Winner to face Argentina or Switzerland as Spain set up semi-final clash with France

England will take on Norway in a highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final on Saturday in Miami, with the spotlight firmly on star strikers Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

The winner will advance to the semi-finals to face either defending champions Argentina or Switzerland, who also meet in the last-eight stage.

England booked their place in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Mexico, despite finishing the match with 10 men. Norway, meanwhile, stunned five-time champions Brazil to record their best-ever World Cup performance.

Ahead of the clash, England captain Kane praised Haaland as “a beast” but noted that both forwards have different playing styles. Norway coach Ståle Solbakken described the fixture as the most significant in the nation’s football history.

England received a major boost ahead of the encounter, with Declan Rice, Marc Guéhi and Reece James returning to training after recovering from illness and injury. Head coach Thomas Tuchel said their availability strengthens the squad but stressed that reaching the quarter-finals is only one step toward England’s ultimate goal.

The match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium is expected to be played in temperatures exceeding 40°C, adding another layer of intensity to the contest.

In the other quarter-final, Argentina will face Switzerland in Kansas City as Lionel Messi continues his quest for a second consecutive World Cup title. Although Argentina progressed past Cape Verde and Egypt in the knockout rounds, the defending champions have shown signs of vulnerability. The disciplined Swiss side, led by Granit Xhaka, will be aiming to pull off another upset.

Messi heads into the contest with a record 21 World Cup goals across six tournaments.

Meanwhile, Spain have already booked their place in the semi-finals after a dramatic 2–1 victory over Belgium on Friday, with Mikel Merino scoring a late winner following a goalkeeping error.

The European champions will now face France in a heavyweight semi-final in Texas — a fixture Spain coach Luis de la Fuente described as “a final before the final” given the quality of both teams.