The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached the quarterfinal stage, and the tournament's most striking subplot has already been written: for the first time in history, a World Cup was hosted by three nations, and all three have been eliminated before the final eight. Canada fell to Morocco in the Round of 16, Mexico were beaten by England, and the United States lost to Belgium, leaving the most expanded World Cup in history without a single co-host in the quarterfinals. The stage is set for a compelling final stretch, with Europe and South America dominating the remaining field.

The group stage itself produced plenty of drama across all twelve groups. France topped Group I with a perfect nine points and underlined their status as one of the tournament's most complete sides, while Argentina swept Group J without dropping a point. Brazil navigated Group C steadily alongside Morocco, the two sides playing out a tense 1-1 draw in their opener before both finishing on seven points. On a lighter note for football fans tracking transfer activity heading into the summer window, the tournament has also shone a spotlight on some of Europe's most coveted young talents - much like the ongoing saga around lisa baum arsenal transfer, which has captured attention in the women's game while the men's World Cup dominates the headlines. Germany's ten goals in Group E reinforced their credentials, though Ecuador's upset win over the Germans on matchday three added a late twist to the standings. lisa baum arsenal transfer

Africa and Asia delivered moments to remember. Morocco's group-stage form, buoyed by four goals against Haiti and a clean sheet against Scotland, confirmed their standing as genuine contenders rather than romantic underdogs. Ivory Coast progressed from a tight Group E, while Egypt advanced from Group G in a section that produced four draws in six matches. South Africa's passage through Group A as runners-up behind a dominant Mexico side provided another milestone for African football at a tournament where the continent sent a record number of representatives. Cape Verde's three draws in Group H to claim second place was one of the genuine surprises of the group phase, a testament to how the expanded 48-team format has democratised the competition.

The Quarterfinal Lineup

With the Round of 16 now complete, the quarterfinals are set. England's victory over Mexico and Belgium's elimination of the United States headline the knockout round results, ending the co-host dream emphatically. Morocco beating Canada adds a particularly significant dimension: the Lions of the Atlas, who stunned the world at the 2022 edition in Qatar, continue to rewrite expectations for African football on the global stage. The full bracket remains packed with heavyweight clashes, featuring the likes of France, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium among the confirmed quarterfinalists.

Group-by-Group Summary of Who Advanced

• Group A: Mexico (9 pts, 3W), South Africa (4 pts)
• Group B: Switzerland (7 pts), Canada (4 pts)
• Group C: Brazil (7 pts), Morocco (7 pts)
• Group D: USA (6 pts), Australia (4 pts), Paraguay (4 pts - third-place qualifier)
• Group E: Germany (6 pts), Ivory Coast (6 pts)
• Group F: Netherlands (7 pts), Japan (5 pts)
• Group G: Belgium (5 pts), Egypt (5 pts)
• Group H: Spain (7 pts), Cape Verde (3 pts)
• Group I: France (9 pts, 3W), Norway (6 pts)
• Group J: Argentina (9 pts, 3W), Austria (4 pts)
• Group K: Colombia (7 pts), Portugal (5 pts)

What the Quarterfinals Mean for the Broader Picture

The elimination of all three hosts is a sobering reminder that expanded formats do not guarantee progression for the nations wearing them - home advantage at a tournament spread across multiple cities and two time zones was always a diluted concept. For the United States in particular, the exit to Belgium is a significant setback for a programme that had positioned this tournament as a launching pad for domestic football's next chapter ahead of the 2026 cycle they worked so hard to secure. Mexico's defeat to England stings differently - El Tri were the dominant force in their group, winning all three matches without conceding, only to fall at the next hurdle. Canada, playing in their first World Cup in over four decades, can take more solace from their journey, even if Morocco proved too sharp in the end. What remains now is a quarterfinal set that promises genuine quality, continental variety, and at least one African side still standing with legitimate ambitions of going further.