World Cup quarterfinals today: Schedule, predictions, Haaland’s viral rise

Today, July 11, 2026, marks the final two World Cup quarterfinals, with England facing Norway and Argentina playing Switzerland for semifinal berths. France and Spain have already advanced. According to the Opta supercomputer, England has a 62.3% chance of progressing against Norway, while Argentina is favored with a 69.4% probability of advancing past Switzerland. The article also notes Portugal's hiring of Jorge Jesus as their new coach and the unexpected rise of Norwegian striker Erling Haaland as an honorary Mexican hero on social media.

The World Cup quarterfinals feature eight teams, including top-ranked nations France, Spain, Argentina, and England. France is the betting favorite, followed by Spain, defending champion Argentina, and England. The matchups are France vs. Morocco, Spain vs. Belgium, Norway vs. England, and Argentina vs. Switzerland. All games are being broadcast in the U.S. on Fox, Peacock, and Telemundo. France has dominated offensively, while Morocco reached the quarterfinals by tying Brazil and eliminating the Netherlands. Spain advanced by defeating Uruguay and Portugal, and Belgium overcame Senegal and the U.S. Norway is an underdog with Erling Haaland leading their attack, and England overcame Mexico despite an injury. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, is favored against Switzerland, who reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1954. The semifinals are scheduled for July 14 and 15, with the final on July 19.

Norway will face England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals in Miami on Saturday, July 11. Norway, considered dark horses, have reached this stage for the first time in their history, with striker Erling Haaland being a standout performer and challenging for the Golden Boot. England, title contenders, topped their group and advanced after a comeback win and a victory against Mexico. Despite defensive concerns, England is favored due to their experience and the attacking prowess of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Haaland's popularity has surged during the tournament, contributing to Norway's unexpected success.

Following Argentina's controversial 3-2 World Cup victory over Egypt in Atlanta, experts are questioning the legitimacy of the match. A late VAR call rescinded Egypt's second goal, leading to Argentina's comeback win. Egypt's manager speculated that external factors and pressure may have influenced officials to keep Lionel Messi's team in the competition. This controversy follows a previous incident where US President Donald Trump successfully lobbied FIFA to overturn a player's suspension. Experts suggest the lines between sport and politics are increasingly blurred, with potential biases influencing decisions, especially given the close relationship between Trump and Argentina's president, Javier Milei. While some deem the refereeing inconsistent, others argue the decisions were debatable, though Argentina benefited from favorable calls.

Egypt's head coach, Hossam Hassan, used a press conference previewing his team's World Cup match against Argentina to deliver a four-minute monologue on the situation in Palestine. Hassan stated that anyone who does not feel for the Palestinian people is "not human," regardless of their background. He drew a parallel between the world's reaction to animal cruelty and the perceived lack of response to Palestinian deaths. Hassan emphasized his message of respect for the right to live, aligning it with FIFA's slogan. The article notes that FIFA permits the display of the Palestinian flag at the World Cup and mentions pro-Palestinian protests and athlete support.