World Cup 2026: Full quarter-final schedule – Dates, venues and kick-off times

Morocco will face France in one of the most anticipated quarter-final matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Atlas Lions aiming to continue their remarkable journey at the tournament and carry African hopes on the global stage.

The quarter-final fixtures have been confirmed after an exciting round of matches at the World Cup, which is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Morocco and France have both secured their places among the final eight teams after impressive performances in the expanded 48-team competition, which is being held for the first time under the new format.

Morocco’s dream run keeps African hopes alive

The 2026 World Cup has produced a series of thrilling encounters, with the increased number of participating nations creating more opportunities for dramatic results and unexpected progress.

Morocco’s qualification for the last eight has attracted significant attention across Africa, as supporters continue to follow the Atlas Lions’ attempt to achieve another historic milestone after becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022.

Their meeting with defending champions France promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the quarter-final stage, bringing together two teams with recent World Cup success and strong squads.

Quarter-final schedule confirmed

The quarter-final stage will begin with the highly anticipated clash between France and Morocco on Thursday, 9 July 2026, at Boston Stadium.

The remaining fixtures will see Spain take on Belgium on Friday, 10 July, while Norway will battle England on Sunday, 12 July. Argentina will complete the quarter-final line-up when they face Switzerland later that day.

The full schedule is as follows:

A World Cup full of surprises

The 2026 tournament has already delivered memorable moments, with the expanded format increasing the number of competitive matches and creating opportunities for teams outside the traditional football powers to make an impact.

As the competition moves closer to the final, Morocco remain one of the biggest stories of the tournament, with millions of African supporters hoping the Atlas Lions can continue their historic charge and reach another landmark stage in World Cup history.