Welcome to day 32 of the 2026 World Cup finals.
There were 48 countries at these 2026 World Cup finals, the most there has ever been. The matches to take place across Mexico, Canada and the USA.
We were left with 32 countries for the knockouts after 16 were eliminated in the group stage.
The 16 eliminated at the end of the group stage were: Czech Republic, Qatar, Haiti, Turkey, Curacao, Tunisia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Panama, Uzbekistan, Scotland, Iran and South Korea.
Then you can add Egypt, Colombia, USA, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Paraguay, Australia, Cape Verde, Ghana, Croatia, Algeria, Austria, DR Congo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Senegal, Sweden, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, South Africa. Netherlands, Germany and Japan to that list as they exited in the rounds of 32 and 16.
Now Belgium, Morocco, Norway and Switzerland have been knocked out in the quarter-finals.
England progressed in a hot and humid Miami but made hard work of it.
Thomas Tuchel’s team generally in control throughout most of the 120+ minutes but rarely threatening the Norway goal, whilst at the other end, England very sloppy at times and almost gifting Norway with the win. Pickford played well against Mexico but had a shocker here, badly at fault for the opening goal and weak on crosses,, whilst conceded a couple of needless corners. Only saved on one of them when VAR ruled out a Norway goal for a push by Haaland, just about his only notable involvement as England did keep him very quiet.
Jude Bellingham was easily England’s best player and the match winner. A brilliant finish to equalise when Anderson and Gordon combined to set him up, then only a few minutes into extra time a Morgan Rogers long range effort was fumbled by Nyland and Bellingham rewarded for his gamble in following up and scored an easy winner.
England now move on to Atlanta and they will face Argentina at 8pm (UK time) on Wednesday.
Mac Allister scored from a Messi corner after just 10 minutes but Switzerland were easily the better team, getting their eventual deserved equaliser when Ndoye scored on 67 minutes.
However, only five minutes later the Swiss were a man down, VAR deciding Embolo had dived and so he was given a second yellow. Switzerland defended really well and just when it looked like they could force a penalty shoot out, Avarez scored in the 112th minute. Lautaro Martinez making it 3-1 in the 121st minute.
An enthralling final week of this World Cup now awaits, with France v Spain in Dallas on Tuesday night and England v Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. Two semis which will decide who meets in the final on Sunday in New Jersey.
It is now 292 goals in 100 matches and this 2026 World Cup not too far short of averaging three goals per game for the first time since the 1958 World Cup but the chances of it happening are now all but gone. The closest since 1958 was the 1970 Mexico World Cup that averaged 2.97 goals per match, this 2026 World Cup now averaging 2.92 goals per game after the first 98 matches. To get up to an average of three goals per match across the tournament, there would need to be at least 20 goals scored in the four games left to play (including the third-place play-off match).
Here are the last results from the quarter-finals and the matches to come (all kick-offs are shown as UK times and with the channel that is showing them.
Quarter-finals
Thursday 9 July
France 2 Morocco 0
Friday 10 July
Spain 2 Belgium 1
Saturday 11 July
Norway 1 England 2 (AET)
Sunday 12 July
Argentina 3 Switzerland 1 (AET)
Semi-finals
Tuesday 14 July
France v Spain 8pm (ITV1)
Wednesday 15 July
England v Argentina 8pm (BBC1)
Third place play-off – Saturday 18 July 10pm
World Cup final – Sunday 19 July 8pm
Here is the full 2026 World Cup schedule: