The 2026 World Cup is getting absolutely wild as we head into the quarter-finals, and trust me, nobody in the Emerald City saw some of this coming. Eight nations got sent home in the knockout round, and that list includes some absolute shockers: Brazil, Portugal, AND all three host nations, USA, Canada, and Mexico! My jaw hit the floor when I heard Brazil, with Carlo Ancelotti trying to get that sixth star, just succumbed to Erling Haaland and Norway. That’s a massive upset. Portugal got sent packing too, along with our own USMNT after that whole Folarin Balogun ban controversy, which felt pretty dirty, honestly. Losing our guys early always stings.
The Heavyweights Are Out, But England's Got That Vibe
Okay, so the tournament favorites haven't exactly played it safe. Brazil and Portugal are gone, which just changes the whole landscape, doesn't it? But get this, 12s: England just went full beast mode, delivering an all-time great World Cup performance to dump Mexico out! They beat Mexico at altitude, becoming only the third team EVER to beat a co-host at the Estadio Azteca in a competitive match. That's a statement win, through and through. You gotta respect that grit. Spain needed a last-gasp Mikel Merino winner to break Portuguese hearts, including Cristiano Ronaldo's. Can you imagine the scenes? And Argentina also had to pull a stoppage-time miracle to keep going. Talk about high drama when everything's on the line!France Is Rolling, Spain's Finding Their Stride
While some teams are scrapping for their lives, France looks like the undeniable team to beat right now. Didier Deschamps has put together an untouchable unit, powered by those unleashed attacking ranks. They bagged 10 goals in the group stage, then three more past Sweden. Even their 1-0 win over a "dirty Paraguay side" felt earned, especially with Kylian Mbappe hitting his 19th World Cup goal. Nineteen! Klose's record has been blown out of the water twice this tournament, how insane is that? Spain, who came in as pre-tournament favorites, had a super shaky start with that frustrating 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, a real early shocker. But Lamine Yamal is back fit, they thrashed Saudi Arabia, and topped their group by overcoming Uruguay in a fiery clash. After brushing Austria aside 3-0, that win over Portugal really showed they're finally clicking and becoming potential winners. This World Cup is shaping up to be absolutely epic, with so many twists and turns already. All those questions about a 48-team World Cup diluting the quality? Definitely not a factor now that we're down to the best eight. The quarter-finals are set. Who's got the juice to go all the way and lift that trophy? I'm already buzzing for what happens next!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.