The 2026 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals take place from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 July across four host cities in the United States. Four matches over four days reduce the field to the final four nations, with the semi-finalists on 14 and 15 July and the final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July determined by the results of these decisive ties.
What are the FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals?
The FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals are the stage at which the final eight nations compete for four semi-final places. Four single-leg matches are played on successive days, each decisive: a loss ends a nation’s tournament entirely. Winning a quarter-final guarantees a team a place in the last four of the biggest sporting event in the world.
In the expanded 2026 format, teams reaching the quarter-finals have already won three successive knockout matches (Round of 32, Round of 16, and the path from the group stage). The physical and tactical demands of reaching this stage are significant, and the quarter-finalists represent the eight strongest and most resilient nations remaining in the tournament.
When are the FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals 2026?
One match per day across four days:
- Thursday 9 July: Quarter-Final 1 — Gillette Stadium, Boston, kick-off 16:00 ET (21:00 BST)
- Friday 10 July: Quarter-Final 2 — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, kick-off 15:00 PT (23:00 BST)
- Saturday 11 July: Quarter-Final 3 — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, kick-off 17:00 ET (22:00 BST)
- Sunday 12 July: Quarter-Final 4 — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, kick-off 16:00 ET (21:00 BST)
Each match is 90 minutes, with 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty shootout if required to determine the winner.
Where are the FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals?
Gillette Stadium, Boston (Foxborough, MA): Home of the New England Patriots, with a capacity of 65,878. Boston’s large European immigrant population makes it one of the most football-passionate host cities in the United States.
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (Inglewood, CA): The most technologically advanced stadium in North America, with a capacity of 70,240. Opened in 2020 and the main Olympic stadium for the LA 2028 Games.
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami (Miami Gardens, FL): Home of the Miami Dolphins, capacity 65,326. Hosted Copa America 2024 matches. Miami’s large Latin American population ensures an electric atmosphere.
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (Kansas City, MO): Home of the Kansas City Chiefs, widely regarded as the loudest NFL stadium. Capacity 76,416.
Key Contenders
By the quarter-final stage, the remaining eight teams will represent the pinnacle of international football in 2026. Based on current form and tournament pedigree, the most likely contenders to reach this round include:
European favourites: France, with Kylian Mbappe as their figurehead, and England, whose squad depth under a settled management setup gives them genuine ambitions beyond the last eight. Spain and Germany, two of the most technically accomplished nations in world football, are perennial quarter-final presences.
South American challengers: Argentina, the defending champions, travel with a squad aiming to defend the title Lionel Messi lifted in Qatar 2022. Brazil’s new generation, built around Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and Endrick, represents one of the most exciting attacking units in world football and carries the weight of a nation that has not won the World Cup since 2002.
Co-hosts: The United States, Canada, and Mexico benefit from home support and will aim to match or exceed their best-ever knockout performances on home soil.
How to Watch the FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals
- United Kingdom: ITV and BBC (free-to-air), ITVX and BBC iPlayer for streaming. Both channels split coverage, with the biggest ties typically on the primary channel.
- United States: Fox and FS1 (English), Telemundo and Universo (Spanish), Fubo TV for streaming.
- Canada: CTV, TSN, RDS, TVA Sports.
- Australia: SBS (free-to-air) and Optus Sport.
- Ireland: RTE and Virgin Media Television.
- Global: Most national public broadcasters provide free coverage; FIFA+ is available in some territories.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals?
The four quarter-finals take place from Thursday 9 July to Sunday 12 July 2026, with one match per day.
Where are the quarter-finals being held?
At Gillette Stadium (Boston), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), and Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City).
How many matches are in the quarter-finals?
Four matches, with the four winners advancing to the semi-finals on 14 and 15 July.
Photo by Pedro Menezes on Unsplash