The world is buzzing as countries from around the world gather in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico for the World Cup. The game brings together not only players and teams, but also fans who, despite cheering for different teams, share the same love of the game.
The 2026 World Cup has taken every city and state by storm, with every team and fan hoping to see the end and bask in the glory of winning. As we grow increasingly closer to the final game, the quarterfinals match the final eight teams, as anticipation for the finals hangs in the balance.
The World Cup moved from 48 teams, down to the last few, with all three of the co-host countries eliminated in the round of 16 on their own turf. The U.S. ultimately fell to Belgium in Seattle with a 4-1 blowout, while Mexico lost 3-2 to England in Mexico City. Canada suffered a brutal takedown against Morocco in Houston. This weekend, we are gearing up for the quarterfinals where France faces Morocco, Spain squares off against Belgium, Norway goes against England and Argentina battles Switzerland.
Despite the fallouts, the Golden Boot Battle has been yet another competition within the tournament itself, as Lionel Messi leads Argentina with eight goals scored this season. Closely following him, France’s Kylian Mbappe sits with seven, along with Norway’s Erling Haaland, who has been making headlines on social media for his lovable and sporadic personality, despite being a tank on the field.
The final teams
Kicking off the quarterfinals, Morocco and France are up against each other in Boston, with France expected to win comfortably against Morocco. Following Morocco’s star forward Ismael Saibari’s hamstring injury, the country faces a massive blow for the game as Sabari is no longer able to play. Unfortunately for Morocco, France’s midfielder Aurelian Tchouameni could possibly recover from his groin injury, making it back onto the squad in time for the quarterfinal game.
Looking closely at the upcoming match between Norway and England, there is a favorable chance England will take the match, advancing to the semifinals. However, Haaland’s performance in his debut year has been historic, leading the tournament with seven goals in four matches.
Fans have even gone to name him “The Viking Goal Machine,” as the Nordic player’s skills pose a threat to England’s backline. With center back Jarell Quansah’s suspension following his red card from the game against Mexico, along with Jordan Henderson’s injury, England is managing a few setbacks for their upcoming match this weekend, which could seriously be detrimental to their performance.
In Los Angeles, Spain and Belgium will be facing off against each other as this game serves as a rematch opportunity of the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal for Spain. Luckily for Spain, their defensive line is definitely one of the strongest and structurally sound, having not surrendered a single goal so far throughout the entire tournament. With their defensive strength, Spain is a favorite to win, especially following Belgium’s midfielder Amadou Onana’s knee injury he suffered against the United States. He is now unable to play for the rest of the tournament.
For the final game of the weekend, Argentina will be moving against Switzerland in Houston, pitting the reigning world champions against a strong Swiss team. 2026 marks Switzerland’s first quarterfinal appearance in 72 years; however, Argentina, especially with manager Lionel Scaloni’s squad, is favored to win.
Of course, many eyes have been on Lionel Messi this season, especially with his eight goals so far in the Golden Boot race; however, as the final games come to a turn, eyes remain glued to his person. It is likely he will carry the team to the next games. However, there are definitely concerns due to Christian Romero’s need to train away from the main group as a precautionary measure. While Argentina is the favorite, Switzerland will bring a strong game, with goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s defensive blocks along with the Swiss backline, which has been strong throughout the tournament thus far.
The third-place playoff and finals
Following the semi-finals, the final four teams will face off in the third-place playoffs, with the two winning teams moving on to the World Cup finals. For the quarterfinals, with France’s offensive power and experience, many fans suspect the country to win against Spain next weekend, leaving them to play in the final game. Moreover, with England’s injury-riddled midfield, many suspect the team to be on the short end of the bracket, giving their opponents a physical advantage to reach the finals.
With those teams predicted to fall, Argentina and France are left in the final, with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe leading the Golden Boot Race; the final match is highly anticipated. Looking toward the final game, we could find the final as a rematch of the legendary 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar, which ended with Argentina’s penalty kick win. Luckily for France, redemption is favorable as they could win against Argentina due to their strong roster and Argentina’s heavy reliance on Messi.
A tournament for the books
As the finals near, so does the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final halftime show, which recently announced Justin Bieber to join global icons, BTS, Madonna and Shakira. With an 11-minute musical showcase, the finals are sure to take New York City by storm.
The world still has much to anticipate and much to celebrate and mourn. With Ronaldo’s recent retirement announcement and the controversial political pressure and interference, the game has never stood as just a game. Despite controversies and dramatic rulings, we still come together as one to share the love of soccer and our nations, cheering for a similar purpose.
Featured image: “FIFA World Cup Trophy” by Daniel, CC BY 2.0
Edited by Nancy Martin & James Sutton
