World Cup Quarterfinals Begin: France-Morocco Opens The Last Eight In Foxborough

The other side of the top half of the bracket is a genuine clash of styles. Spain have been ruthless, winning four of their five matches and conceding just twice, with their only blemish a goalless draw against Cape Verde in the group stage. Since then they have beaten Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Austria and Portugal without conceding, needing a 91st-minute Mikel Merino strike to edge Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16. Under Luis de la Fuente they dominate the ball, press in packs, and lean on the wide threat of Lamine Yamal to unlock deep blocks.

Belgium arrive with the edge of a talented generation still chasing a deep run. They drew three of their five matches but announced themselves with a 4-1 demolition of the co-hosts United States, Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice, after overturning a 2-0 deficit against Senegal in the round of 32. Kevin De Bruyne remains the fulcrum, capable of unlocking any defense from deep, and the Belgian task is to weather the Spanish tide, stay compact through the middle, and back their quality to punish the rare transition. It is a fitting last-eight tie, forty years after Belgium famously beat Spain on penalties in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal.

The central question is whether Belgium can live without the ball for long stretches and still take their moments when they come. Spain will have the possession and the territory; Belgium must make their limited chances count and trust De Bruyne to decide a tight tie. Level after ninety, it heads to extra time and potentially penalties, where nerve and depth carry the day.

The bottom half of the draw pairs a fairy tale with a heavyweight. Norway's run to a World Cup quarterfinal is one of the stories of the tournament, a nation that has waited a generation for a stage like this and now stands within reach of a semifinal. They meet England at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, a matchup of Norwegian directness and belief against an established side with tournament experience and depth across the pitch. For a favorite, an organized, confident opponent playing without pressure is the most dangerous kind of draw.

The final quarterfinal sends the reigning world champions against the tournament's great survivors. Argentina, the defending champions, blend technical quality with the hardened knockout know-how of a team that has won the biggest games under pressure. Switzerland, who just eliminated Colombia on penalties, are the specialists at exactly this stage, a disciplined, resilient outfit built to frustrate more talented opponents and drag them into a shootout. At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, it is star power against structure.

Both ties carry the same brutal math as the opener: ninety minutes, then extra time, then penalties if level, with a semifinal place on the line. The winners of the bottom half meet in the second semifinal, while France or Morocco await the winner of Spain and Belgium in the first. The quarterfinals are where World Cups are decided, and the next few days will separate the contenders from the eliminated.