2026 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals Predictions; Previews of Other Classic Sporting Events forthcoming
I didn’t know how engaged I would be in this year’s World Cup. It’s always been a highly regarded sporting event that happens only every four years. But this time of year for me it’s PGA/Majors Golf, Pro Tennis/Majors, MLB and any Vanderbilt information, football, basketball, baseball recruiting stuff/ news that I can get to my Vanderbilt readers.
However, this year has been spectacular in the World Cup. As good as ever. I am an avid World Cup watcher now. The tournament has been scintillating, and such a pleasure to watch. So much drama with such tremendous superstars. Lionel Messi of Argentina, Kylian Mbappe’ of France, Harry Kane of England and Erling Haaland, among others, have made this a particularly riveting sporting event.
The Quarterfinals start today and continue through Saturday. Here are my predictions for each game. I will have the semifinals, which take place next Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Championship game, which takes place Sunday, 7/26 in New Jersey Stadium or MetLife Stadium, predictions next Tuesday, 7/14.
The 139th Championships, Wimbledon is coming down to the wire in the men’s, another sport that generates so much global attention in late June and early July. Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are on a collision course Friday at approximately 10:30-11 A.M. CT, 11:30 A.M. to 12 P.M. ET depending on how the German, Alexander Zverev, vs the Englishman, Arthur Fery, match goes before that. Fery has been a diamond in the rough in this fortnight, but he’s got a tough task ahead of him. That match starts at 7:30 A.M. CT/8:30 ET. Both semifinals will be broadcast by ESPN.
If your work schedule allows, I’d turn it on at 7:30 A.M./8:30 ET for the full semis, or around 9:45-10 A.M. CT/10:45-11 A.M. ET for Sinner/ Djoker.
Had Sinner over Ben Shelton in the final in my predictions column before the tournament started, but the Shelton prediction didn’t pan out. Nevertheless, Sinner is very much alive. Should be an electric Friday across the pond as well.
And, finally, but just as importantly for many of my golfing friends, the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England commences next Thursday, 7/16, through Sunday, 7/19. Excedrin likes for me to call it the British Open, so it can go by either name. Will have full coverage on that iconic sporting event next Wednesday. NBC, USA and Peacock will broadcast. Can Wyndham Clark, the best player in the game right now, continue his powerful driving and mastery on the greens. Can Scottie Scheffler finally break through in a major this season. Rory is definitely a favorite. Jon Rahm is another. I like Chris Gotterup’s chances. Xander Schauffele, a resurgent Justin Thomas, the savvy veteran Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and many others will have a shot at this coveted Open championship and the Claret Jug as the champion golfer of the world, according to the Brits. Will preview and predict next Wednesday.
Here are Predictions for the World Cup Quarters starting today.
*****FOX will Broadcast all games*****
Today
France versus Morocco
Boston Stadium, Boston. It is Gillette Stadium where the Patriots play in Foxborough. But the World Cup takes away the sponsor’s name to make it more special to the World Cup
3 P.M. CT/4 ET
France, -170, Morocco, +550
France’s Kylian Mbappe’ is second to only Lionel Messi of Argentina in goals scored in the history of the World Cup. Mbappe’, 27, has 7 goals in this Cup while Messi has converted 8. For the all time record, the great 39 year old Messi leads all time with 21, and Mbappe’ is second at 19. They call Messi the GOAT, but it’s debatable. Mbappe’ is only 27, and has at least three more World Cups ahead of him, if he stays healthy. And then you have the former great Brazilian, Pele’, who finished with 12 goals in his career in the World Cup, but, wow, was he ever a fantastic player in the 1960’s and early 70’s. But Messi and Mbappe’ are goal scoring machines and leaders on each of their respective teams. All the players on each of their teams love those two guys. France is the favorite right now to capture the World Cup, but it’s a major war of attrition to determine who captures this World Cup. Everybody still has to go through Argentina, the defending champion.
I like Mbappe’ and France to advance to the semis.
France 3, Morocco 1
Friday
Spain vs Belgium
Los Angeles Stadium, SoFi Stadium, where the Rams and Chargers play
2 P.M. CT/3 ET
Spain -160, Belgium +450
Belgium was the team that knocked out the U.S. on Monday Night in Seattle, 4-1, in a controversial game as FIFA had allowed U.S. player Folarin Balogun to play despite him getting a red card for a foul in the previous game versus Bosnia-Herzogovina, which was supposed to suspend him from the next game. FIFA overruled the call, so Balogun played. But the controversy was over quickly as Belgium dominated the match. They have superb players, but give me Espana to win at LA Stadium. Viva Espana. Should be a classic. These are two very tough teams to defeat.
Spain 3, Belgium 2
Saturday
England vs Norway
Miami Stadium, Hard Rock, where the Dolphins play
4 P.M. CT/5 ET
England -115, Norway +300
This will be a total classic. Norway’s Erling Haaland is the soccer equivalent of Steph Curry. All he does when his foot touches the ball is score. And he makes it look so easy. It’s not though. The guy is an outright stud. Haaland, 25, and in his first World Cup, has seven goals in the tournament.
But England’s Harry Kane is spectacular as well. Kane, 32, has six goals in this World Cup and 14 in his career. England went to Mexico City and defeated Mexico 3-2 last Sunday Night. That’s hard to do. Kane and the Englishmen barely outlast Haaland and Norway in a must see match.
England 3, Norway 2
Switzerland vs. Argentina
Kansas City Stadium, Arrowhead where the Chiefs play.
8 P.M. CT/9 ET
The defending champions from 2022 and their hero, Messi, looked dead in the water versus Egypt on Tuesday. Down 2-0 with just 15 minutes + extra time left in the game (there are 90 minutes in regulation and an estimated time usually 6 to 10 minutes for any stoppage of play earlier in the game), the Argentinians scored three times to improbably defeat Egypt and advance to the quarters. The Argentinians were a clear favorite, but Egypt played with so much passion and dominated the majority of the game, though Argentina had taken some really prolific shots on goal that Egyptian Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir had made tremendous stops on. But Argentina was not going to be denied. I like Messi to at least score once and quite possibly twice in this game as the great Argentinians advance to the semifinals.