For the first time in nearly a month, there are no World Cup games today — but the break comes just as the tournament reaches its most consequential stage. After 27 straight days of matches, the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup resumes Thursday with the quarterfinals, where France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina and Switzerland are fighting for spots in the semifinals.
There are no 2026 World Cup matches scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, as the tournament pauses between the end of the Round of 16 and the start of the quarterfinals. The break follows nearly four weeks of daily action since the tournament opened.
The smaller field also means fewer games are available to spread across the calendar. With only eight teams left, FIFA’s schedule includes a rest day before the quarterfinal round begins Thursday.
World Cup play resumes Thursday, July 9, with France vs. Morocco in the first quarterfinal matchup. The winner will move one step closer to the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The quarterfinals continue through Saturday, setting up the semifinal matchups for July 14 and July 15.
The updated World Cup quarterfinal bracket schedule is:
Watching the World Cup in the U.S. remains straightforward:
If you don’t have cable TV, there are other ways to stream every match live.
Streaming services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV Stream carry the same channels that will be airing the World Cup games, letting you follow the FIFA tournament in real time. FOX’s own platforms, including its app and direct-to-consumer options, also provide access to live matches.
The eight teams still alive in the 2026 World Cup are France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina and Switzerland. The Round of 16 concluded Tuesday, July 7, before the tournament shifted into its first true pause ahead of the quarterfinals.
Argentina advanced after a dramatic win over Egypt, while Switzerland moved on after eliminating Colombia. Belgium knocked out the United States, and Spain advanced past Portugal to set up one of the biggest quarterfinals of the tournament.
The quarterfinal winners will advance to the World Cup semifinals, scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 15. The France-Morocco winner will face the Spain-Belgium winner, while the Norway-England winner will face the Argentina-Switzerland winner.
That means the next three days will determine whether traditional powers such as France, Spain, England and Argentina keep their title hopes alive — or whether Morocco, Belgium, Norway or Switzerland can continue reshaping the bracket.
The 2026 World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The third-place match is set for Saturday, July 18, in Miami.
The biggest question now is no longer who plays today — it is who survives the quarterfinals. France-Morocco opens the round Thursday, Spain-Belgium follows Friday, and Saturday’s doubleheader of Norway-England and Argentina-Switzerland will complete the semifinal field.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features a 48-team field across the United States, Canada and Mexico, running from June 11 through July 19 with 104 matches scheduled over several rounds as follows:
Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at mfrancis@usatodayco.com.