We are into the last eight of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and most of the cream has expectedly risen to the top even in the competition’s new, expanded 48-team format.
All three co-hosts, the United States, Mexico, and Canada, crashed out in the Round of 16. The tournament also said goodbye to some blue-chip programs like Brazil and Portugal — the latter bringing an end to the great Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career.
But what is left promises absolute cinema. All three big names in the Golden Boot race, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland, are still here. The defending champions have stared elimination in the face twice and have survived.
One European team has already gone farther than it ever has, another has not been this far in seven decades, and a third is in its 60th year of a World Cup drought. Then there is the African power that will be keen on showing that last World Cup’s semifinal run was not just a fluke, but the start of something we have never quite seen from a team hailing from this continent.
Here we rank the last eight remaining and their hopes of making it to the World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium:
8: Switzerland
Switzerland is in the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1954, outlasting Colombia on penalties in the Round of 16 to do so. It has not necessarily been overly impressive at this tournament, considering the competition it has played. A draw to lowly Qatar was followed by wins over Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, and Algeria before surviving Colombia. A date with Argentina, even this version, is a completely different animal. Take out a 4-1 win over Bosnia in the group stage, and Switzerland has scored just four goals in four matches.
7: Belgium
What version of Belgium are we going to get against Spain? My guess is going to be the one that started the tournament, not the ravenous Red Devils who laid waste to the Americans in the Round of 16. Belgium struggled to get out of an easy group of Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand, then needed a miracle in the final minutes to overturn a two-goal deficit in the Round of 32 to squeak past Senegal in extra time. They should be confident that they can at least put up a fight against Spain after dominating the US with Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Jeremy Doku on the bench.
6: Argentina
Messi continues to defy Father Time with his tournament-leading eighth goal in the Round of 16 against Egypt, but the alarm bells should be going off in Buenos Aires. The defending champions needed extra time to get past Cape Verde in the Round of 32, then trailed Egypt 2-0 deep into the second half before a frantic comeback with three goals in the 14 minutes. Significant questions about the defense remain, and a well-organized Swiss side could cause some trouble in the quarters.
5: Morocco
It feels like this is becoming business-like for Morocco, which is a testament to how far the program has come and what it is doing for African soccer. After a group-stage-opening draw to Brazil, the Atlas Lions defeated Scotland and Haiti before downing a very good Netherlands side in the Round of 32 on penalties. It shook off a dreadful first half against co-hosts Canada and still managed to cruise to a 3-0 victory. They have already shown that they can hang with the big boys of world soccer. The problem is that they have a buzzsaw in France waiting for them — an unlucky matchup of the 2022 semifinals.
4: England
Give England manager Thomas Tuchel credit: He has been able to morph his squad, adapt to different environments, and find ways to win. Harry Kane’s heroics snuck the Three Lions past DR Congo in the Round of 32 before going into the Azteca, a place where Mexico never loses, and beating the co-hosts 3-2 despite being down a man for the final 40 minutes. While Kane remains one of the most imposing strikers on the planet, Jude Bellingham is putting together a masterpiece in an England shirt. They should be ready to give Norway a fight, though a suspect, short-handed back line will have its hands full. The right-back position is a huge question mark. Reece James has not trained in quite some time, Djed Spence struggled mightily against DR Congo and is dealing with a minor injury, and Jarrel Quansah is suspended and unavailable after seeing a red card against Mexico. That leaves Tuchel with Ezri Konsa, John Stones, or Trevor Chalobah.
3: Norway
Perhaps Norway is a bit too high on this list. It has no experience at this stage of the competition, beating Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16 to reach its first-ever quarterfinals in its first World Cup appearance since 1998. But as long as Erling Haaland wears the No. 9, Norway will have a very good chance. The Manchester City striker is one off Messi in the Golden Boot race with seven goals, bagging two against Brazil in the second half at MetLife Stadium on July 5. The only thing that could potentially slow them down? Illness. There seems to be a bug going around the Norwegian room.
2: Spain
One of the overwhelming favorites to win the World Cup entering this summer’s festivities, Spain has not lit the tournament on fire with its bombastic midfield trio or its boy-wonder on the wing, Lamine Yamal. Instead, resolute defending has been the name of the game. La Roja is the first team ever to record clean sheets in each of their first six matches at a World Cup. They most recently shut out Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Round of 16, needing a late Mikel Marino winner to do so. It does not always have to be flashy. Just look at how Italy won the World Cup in 2006. Spain could very well be replicating that now.
1: France
There has been no team more impressive than the French, who are looking to make the World Cup Final for a third-straight time with no suggestion of slowing down. Mbappe has understandably led the way, but Michael Olise’s play from the midfield has been nothing short of brilliant to serve as the engine of France’s overwhelming attack. Les Bleus sacked Sweden in the Round of 32 and then, more impressively, kept their heads against an embarrassing Paraguay side more concerned with embellishing and picking fights rather than playing soccer. Their plus-12 goal difference is the best in this competition, having conceded only twice in five matches.
For more on the World Cup, visit AMNY.com
