The quarterfinals of the World Cup have gathered high-value teams.
According to the quarterfinal matchups confirmed on July 8 for the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup, France will face Morocco, Spain will take on Belgium, Norway will compete against England, and Argentina will meet Switzerland for a chance to advance to the semifinals.
In this World Cup, top-ranked teams such as Argentina (1st), Spain (2nd), France (3rd), and England (4th) have all made it through. Morocco and Belgium are ranked 7th and 9th, respectively.
Norway, ranked 31st, has the lowest FIFA ranking among the quarterfinalists, but its market value stands at €589.9 million, placing it 9th overall. Led by Erling Haaland, Norway has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the tournament after defeating Brazil.
The highest-valued team is France, with a market value of €1.52 billion, according to the transfer market analysis site Transfermarkt. England follows with €1.36 billion, and Spain is valued at €1.22 billion. All three teams boast market values exceeding €1 billion.
Switzerland and Morocco have relatively lower market values, with Switzerland at €332.5 million and Morocco at €447.7 million. Switzerland reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years after defeating Colombia in a penalty shootout. Morocco also advanced to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive time by beating Canada, continuing the strength of African football.
The matches are scheduled to take place from July 10 to 12, Korean time. France and Morocco will kick off the quarterfinals on July 10 at 5 a.m., followed by Spain and Belgium on July 11 at 4 a.m. On July 12, Norway will face England at 6 a.m., and Argentina will play Switzerland at 10 a.m.
The matchup between France and Morocco is a rematch of the 2022 Qatar World Cup semifinals, where France won 2-0 to advance to the final. This time, Morocco seeks revenge.
The Spain-Belgium match features a clash of European powerhouses. Spain advanced by defeating Portugal 1-0, while Belgium triumphed over the United States 4-1. This marks Belgium's third quarterfinal appearance in the last four World Cups.
The Norway-England match presents a compelling contrast. England, ranked 4th with a market value of €1.36 billion, is a favorite to win, while Norway, after defeating Brazil 2-1, has reached the quarterfinals for the first time in history. Haaland scored twice in the match against Brazil, leading his team to the quarterfinals.
In the Argentina-Switzerland match, defending champion Argentina faces another test. Argentina came back from a 0-2 deficit against Egypt to win 3-2, while Switzerland advanced after a goalless draw with Colombia, winning 4-3 in penalties.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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