The Short Version
July 7 completed the round of 16 and settled the quarter-final line-up. In the tie everyone had waited for, Lionel Messi’s Argentina beat Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — the era’s two icons meeting in a knockout, with the holders coming through. Belgium routed the United States 4-1 at Lumen Field to eliminate the last remaining host nation, and Switzerland edged Colombia on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Argentina, Belgium and Switzerland complete the last eight. The quarter-finals are now set: France vs Morocco, Spain vs Belgium, Norway vs England and Argentina vs Switzerland.
The round of 16 saved a blockbuster for last. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah shared a pitch in a straight knockout, and the holders edged a five-goal classic. Elsewhere, the tournament said goodbye to its final host nation and produced one more penalty shootout — and by the end of the night, all eight quarter-final places were filled.
July 7 results at a glance
| Tie | Score | Venue | Through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina vs Egypt | 3–2 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | Argentina |
| USA vs Belgium | 1–4 | Lumen Field, Seattle | Belgium |
| Switzerland vs Colombia | 0–0 (4–3 pens) | BC Place, Vancouver | Switzerland |
Three ties, three more quarter-finalists — headlined by a Messi-Salah classic, and completing the exit of all three host nations.
Messi outduels Salah in a five-goal classic
Argentina beat Egypt 3-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to reach the quarter-finals, in the tie our July 3 roundup had set up as Lionel Messi against Mohamed Salah. It lived up to it. The holders and the tournament’s most watched forward duel produced five goals, and it was Messi’s Argentina who found the extra quality to edge a breathless night.
Egypt, who had knocked out Australia to reach the last 16 and carried Salah’s threat throughout, pushed the champions all the way but fell just short. For Argentina, the reward is a quarter-final and a place among the tournament’s serious contenders, as the result confirmed.
Belgium end the last host; Switzerland win a shootout
Belgium produced the day’s most emphatic result, beating the United States 4-1 at Lumen Field to reach the quarter-finals — and to eliminate the last of the three host nations. After Canada and Mexico went out earlier in the knockouts, the USA’s exit means no co-host will feature in the last eight, as the day’s coverage reflected.
The day’s third tie went the distance. Switzerland and Colombia could not be separated across 120 goalless minutes at BC Place, and Switzerland held their nerve to win the penalty shootout 4-3 and claim the final quarter-final berth.
The quarter-finals in full
With the round of 16 complete, the last eight is set. The quarter-finals are:
| Quarter-final | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| France vs Morocco | July 9 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Spain vs Belgium | July 10 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Norway vs England | July 11 | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| Argentina vs Switzerland | July 12 | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
It is a last eight without a single host nation but full of storylines: France against the Morocco side that has knocked out the Netherlands and Canada, holders Argentina against Switzerland, and Norway’s Haaland against England after his side removed Brazil, with the bracket now set. The quarter-finals begin on July 9 with France against Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
What were the July 7 World Cup results? Argentina beat Egypt 3-2, Belgium beat the United States 4-1, and Switzerland drew 0-0 with Colombia and won 4-3 on penalties. Argentina, Belgium and Switzerland reached the quarter-finals.
Who won Messi vs Salah? Lionel Messi’s Argentina beat Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the holders reaching the quarter-finals.
Did the USA get knocked out? Yes. The United States lost 4-1 to Belgium in the round of 16, meaning all three host nations — Canada, Mexico and the USA — have now been eliminated.
How did the Switzerland vs Colombia tie end? Switzerland and Colombia drew 0-0 after extra time, and Switzerland won the penalty shootout 4-3 to reach the quarter-finals.
What are the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals? The quarter-finals are France vs Morocco (July 9), Spain vs Belgium (July 10), Norway vs England (July 11) and Argentina vs Switzerland (July 12).
Are any host nations still in the World Cup? No. Canada, Mexico and the United States have all been eliminated, so no host nation remains in the quarter-finals.
Which teams were eliminated on July 7? Egypt, the United States and Colombia were all knocked out in the round of 16.
When do the quarter-finals start? The quarter-finals begin on July 9, 2026, with France against Morocco at Gillette Stadium.
