World Cup quarterfinals: How we got here, predictions, odds - ESPN

Four full weeks after the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, the quarterfinals kicked off Thursday with each remaining team only three wins away from becoming world champions.

We've seen more than 40 teams — including co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States, as well traditional powerhouses Brazil and Germany — fall by the wayside over the past month.

Now only reigning world champions Argentina plus Belgium, England, France, Norway, Spain and Switzerland are left to dream about winning the final in New Jersey on July 19.

— The 8 most important players of the World Cup quarterfinals
— Golden Boot tracker: Who will score most goals at the World Cup?
— Where has Infantino been? FIFA president's epic World Cup tour

But how did we get here? Who are the players who have stood out the most? And what are the moments that we'll never forget?

ESPN's Sam Marsden brings you up to date with answers to all of those questions, Sam Tighe looks at where the four quarterfinals will be won and lost, a selection of our writers who have been reporting on the tournament give us their predictions on the winner of each matchup, and we'll bring you the latest betting odds for each tie via DraftKings.

Spain-Belgium | Norway-England | Argentina-Switzerland

How they got here: Spain have not hit top gear yet, but there has never really been the sense that the European champions were in danger, either. Despite being held to a surprise goalless draw by Cape Verde in their opener, Spain eased through Group H with wins against Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0) before comfortably beating Austria 3-0. They had to sweat for victory against Portugal in the round of 16, but they always looked the more likely winner and Mikel Merino's 90th-minute strike