The 2026 FIFA World Cup is absolutely electric right now, with just four teams left standing and the semifinals officially locked in! We've seen some incredible action, and now it's all coming down to the wire as the biggest World Cup in history delivers on its promise of pure intrigue.
Quarterfinal Madness: The Road to the Final Four
The knockout stages kicked off way back on June 28 with the Round of 32, which ran until July 3. Then we had the Round of 16 from July 4-7, setting the stage for some epic quarterfinal battles. On Thursday, July 9, France squared off against Morocco and came out on top with a 2-0 victory. The next day, July 10, Spain kept the momentum going, beating Belgium 1-0 in a tight match. Saturday, July 11, saw England take down Norway 2-1, a huge win for them. And then, just yesterday on Sunday, July 12, Argentina delivered a three goal burst, beating Switzerland 3-1 to cement their spot!Semifinal Showdowns and the Ultimate Prize
Now, we know who's playing for a shot at glory. The semifinals are set to be absolutely bananas! On Tuesday, July 14, it's France versus Spain. Talk about a heavyweight clash! Then, on Wednesday, July 15, England goes up against Argentina. Can you even imagine the intensity? These are the matchups we've been waiting for. The winners of these two battles will earn their ticket to the ultimate showdown, the 2026 World Cup final. That huge match is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET, right there at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This whole World Cup has been a masterclass in how a bracket works, with 32 of the 48 teams making it past the group stage. The top two finishers from each group grabbed 24 automatic spots, and then the eight best third-place teams snagged the remaining slots, ranked by points and goal differential. The entire knockout stage bracket was predetermined, meaning group winners avoided playing each other until potentially the final. It's all been leading to this moment! Who's gonna make it to MetLife? Who's going to lift that trophy on July 19? Get ready, because these next few days are going to be absolutely wild as we find out who truly is the best in the world!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.