USMNT faces – England moved into the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals after a tense round of 16 win over Mexico on July 5 at Estadio Azteca, while Norway reached its first-ever quarterfinals by beating Brazil. The USMNT plays Belgium on July 6 in Seattle, with Folarin Balogun c
When England survived an emotional round of 16 match against Mexico at Estadio Azteca on Sunday, July 5, the quarterfinal picture suddenly felt real. The win pushed the team into the last eight, following another standout escape earlier in the day for Norway.
Norway joined England as the two teams that advanced from Sunday’s round of 16 matches. Erling Haaland and Ørjan Nyland helped carry the moment—Haaland for Norway’s offense and Nyland for the goalkeeping that turned the tie against Brazil into Norway’s first-ever quarterfinal appearance.
For the United States, the stakes shift quickly from the drama in Mexico City to the challenge waiting on Monday, July 6. The USMNT will look to punch its ticket to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 when it faces Belgium at 8 p.m. ET in Seattle.
Mauricio Pochettino will have Folarin Balogun available after FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee decided on Sunday to reverse action on Balogun’s one-game red card suspension from the round of 32. The change means Balogun can be on the pitch against Belgium—an immediate swing in personnel that comes at a pivotal point in the tournament.
Morocco and France had already set the pace earlier. Morocco became the first team to advance past the round of 16 after a 3-0 win over Canada in Houston on Saturday. July 4. France followed on Saturday as well, turning a tight match into a Fourth of July win in Philadelphia. Kylian Mbappe scored his 19th career World Cup goal, giving France a 1-0 victory over Paraguay.
The list of quarterfinals is taking shape fast, and the matchups will arrive on a steady timetable starting with Thursday, July 9. France will play Morocco at 4 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
On Friday, July 10, the winner of Portugal/Spain will face the winner of USA/Belgium at 3 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Then Saturday, July 11 brings two quarterfinals. Norway will take on England at 5 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. while the winner of Argentina/Egypt will meet the winner of Switzerland/Colombia at 9 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
What’s clear from the early advance is that tournament survival is being decided in the margins—by goals like Mbappe’s 19th-career strike. by two-goal heroics like Norway’s. and by discipline reversals that reshape a team’s options the day before a must-win. Now the USMNT’s quarterfinal push runs straight through Seattle.
2026 World Cup quarterfinals England vs Mexico Norway vs Brazil USMNT Belgium match Seattle Folarin Balogun Mauricio Pochettino FIFA Disciplinary Committee Erling Haaland Ørjan Nyland Morocco vs Canada France vs Paraguay Kylian Mbappe