With the US out, here's who you can cheer for — and against — at the World Cup

We're down to the final eight teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  Here's a look at each team and a reason to cheer for or against them.

2026 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals teams

Argentina

Argentina has 19 World Cup appearances and are the reigning FIFA World Cup champions after earning their third World Cup title at Qatar in 2022.  Argentina also won in 1978, when they hosted the tournament, and 1986. The team is led by superstar forward Lionel Messi, who has played in six World Cups and won the World Cup Golden Ball twice as the tournament's best player. 

Why you should root for Argentina

It's been 64 years since we had a back-to-back World Cup winner, when Brazil won in 1958 and 1962.  Italy is the only other country to win back-to-back, when they won in 1934 and 1938.

Belgium  

This is Belgium's 15th appearance at the FIFA World Cup. Their best-ever finish is third place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.  The team is nicknamed the Red Devils, and the 2026 World Cup is their fourth straight appearance on the global game’s greatest stage. They advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating the U.S. 4-1, sending the United States to join the other host country teams, Canada and Mexico, to watch the rest of the tournament from home.    

Why you should root for Belgium

The Red Devils have never won the World Cup and eliminated the U.S. from the tournament. The team are considered the underdogs against the top European teams and a World Cup victory would earn them respect in European football circles.   

England

England has qualified for 17 FIFA World Cups, winning once in 1966 when they were the host country.  Through the years, they have experienced a mix of quarter-final appearances, memorable semi-final runs, and penalty heartbreak.  The team is led by striker Harry Kane, who is considered one of the best players in the world, having scored over 500 career goals in club and country matches.

Why you should root for England

English soccer fans have been waiting 60 years for The Three Lions to win a second World Cup.  Fans are rooting for superstar Harry Kane to bring home the trophy and solidify him as one of soccer's greats.

France 

France has reached the World Cup final four times.  They won in 1998 as the host country, defeating Brazil, and in 2018 they won in Russia when they beat Croatia.  They finished as runner-ups in 2006 and 2022.  The team features an all-star squad including Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Desire Doue.

Why you should root for France

France entered the World Cup tournament as the favorite to win it all. With their depth of talented players and relentless attacking style of play, the team is fun to watch and cheer for to win it all.

Morocco

Morocco has qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals seven times, with their pinnacle achievement coming in 2022 in Qatar, where they made history as the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, ultimately finishing in fourth place.  Nicknamed the Atlas Lions, the team features goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Nayef Aguerd, Sofyan Amrabat, Achraf Hakim, and midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, making his debut.

Why you should root for Morocco

Morocco has never won the FIFA World Cup and winning would make them the first African and Arab nation to do so, and would be the first nation ouside of Europe and South America to win it.  The team and its talented players have proven they can go toe-to-toe on the pitch with any team.  

Norway

After not playing in the World Cup in 28 years, Norway has made it to the quarterfinals.  Norway previously played in the World Cup in 1938, 1994, and 1998, where they made it to the Round of 16.  The team is led by Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland and Arsenal midfield wizard Martin Odegaard.  Norway fans have celebrated their team's success with the "Viking Row" — with Norway's men's national team and their fans sitting down and moving their bodies back and forth in a rowing motion and every two beats, the shouting, "Row!" and the chant commences.

Why you should root for Norway

Norway has never won the World Cup. Throughout the tournament, Norway's talented players, striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Martin Odegaards, have the Scandinavian squad into their first-ever quarter-final and fans excited.  And who doesn't want to see fans and players celebrating with a "Viking Row." 

Spain

Spain has 17 World Cup appearances and in 2010, defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time in Johannesburg, South Africa to win their lone World Cup.  Spain entered the 2026 World Cup as the second-ranked team in the world and reigning European champions.  The team's core is a group of young players: Pau Cubarsi, Dean Huijsen, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal. 

Why you should rootfor Spain

Spain entered the tournament as one of the favorites to win it all and boasts a dominant defense, having only conceded two goals in the tournament to reach the quarterfinals.  It's easy to cheer for a team with an outstanding defense who have a chance to close in on a World Cup defensive record. 

Switzerland

Switzerland has appeared in 13 World Cups and reached the quarter-finals three times but have never won the FIFA World Cup. The team’s core players are midfielder Granit Xhaka, defender Manuel Akanji, and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

Why you should root for Switzerland

Switzerland has never won the FIFA World Cup and are considered the underdogs of the tournament.  The team is known for being a tactical "inconvenience" to elite teams.  They are considered to be highly organized and concede very few goals.  The roster is built to grind out results in tight, 90-minute matches. 

FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals

The FIFA World Cup quarterfinals is the tournament's final-eight stage, with the winners of the Round of 16 facing off in four single-elimination matches with the winners moving on to the semi-finals and the losing team eliminated. The FIFA World Cup quarterfinals run from July 9–11.

What are the FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals rules?

The FIFA World Cup quarterfinals rules are the same as the Round of 16 rules.  Each match is played for 90 minutes of play, plus any stoppage time.  If tied after the end of regulation time, the teams play 30 minutes of extra time, which is split into two 15-minute halves.  If the match remains tied after the 30 minutes of extra time, the teams advance to a penalty shootout to determine who moves on. 

FIFA World Cup semi-finals

The FIFA World Cup semi-finals stage of the tournament features the final four teams playing in a single-elimination match with the two winning teams advancing to the World Cup Final championship.  The two losing teams face each other in a separate 2026 FIFA World Cup Third-Place Playoff (Bronze Final) match taking place on July 18 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

What are the FIFA World Cup semi-finals rules?

The FIFA World Cup quarterfinals rules are the same as both the Round of 32 and Round of 16 rules. Each match is played for 90 minutes of play, plus any stoppage time.  If tied after the end of regulation time, the teams play 30 minutes of extra time, which is split into two 15-minute halves.  If the match remains tied after the 30 minutes of extra time, the teams advance to a penalty shootout to determine who moves on. 

When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 final? 

Timeline:

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final will take place July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the culmination of a month-long tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. 

World Cup