Meet your quarterfinalists! How they got here, top...
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- 2026 FIFA World Cup is down to eight quarterfinalists after 95 games and four weeks, with reigning champions Argentina joined by Belgium, England, France, Morocco, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland — all three wins from the July 19 final in New Jersey.
- France have been the tournament's most dominant side, winning all five matches and scoring 14 goals behind Mbappé (7 goals, 2 assists), Ousmane Dembélé (4 goals, 2 assists) and Michael Olise (5 assists).
- Mbappé now has 19 goals in 19 career World Cup appearances — a figure surpassed only by Lionel Messi — and is again driving Les Bleus' bid for a third world title.
- Morocco have lived for drama in the knockouts: Issa Diop's stoppage-time header against Netherlands forced extra time, before Mohamed Ouahbi's side won 3-2 on penalties, then routed co-host Canada 3-0 in Houston — though star striker Ismael Saibari has a hamstring concern after joining Bayern Munich mid-tournament.
- Spain carry the tournament's only perfect defensive record — yet to concede — and survived a 90th-minute Mikel Merino strike against Portugal in the round of 16 to set up Friday's meeting with Belgium in Inglewood.
- Belgium needed two injury-time goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans to erase a 2-0 deficit against Senegal, won it 3-2 in extra time, then hammered co-host United States 4-1 to reach the last eight.
- All seven ESPN panelists predicted France to beat Morocco — though Mark Ogden has Morocco winning on penalties — with DraftKings installing France at -370 and Morocco +285.
Why it matters: France's flawless run and unanimous ESPN panel backing make them overwhelming favorites, though Morocco already proved their knockout pedigree by rallying past Netherlands on penalties in the round of 32. With three wins now separating any of the eight from the July 19 final in New Jersey, Saibari's hamstring becomes the decisive variable for the Atlas Lions against Mbappé, Olisé and Dembélé in Foxborough on Thursday.
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