France and Spain Favored in World Cup Quarter-Final Predictions, Experts Weigh In

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 progresses into its thrilling quarter-final stage, anticipation is building for two highly anticipated matchups: France against Morocco and Spain versus Belgium. The Athletic has gathered predictions from their panel of soccer experts, a guest subscriber, a six-year-old named Wilfred, and an AI algorithm known as ‘Algo’ to gauge the likely outcomes.

France vs. Morocco: A Familiar Challenge

The first predicted quarter-final pits defending champions France against Morocco, a rematch of their 2022 World Cup semi-final encounter. The consensus among The Athletic’s predictors leans heavily towards France, with the team’s formidable attack and a seemingly inevitable march towards a potential repeat title.

The Athletic Soccer Experts highlighted France’s consistent performance, noting that Kylian Mbappé continues his impressive tournament form. Michael Olise has also emerged as a key star. Despite their dominance, the experts acknowledge that France has not yet faced a truly stern test, citing their relatively straightforward path through the knockout stages. They also recall France’s surprise exit to Switzerland at Euro 2020, suggesting that upsets are not entirely out of the question.

Morocco, having already made history as the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, will be looking to replicate their past success. Their strategy is expected to involve absorbing pressure and launching quick counter-attacks. However, a question mark hangs over the fitness of Ismael Saibari, a key player who was forced off with a muscular issue in their previous match.

All predictors, including Guest Subscriber Kevin from Belgium, The Athletic Soccer Experts, six-year-old Wilfred, Stanley the dog, and Algo, have predicted a France win.

Spain vs. Belgium: A Tighter Contest Expected

The second quarter-final is projected to be a more closely contested affair between Spain and Belgium. While Spain is considered the favorite, their performance against Portugal in the previous round was not at their absolute best. Belgium, on the other hand, appeared to find their stride in their match against the United States.

The Athletic’s predictors view this tie as tougher to call than the France-Morocco fixture. Spain’s ability to overcome strong opposition like Portugal in the prior round is noted, while Belgium’s recent form suggests they are capable of posing a significant threat.

Key Facts

This analysis of the World Cup quarter-finals provides a snapshot of expert opinion and algorithmic prediction, offering fans insights into the potential trajectories of these high-stakes matches. The predictions, while reflecting current form and expert analysis, underscore the inherent unpredictability of the World Cup, where unexpected results are always a possibility.

Source: The Athletic Football, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7430540/2026/07/09/world-cup-predictions-france-morocco-spain-belgium/