs. Belgium: an impenetrable defence against a rampant attack
Spain are the only team in the tournament yet to concede a single goal. Goalkeeper Unai Simón has not been beaten for 609 consecutive minutes — an absolute World Cup record. Belgium, meanwhile, have scored 9 goals in their last two matches and thrashed the United States 4–1 in the Round of 16. The match takes place on Friday, 10 July, at 22:00 Kyiv time in Los Angeles. The question is simple: can the Belgian attack break the Spanish lock that nobody has managed to pick throughout the entire tournament?
Norway vs. England and Argentina vs. Switzerland: the late-night half of the bracket
On Saturday, 12 July, at 00:00 Kyiv time — Norway face England. Haaland scored both goals in the 2–1 win over Brazil and shares the top of the scoring charts with Mbappé and Messi (7 goals each). England beat Mexico 3–2, playing the majority of the second half with ten men. At 04:00 Kyiv time — Argentina face Switzerland. The reigning champions came back from 0–2 down against Egypt to win 3–2 thanks to goals from Romero, Messi and Fernández in the final 13 minutes. Switzerland are in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1954, having beaten Colombia on penalties 4–3.
Scenarios
- France win in normal time. The most likely outcome given their form and squad depth. If Saïbari does not play or is limited in his mobility, Morocco lose their primary weapon of pressure in the final third. France advance to the semi-finals and await the winner of Spain vs. Belgium.
- Morocco force extra time or a penalty shootout. A realistic scenario: the Atlas Lions already have penalty-shootout experience from their Round of 16 tie against the Netherlands. If Morocco sit deep and impose a positional battle, France may struggle to find the key — especially without Tchouaméni, who is out with a groin injury.
- Spain keep their clean sheet, Belgium go out. If Spain control possession and deny De Ketelaere and Trossard the space between the lines, the Belgian attack may prove less effective than it was against the United States. In that case, the semi-final would feature a new-generation Iberian derby against France or Morocco.
Read more about how the 48-team format shaped a Round of 16 bracket with no weak matchups, and why these eight teams are a logical product of the tournament's mechanics rather than a coincidence.
Tonight, watch how Morocco set up their defensive block and whether Saïbari starts from the first minute — that will define the tactical shape of the entire match. Tomorrow brings Spain vs. Belgium: a test of whether the Red Devils have a plan against the tournament's best defence. Both matches are key to understanding who is genuinely in contention for the final on 19 July in New York. More on the three decisive evenings of the WC 2026 format — in our dedicated piece.
See also: Argentina survived Cape Verde's miracle, Egypt advanced on penalties: the night of…
Photo: via worldcupwiki.com · Editorial (source)
