Four Teams, Two Semifinal Spots on the Line
The 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches a pivotal moment on Saturday, July 11, as the final two semifinal berths are decided. With France and Spain already through to the last four, attention turns to two blockbuster quarterfinal clashes: England vs Norway and defending champions Argentina vs Switzerland.
Both matches carry real stakes for underdog hopes, as Norway and Switzerland will each look to spring another upset on the road to the final, while England and Argentina enter as the statistical favourites.
Saturday's Quarterfinal Schedule
- Norway vs England — Saturday, July 11, 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) at Miami Stadium, USA
- Argentina vs Switzerland — Saturday, July 11, 8pm ET (01:00 GMT Sunday) at Kansas City Stadium, USA
Confirmed and Upcoming Semifinals
- France vs Spain — Tuesday, July 14, 19:00 GMT, Dallas Stadium
- Norway/England vs Argentina/Switzerland — Wednesday, July 15, 19:00 GMT, Atlanta Stadium
England vs Norway: What the Numbers Say
This will mark the first-ever World Cup meeting between England and Norway, though the two sides have squared off 12 times in total. History clearly favours the Three Lions, who have won eight of those encounters compared to just two victories for Norway. Notably, the Scandinavian side has been held scoreless in each of their last four meetings with England, with the most recent clash — a friendly back in September 2014 — ending in a narrow 1-0 win for England.
Statistical modelling backs up that historical edge. Opta's supercomputer, which ran 25,000 pre-match simulations, gives England just over a 50 percent chance of winning inside 90 minutes, with their overall probability of advancing — factoring in extra time and penalties — climbing to roughly 62 percent. Norway, by contrast, is projected to win in regulation time about a quarter of the time, with a similar likelihood of the match ending level after 90 minutes.
Argentina vs Switzerland: Can the Champions Keep Rolling?
Lionel Messi and the reigning champions face a Swiss side determined to disrupt their title defence. Argentina head into the match as clear favourites according to the same predictive modelling used for the England-Norway tie, but Switzerland have already shown throughout this tournament that they're capable of springing surprises against bigger names.
With manager Lionel Scaloni continuing to lean on Messi's experience and Argentina looking to book a return trip to the semifinals, all eyes will be on whether the champions can find their rhythm after a somewhat stuttering run through the knockout stages.
What's Next
The winners of Saturday's two quarterfinals will meet in Atlanta on July 15 for a place in the World Cup final, joining France and Spain — who face off in Dallas on July 14 — in completing the final four. With the tournament entering its business end, Saturday's results will shape the final stretch of the 2026 World Cup.
Kickoff times and venues are subject to change; fans are encouraged to confirm details closer to matchday.