Winners and Losers from the 2026 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals
France. Spain. England. Argentina.
The four best teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have rightfully made it through to the last four after a dramatic round of quarterfinal matches.
Your winners and losers are here…
Winner: Kylian Mbappé
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Kylian Mbappé deserves a lot of respect for what he's doing right now.
Last week, he scored the winner against Paraguay. A couple of days later, he responded to racism from Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla with a powerful and dignified shutdown. On Thursday, his brilliant goal broke Morocco's resolve and led France to a semi-final clash with Spain.
Mbappe's attitude is often questioned, but he has acted exemplarily during this tournament. Paraguay did everything they could to wind him up in the round of 16; his grin and ability to shrug it off with a match-winning goal said it all.
He's evolved into a real leader for Les Bleus, and just like their run to the final in 2022, will be the defining star of where France land when it's all said and done.
Losers: Morocco
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Morocco didn't do themselves justice against France. The Atlas Lions played into the narrative that Didier Deschamps' side are to be feared and endured before trying to nick a goal. It went against all the confident, cutting play we've seen from them this tournament.
France are undoubtedly a unique prospect to try and overcome. Their stack of attacking talent can rip through anyone, and will likely lead them to winning the entire thing. But did Morocco need to be so defensive, even with Ismael Saibari's injury? Would one shot on target despite having a dominant 52 percent possession ever equate to enough to take France down?
Maybe this is harsh. Morocco's high standard throughout the competition just wasn't matched, and it wasn't because of France dominating them.
Key players, like Brahim Diaz and Azzedine Ounahi, barely got on the ball. Achraf Hakimi was drilled back by Desire Doue and rarely tried to attack. It was a disappointing end to a tournament in which the African side showed glimpses of being capable of winning it.
Winner: Mikel Merino
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Mikel Merino has played nine minutes of football in Spain's last two matches. He's scored two winners.
Merino's decisive strike in the 1-0 victory over Portugal came in the 91st minute. He was a bit earlier in the 2-1 win over Belgium, scoring in the 88th minute. These invaluable contributions are lifting a huge weight from his country, because as good as Spain's defence has been, they aren't playing with the attacking vigour many would have expected.
Injuries have played a huge part in this. Lamine Yamal is starting to warm up again after injury nearly kept him out of the competition, while we're yet to see Nico Williams reappear. These are two huge players for the way Spain plays. Without them, Luis de la Fuente's side has had to graft harder and be more resolute to progress.
Merino is proving to be the main man for that. His running into the box and finishing ability is well-known to Arsenal fans, who may well unite with Spanish supporters in suggesting he deserves more time on the pitch.
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Losers: Goalkeepers
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Spain's win over Belgium was decided by a mistake by Senne Lammens. Thibaut Courtois didn't cover himself in glory for the first goal, either.
Then England's game featured two big goalkeeping mishaps: the first from Jordan Pickford, who pulled his hand away from a cross that went in, and then Ørjan Nyland, who couldn't stop the ball squirming away from Jude Bellingham as he popped the extra-time winner in.
All these mistakes in massive games are providing an interesting juxtaposition of what it means to be a goalkeeper in this competition.
Big-name stoppers seem to be struggling, while Vozinha and other unknowns have become worldwide superstars due to their heroics. There's definitely something different about the ball, which picks up a crazy amount of speed on long shots. Goalkeepers are finding it difficult to track.
That begs the question…are there more mistakes to come?
Winner: Jude Bellingham
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Two goals from Jude Bellingham sent England beyond Norway and into the next round. Sound familiar?
The Three Lions would have gone home by now if it weren't for the Real Madrid midfielder. His first goal, which brought England level, combined pace, power, and incredible finishing out of nowhere. The second was as simple as they come - created by Jude's anticipation that Nyland would drop Morgan Rogers' shot. Without that eagerness to make a difference, England might not be standing in the semifinal for only the fourth time in their history.
Just as importantly, Bellingham didn't pick up a yellow card. He was one away from missing the semi against Argentina, which would have felt like game over for Thomas Tuchel's side before it even began.
Winners: Fans of Massive Matches
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Julian Alvarez's unbelievable extra-time winner against Switzerland set up a mouthwatering semi with England. These two old rivals meeting so late in the competition is a blockbuster way to head into the tournament's final, which has produced many great games.
Argentina and England share a dramatic footballing history. The Hand of God, David Beckham's red card, and then his winning penalty years later. There was even a DVD release of England's 3-2 win in a friendly between the two in 2005. This game matters.
Should it not be to your taste, the prospect of France vs. Spain sits on the other side of the draw. The best attacking side in the competition against the toughest defence. A game in which it feels as though the tournament winner might emerge.
Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, and Harry Kane. They're all still in it, and within touching distance of the biggest trophy in the sport. What more could you want?
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