Quarter-final preview: the top four scorers are all still standing, Haaland faces Kane and France-Morocco replays the Qatar semi-final

The 2026 World Cup reaches its biggest week. With the round of 16 now in the rear-view mirror, eight nations will fight from 9 to 12 July for a place in semi-finals that are starting to smell of silverware. Four sudden-death games, no room for error, and a star-studded bill that promises fireworks. And one stat to frame it all: the tournament's top four scorers are all still standing, each dragging their nation along.

The run gets under way on Thursday 9 July, at Boston's Gillette Stadium, with a heavyweight tie steeped in recent history: France-Morocco. It is a replay of the Qatar 2022 semi-final, which the French won (2-0) on their way to the final. Kylian Mbappé arrives in red-hot form —seven goals, tied at the top— and France, who thrashed Sweden in the last 32, start as favourites. But Morocco are once again the great surprise of the bracket: they knocked out the Netherlands in the round of 32 and thrashed Canada (0-3) in the last 16, and dream of avenging the same side who ended their run four years ago.

On Friday 10, at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, Spain-Belgium pits two in-form contenders against each other. Spain arrive buoyant after winning the Iberian derby against Portugal (1-0) with a Merino goal in stoppage time, and Belgium, after sweeping the United States aside (1-4) with a De Ketelaere double, are one of the tournament's attacking machines. It is perhaps the only quarter-final without one of the four top scorers, but also the one that pits two of the most technically gifted sides against each other.

On Saturday 11, at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, comes the strikers' duel: Norway-England puts Erling Haaland (7 goals) face to face with Harry Kane (6), the two most decisive number nines of the round. Norway are the revelation: they knocked out none other than Brazil (2-1) with a Haaland double, and now meet an England side who beat Mexico (3-2) with ten men and a Bellingham double. Whoever wins, one of the great marksmen will bow out.

And closing the bracket, in the early hours of Sunday 12 July, is Argentina-Switzerland. The world champions arrive with their pride stirred after coming from 0-2 down to beat Egypt in stoppage time, with a Messi still leading the scoring charts (7 goals) despite missing a penalty. Opposite them, a stubborn, cool-headed Switzerland who knocked Colombia out on penalties (0-0, 4-3) thanks to goalkeeper Kobel. Argentina are favourites, but the Swiss have proved there is no shifting them from their script.

In the race for the Golden Boot, the quartet of marksmen could not be tighter: Messi, Haaland and Mbappé share top spot on seven goals, with Kane lurking on six. That all four are still alive —and spread across three of the four quarter-finals— turns this round into an early final for the top-scorer trophy too. You can follow the full bracket, the kick-off times and how it all unfolds on our knockout page.