An exciting weekend of football is on the horizon with the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Here’s your guide to what’s ahead in these thrilling matches.
Make sure to catch all the action live, completely free, via SBS On Demand.
France v Morocco
This is a moment to savor for future generations.
Making its mark on football history, the last African team standing in the tournament, Morocco, advanced to the quarter-finals with a stunning 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada. Steering the team with exemplary leadership is captain and elite right back Achraf Hakimi as they prepare to face their former colonizers, France.
Adding another layer of drama, this encounter is a re-match. Morocco first etched their name in history by reaching the quarter-finals in the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar, marking the first time an Arab country hosted the event. They became the first Arab-speaking nation to reach this stage of the competition.
However, they did one better and advanced to the semi-finals, where they went down 2-0 against France, ultimately finishing fourth in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Les Bleus came achingly close to glory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, coming second to Argentina. This time, France won’t settle until they’ve lifted the Cup.
Star striker and captain Kylian Mbappé has scored seven goals so far this tournament.
His 70th-minute penalty against Paraguay in the Round of 16 sealed France’s spot in the quarter-finals, and put him one goal behind Lionel Messi’s all-time 20-goal record.
France v Morocco: Kick-off 6am AEST Friday 10 July. Watch it live and free on SBS or stream on SBS On Demand.
Spain v Belgium
Spain took down neighbour Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16, sending one of the world’s most decorated footballers, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, home from a World Cup for the final time.
La Roja won the Cup in South Africa in 2010, but they scraped through against Portugal with a goal at 90+1 minutes. Can Spain go all the way?
They’ll be taking on an in-form Belgium, fresh from their domination of the USA in their Round of 16 clash.
Their 4-1 win over the World Cup hosts will fill the team with confidence as they prepare for Spain.
But Belgium have never bested their third-place result in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Spain v Belgium: Kick-off 5am AEST Saturday 11 July. Watch it live and for free on SBS or stream it on SBS On Demand.
Norway v England
Norway stunned five-time world champions Brazil with a 2-1 win in the Round of 16, thanks in part to striker Erling Haaland, whose aloof presence on and off the field has turned him into a breakout celebrity of the World Cup.
Or maybe it’s a switch in Norway’s approach to youth sports that’s spurred the Nordic nation into its first-ever World Cup quarter-final.
Norway will face England in the quarter-final, a country they famously once invaded. England have had a shakier run this World Cup, coming from behind to see off Congo DR in the Round of 32.
But their hard-won 3-2 victory against Mexico at the high-altitude Estadio Azteca was a win for the ages and the confidence boost they were looking for.
England v Norway: Kick-off 7am AEST Sunday 12 July. Watch it live and free on SBS or SBS On Demand.
Argentina v Switzerland
Our final quarter-final match-up will see legend Lionel Messi lead Argentina as they chase back-to-back World Cup titles. They’re one of the World Cup’s most successful teams, having won the trophy three times.
The South American side beat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16, but their path hasn’t been easy. They struggled against Cape Verde, and again looked down and out when two Egypt goals put the Pharoahs in touching distance of victory.
Switzerland, meanwhile, saw off Colombia in a nail-biting penalty shootout after neither side scored a goal in regular time during their Round of 16 match.
Switzerland have a lot to play for. Their last quarter-final was in 1954, and the side have never won a World Cup. Can they beat Argentina and Messi, the World Cup’s frontrunner for the Golden Boot (awarded to the tournament’s top scorer)?
Argentina v Switzerland: Kick-off 11am AEST Sunday 12 July. Watch it live on SBS or SBS On Demand.
You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.