World Cup Update

July 8, 2026

Lillian Stone

PITCH PANDEMONIUM Harry Kane of England and Jesús Gallardo of Mexico race for the ball during a World Cup match on July 5, 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico. Julian Finney—FIFA/Getty Images

Four weeks into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the stakes are high.

The 48-team tournament kicked off June 11. Today, there are eight teams left. They represent Argentina, Belgium, England, France, Morocco, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland. These teams will compete in the quarterfinals, which begin Thursday, July 9. Four teams will move on to the semifinals. The last two teams will battle it out during the World Cup Final. That match is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

International Visitors

In a June 28 press release, FIFA announced record-breaking game attendance. At that time, 4,644,549 fans from 210 countries and territories had attended matches. The number has increased. (The organization also announced that fans had consumed about 300,000 hot dogs.)

Before and after games, visitors are exploring host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Eric Wahl lives in Kansas City, Missouri, one of the host cities. He told English newspaper The Guardian: “The people in the city wearing soccer jerseys from every country you can imagine have added to a singularly colorful environment that will mark our memories for a very long time.”

Players to Watch

TEAM LEADERS Left: Erling Haaland, of Norway, leads his team in the “Viking row” on July 5. Right: Lionel Messi, of Argentina, is tossed into the air by teammates after helping to defeat Egypt on July 7.

From left: Steph Chambers—FIFA/Getty Images; Elsa—Getty Images

Fans are showing their support for top players. These include Lionel Messi, 39, who plays for Argentina. His team advanced to the quarterfinals on Tuesday, July 7, after beating Egypt 3–2. Messi has made eight goals in the 2026 World Cup. That’s more than any other player. “He’s our role model, our guide—the one who helps us at all times,” said Lautaro Martínez, Messi’s teammate, after the win.

Erling Haaland, 25, has confidently led Norway’s team with a big smile on his face. It’s his first World Cup. On July 5, he scored two late-game goals in a 2–1 upset over Brazil. The goals pushed Norway into the quarterfinals. After the victory, Haaland led the team in the “Viking row.” (See “Team Leaders,” above.) He banged a drum while his teammates pantomimed rowing a Viking ship.