#世界杯冠军预测 All eight World Cup quarterfinalists confirmed! Two matches carry upset risks, Argentina and England in danger, biggest dark horse emerges

With the Round of 16 fully concluded, the eight teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico are officially set, along with the schedule for the four quarterfinal matches. Every matchup is full of suspense, with two key games having high upset potential. Defending champion Argentina and title contender England are now in unstable positions, and the tournament's biggest dark horse is ready to emerge.
I. Complete quarterfinal matchups & Beijing time schedule
1. July 10, 04:00 France vs Morocco
2. July 11, 03:00 Spain vs Belgium
3. July 12, 05:00 Norway vs England
4. July 12, 09:00 Argentina vs Switzerland
II. Two high-risk clashes, favorites prone to upsets
1. Argentina vs Switzerland: Defending champion's defensive flaws exposed. Although Argentina narrowly overturned a deficit against Egypt to advance, they conceded two goals in each of their last two knockout matches. Problems with slow defensive recovery and loose wing marking have been fully exposed. The team relies excessively on Messi's last-minute heroics, and the squad's aging physical weaknesses will be magnified in the high-intensity quarterfinal.
Switzerland has returned to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years. The team is highly disciplined tactically, excels at compact defense and fast counterattacks, and Xhaka orchestrates with precision. Against top teams, they focus on slowing the pace, defending stubbornly, and draining energy, easily dragging the match into extra time or penalties. Argentina has no absolute guarantee of victory.
2. England vs Norway: Haaland's attack is enough to break through the Three Lions. England's path to the quarterfinals has also been bumpy, conceding goals against both Mexico and DR Congo, with clear weaknesses in slow defensive turns and poor aerial defense. Norway, on the other hand, proved their defensive resilience by eliminating Brazil. Up front, Haaland's striking power is world-class, and his individual finishing ability can tear open England's defense at any moment.
This is a direct clash of top scorers. Norway has every opportunity to pull off an upset through efficient counterattacks. The Three Lions look superior on paper but are full of hidden dangers.
III. The biggest dark horse emerges: Switzerland Among the eight quarterfinalists, Switzerland is the most surprising. They played steadily in the group stage and advanced past Colombia in a penalty shootout after a grueling knockout match. Without any superstars, the team is extremely cohesive, with high defensive error tolerance. Against a top team like Argentina that is strong in attack but weak in defense, they have ample capital to stage an upset.
Morocco and Norway also have dark horse potential, but Switzerland is more balanced in attack and defense and has stronger pressure resistance in major tournaments, potentially making a historic run to their best World Cup finish.
IV. Brief analysis of remaining matchups
France and Spain have stable overall frameworks and deep rosters, with relatively lower upset risks. Belgium's midfield control is decent, but their forward efficiency is average. In the lower half of the bracket, both Argentina and England, two favorites, are in peril, and the quarterfinal stage could very well produce shocking upsets. Every minute of the upcoming quarterfinals is not to be missed.