World Cup Quarter-Final Fixtures

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to commence on Thursday 11 June as co-hosts Mexico face South Africa in Mexico City in Group A.

There will be 96 games played in total before the first quarter-final, and this article aims to tell all you need to know about the World Cup quarter-final fixtures.

World Cup Quarter-Final Fixtures

The quarter-final fixtures will take place between Thursday 9 July and Saturday 11 July, with the details outlined below:

Thursday 9 July

• Match 97 – Winner match 89 v Winner match 90 – Boston Stadium

Friday 10 July

• Match 98 – Winner match 93 v Winner match 94 – Los Angeles Stadium

Saturday 11 July

• Match 99 – Winner match 91 v Winner match 92 – Miami Stadium
• Match 100 – Winner match 95 v Winner match 96 – Kansas City Stadium

Most memorable World Cup Quarter-Finals in history

Even though the quarter-finals were not a part of every World Cup in history (some of them went to another group stage and then semi-finals), there have been some memorable quarter finals that are still living as a part of the football lore and will be remembered for generations.

West Germany 3-2 England, World Cup 1970 in Mexico

Before FIFA decided to scrap the quarter finals in favor of another group stage, which was the case until 1986 World Cup in Mexico, we had one of the most memorable quarter finals in history.

England were hoping to bring the trophy home and their 2-0 lead over West Germany led many to believe that the game is over and that England would go to the semi-finals. However, West Germany managed to get back into the game and send it to overtime, where a goal by Gerd Muller eliminated the English team from the tournament.

Argentina 2-1 England, World Cup 1986 in Mexico

Another quarter-finals classic was played in Mexico in 1986, at the first World Cup in which the quarter-finals came back onto the scene. Argentina and England met at the Azteca Stadium in front of 100,000 fans, eager to see their team in the next stage.

Both teams certainly had reasons to hope to get there, but it was the faithful day for Maradona. After a scoreless first half, Maradona first scored the infamous goals dubbed the “Hand of God”. Only a few minutes after, Maradona scored again, this time the goal that's remembered as one of the greatest in history, the so-called “Goal of the Century”. England managed to score one goal before the game was over, but the Argentinians went through and later won the title.

Netherlands 2-1 Argentina, World Cup 1998 in France

Two teams that will meet in the quarter finals in Qatar probably still remember their duel in the same stage at World Cup in France, back in 1998. Two quick goals in first half by each of the teams saw us move to the second half with the game wide open.

It seemed that we are destined for overtime when Arthur Numan was sent off, which gave Argentina the edge. However, that didn't' last long since Ariel Ortega was also sent off 10 minutes later, bringing equality to the pitch again. And then, right out of nowhere, Dennis Bergkamp received a long ball from deep into the Netherlands' side of the field, managed to tame it, and score perhaps the most famous goal of his career, right at the very end of the game.

Uruguay 1-1 (4-2 pen.) Ghana, World Cup 2010 in South Africa

Many years after Maradona's Hand of God, we saw another one. It was the first-ever World Cup played in Africa and we were so close to seeing an African team in the semi finals for the first time in football history. However, Luis Suarez and his hands prevented this.

Uruguay and Ghana played a close game and the result was 1-1 heading into the last minutes of the game. But then, Ghana had a massive chance – goalkeeper was already beaten and the ball was going right into the net, only to be stopped by Suarez's handball. The striker was sent off, Ghana received a penalty that would send them to the semi finals, and Asamoah Gyan failed to convert it, sending the ball well over the bar. Uruguay managed to hold in extra time despite being a man down and, in the end, secure their place in the semi finals after winning on penalties.

Who are the favourites to reach the World Cup Semi-Finals?

At the time of writing, the favourites to reach the World Cup semi-finals are Spain, France, England and Brazil/Argentina.