World Cup
2026 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals Expert Betting Tips: Erling Haaland vs. Harry Kane + More
by Chike Nwoye
9 Jul 2026
And then there were eight. The Round of 16 at this World Cup delivered all the drama we could have asked for.
England and Argentina both claimed thrilling 3-2 wins thanks to Harry Kane and Lionel Messi leading from the front. Spain got their revenge for the Nations League final by knocking out Portugal, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo in tears. Erling Haaland single-handedly sent Brazil packing with a magnificent brace. And then (my personal favourite), Belgium taught the United States a footballing lesson in “calming down” with a dominant 4-1 victory.
Also, the Golden Boot race is still wide open with the usual suspects all finding the back of the net.
And then there were eight. The Round of 16 at this World Cup delivered all the drama we could have asked for.
England and Argentina both claimed thrilling 3-2 wins thanks to Harry Kane and Lionel Messi leading from the front. Spain got their revenge for the Nations League final by knocking out Portugal, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo in tears. Erling Haaland single-handedly sent Brazil packing with a magnificent brace. And then (my personal favourite), Belgium taught the United States a footballing lesson in “calming down” with a dominant 4-1 victory.
Also, the Golden Boot race is still wide open with the usual suspects all finding the back of the net.
Our bet predictions have been on point too, with six of our eight picks from the last round landing. This time, we're aiming for a perfect four out of four. So, without further ado, here are our World Cup predictions for all four quarter-final matches.
Our Quarter-Final Picks:
World Cup Quarter-Final Fixtures Betting Tip France vs. Morocco Kylian Mbappe Anytime Scorer Spain vs. Belgium Both Sides to Score Norway vs. England Bet Builder: Harry Kane Anytime Scorer + Haaland Anytime Scorer Argentina vs. Switzerland Lionel Messi Anytime Scorer
- Total Odds: 25.62
- Booking Code: MP1D66
France vs. Morocco: Betting Tips
France and Morocco meet in the World Cup quarter-finals in a rematch of their 2022 semi-final, with a place in the last four on the line. Les Bleus remain one of the tournament favourites after winning all five matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding just twice. Their Round of 16 victory was a gritty 1-0 win over Paraguay, where Kylian Mbappé's penalty sealed the result with France dominating possession (76%), shots (15-0 on target) and corners (12-0).
Les Bleus are now unbeaten in 12 competitive matches (11 wins, 1 draw), with seven straight victories. Also worth noting is that thirteen of their last 16 wins have come by at least a two-goal margin as Didier Deschamps prepares for his 25th World Cup match. Mbappé is also chasing history. Having reached 19 World Cup goals, just two behind Lionel Messi's tally of 21, a brace would draw him level with his former PSG teammates while a hat-trick - something he’s yet to give us in this tournament - would see him leapfrog the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Morocco, however, won't be intimidated. The Atlas Lions are unbeaten in their last 34 matches (10 if you count the AFCON final vs. Senegal which is an ongoing legal battle) and booked their quarter-final spot with an impressive 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada despite managing only four shots on target. Azzedine Ounahi struck twice to end his goal drought, although, in the bad news department, Ismael Saibari remains a fitness concern after suffering a hamstring injury.
The reigning African Champions have shown they can defend deep and punish teams on the counter, but France's attacking firepower has looked relentless throughout the tournament. While Morocco's organisation could keep the scoreline respectable, our online betting family already knows France's ability to consistently create chances gives them the edge.
Betting Tips:
Spain vs. Belgium: Betting Tips
Spain and Belgium meet in one of the standout World Cup quarter-finals, with a place in the last four awaiting the winner. Spain has recovered brilliantly after opening their campaign with a goalless draw against Cabo Verde, winning four straight matches without conceding. Their latest victory came courtesy of Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner against Portugal, extending La Roja's unbeaten run in 90 minutes to 35 matches.
On the other hand, Belgium's journey has been less straightforward. After opening with back-to-back draws, the Red Devils found form when it mattered most, coming from two goals down to beat Senegal before cruising to a 4-1 win over co-hosts USA in the Round of 16, after Donald Trump and the American government got FIFA to shamelessly bend to their will and suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card. They are now unbeaten in 18 matches, although three of their last five have ended level after 90 minutes.
Spain's defence has been the tournament's benchmark with five consecutive clean sheets, but Belgium's attack poses a genuine threat. Roberto Martinez's side have scored 13 goals in their five matches in this tournament, while “both teams to score” has hit in four of those five. Also, Charles De Ketelaere heads into this clash full of confidence after scoring twice against the USA and looks capable of troubling the Spanish backline again. And then there’s Romelu Lukaku whose 3 goals, 1 assist and one forced own-goal (all off the bench) has been significant for Rudi Garcia. My bet of the day is that the Belgians will become the first team to breach Spain’s defense in this World Cup and we have the best odds for that on BetKing.
History favours Spain, who have won each of their last five meetings with Belgium and haven't lost to the Red Devils in their last eight encounters. Their defensive consistency and ability to control games make them deserved favourites, but Belgium's firepower suggests “Both Teams to Score” is worth considering alongside Spain to qualify or Spain to win.
Betting Tips:
Norway vs. England: Betting Tips
Norway's dream World Cup run continues as they reach the quarter-finals for the first time, but standing in their way are tournament heavyweights England. Erling Haaland has inspired the Nordic side with seven goals in four matches, including a late winner against Côte d'Ivoire and a brace to eliminate five-time champions Brazil.
England have had to dig deep to get this far. Harry Kane scored twice in a comeback win over DR Congo before Jude Bellingham netted a brace in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico despite England playing much of the second half with ten men. The Three Lions are making their 11th World Cup quarter-final appearance and will hope experience counts.
It is also worth mentioning England’s fine form. They’ve won seven of their last 10 matches while averaging 1.8 goals scored and just 0.7 conceded. They also average 63% possession and 17 shots per game, highlighting their ability to control matches while putting opponents under pressure. Leading the line for England is their skipper, Harry Kane. The former Spurs man has scored a historic 72 goals for club and country this season, with 61 goals for Bayern Munich and 11 for England. This total surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo's best single-season tally and makes Kane the second-highest scoring player in a single season this century, behind only Lionel Messi.
Norway, meanwhile, has won six of their last 10 and average an impressive 2.1 goals per game, although they've also conceded 1.4 per match, leaving questions about their defence against elite opposition.
That said, permit me to state the obvious; the matchup promises goals. Eight of Norway's last 10 matches have gone over 2.5 goals, while Haaland's form means England's backline won't have an easy night. However, England's defensive organisation, greater tournament experience and superior control make them favourites to progress.
For this game, I suggest we lean heavily on our goals market, making full use of the Bet Builder feature. This gives us the best value for money for our betting stake with returns rising as high as 4x.
Betting Tips:
- Bet Builder: Harry Kane Anytime Scorer + Haaland Anytime Scorer @4.10
- Bet Builder: England to Win + Harry Kane Anytime Scorer + Over 2.5 Goals @3.60
Argentina vs. Switzerland: Betting Tips
Argentina and Switzerland face off in what could be another World Cup classic, especially with the South Americans making a habit of leaving things late. Lionel Messi and his teammates produced one of the comebacks of the tournament, recovering from two goals down to knock out African heavyweights Egypt. Messi even missed a penalty that would have levelled the score after Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring and, following the miss, Mostafa Ziko doubled Egypt’s advantage midway through the second-half.
But when Argentina needed him most, Messi stepped up once again. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner set up Cristian Romero to pull one back in the 79th minute before scoring the equaliser just four minutes later. Then, deep into stoppage time, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez powered home a header to complete a stunning comeback for the reigning champions.
Switzerland, meanwhile, needed a penalty shootout to edge past Colombia after a tense, hard-fought contest. Colombia had conceded just once all tournament - an opening-game goal against Uzbekistan - so finding a breakthrough was never going to be easy. In the end, the Swiss held their nerve to reach their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954, ending a 72-year wait. Fun fact: Switzerland hosted the tournament that year and lost an unforgettable 7-5 quarter-final to Austria. The Austrians came back from 3-0 down to win in what remains the highest-scoring match in World Cup history.
Head-to-head favours the South Americans heading into this tie. Both sides have met seven times, with Argentina unbeaten across those meetings, recording five wins and two draws. Their most memorable recent clash came in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, where Ángel Di María's extra-time strike sealed a 1-0 victory for La Albiceleste.
This one should be a bit more open, though. As always, we're backing Lionel Messi as an “anytime scorer”. It's been one of our most reliable picks since 2022, and there's no reason to jump off it now. Then there's the goals market. Argentina have shown they can find the net, but their defence has looked far from convincing. After opening the tournament with back-to-back clean sheets against Algeria and Austria, they have shipped five goals in their last three games against Jordan, Cabo Verde and Egypt. That's not ideal against a Switzerland side that is tactically disciplined, has scored nine goals in five matches and is yet to concede in the knockout rounds.
That said, this game could once again be decided by a single moment of brilliance. And if it comes down to that, ask yourself one question: which team has the player most capable of producing magic out of nothing? Exactly.
Betting Tips:
Our bet predictions have been on point too, with six of our eight picks from the last round landing. This time, we're aiming for a perfect four out of four. So, without further ado, here are our World Cup predictions for all four quarter-final matches.
Our Quarter-Final Picks:
| World Cup Quarter-Final Fixtures | Betting Tip |
| France vs. Morocco | Kylian Mbappe Anytime Scorer |
| Spain vs. Belgium | Both Sides to Score |
| Norway vs. England | Bet Builder: Harry Kane Anytime Scorer + Haaland Anytime Scorer |
| Argentina vs. Switzerland | Lionel Messi Anytime Scorer |
- Total Odds: 25.62
- Booking Code: MP1D66
France vs. Morocco: Betting Tips
France and Morocco meet in the World Cup quarter-finals in a rematch of their 2022 semi-final, with a place in the last four on the line. Les Bleus remain one of the tournament favourites after winning all five matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding just twice. Their Round of 16 victory was a gritty 1-0 win over Paraguay, where Kylian Mbappé's penalty sealed the result with France dominating possession (76%), shots (15-0 on target) and corners (12-0).
Les Bleus are now unbeaten in 12 competitive matches (11 wins, 1 draw), with seven straight victories. Also worth noting is that thirteen of their last 16 wins have come by at least a two-goal margin as Didier Deschamps prepares for his 25th World Cup match. Mbappé is also chasing history. Having reached 19 World Cup goals, just two behind Lionel Messi's tally of 21, a brace would draw him level with his former PSG teammates while a hat-trick - something he’s yet to give us in this tournament - would see him leapfrog the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Morocco, however, won't be intimidated. The Atlas Lions are unbeaten in their last 34 matches (10 if you count the AFCON final vs. Senegal which is an ongoing legal battle) and booked their quarter-final spot with an impressive 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada despite managing only four shots on target. Azzedine Ounahi struck twice to end his goal drought, although, in the bad news department, Ismael Saibari remains a fitness concern after suffering a hamstring injury.
The reigning African Champions have shown they can defend deep and punish teams on the counter, but France's attacking firepower has looked relentless throughout the tournament. While Morocco's organisation could keep the scoreline respectable, our online betting family already knows France's ability to consistently create chances gives them the edge.
Betting Tips:
Spain vs. Belgium: Betting Tips
Spain and Belgium meet in one of the standout World Cup quarter-finals, with a place in the last four awaiting the winner. Spain has recovered brilliantly after opening their campaign with a goalless draw against Cabo Verde, winning four straight matches without conceding. Their latest victory came courtesy of Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner against Portugal, extending La Roja's unbeaten run in 90 minutes to 35 matches.
On the other hand, Belgium's journey has been less straightforward. After opening with back-to-back draws, the Red Devils found form when it mattered most, coming from two goals down to beat Senegal before cruising to a 4-1 win over co-hosts USA in the Round of 16, after Donald Trump and the American government got FIFA to shamelessly bend to their will and suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card. They are now unbeaten in 18 matches, although three of their last five have ended level after 90 minutes.
Spain's defence has been the tournament's benchmark with five consecutive clean sheets, but Belgium's attack poses a genuine threat. Roberto Martinez's side have scored 13 goals in their five matches in this tournament, while “both teams to score” has hit in four of those five. Also, Charles De Ketelaere heads into this clash full of confidence after scoring twice against the USA and looks capable of troubling the Spanish backline again. And then there’s Romelu Lukaku whose 3 goals, 1 assist and one forced own-goal (all off the bench) has been significant for Rudi Garcia. My bet of the day is that the Belgians will become the first team to breach Spain’s defense in this World Cup and we have the best odds for that on BetKing.
History favours Spain, who have won each of their last five meetings with Belgium and haven't lost to the Red Devils in their last eight encounters. Their defensive consistency and ability to control games make them deserved favourites, but Belgium's firepower suggests “Both Teams to Score” is worth considering alongside Spain to qualify or Spain to win.
Betting Tips:
Norway vs. England: Betting Tips
Norway's dream World Cup run continues as they reach the quarter-finals for the first time, but standing in their way are tournament heavyweights England. Erling Haaland has inspired the Nordic side with seven goals in four matches, including a late winner against Côte d'Ivoire and a brace to eliminate five-time champions Brazil.
England have had to dig deep to get this far. Harry Kane scored twice in a comeback win over DR Congo before Jude Bellingham netted a brace in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico despite England playing much of the second half with ten men. The Three Lions are making their 11th World Cup quarter-final appearance and will hope experience counts.
It is also worth mentioning England’s fine form. They’ve won seven of their last 10 matches while averaging 1.8 goals scored and just 0.7 conceded. They also average 63% possession and 17 shots per game, highlighting their ability to control matches while putting opponents under pressure. Leading the line for England is their skipper, Harry Kane. The former Spurs man has scored a historic 72 goals for club and country this season, with 61 goals for Bayern Munich and 11 for England. This total surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo's best single-season tally and makes Kane the second-highest scoring player in a single season this century, behind only Lionel Messi.
Norway, meanwhile, has won six of their last 10 and average an impressive 2.1 goals per game, although they've also conceded 1.4 per match, leaving questions about their defence against elite opposition.
That said, permit me to state the obvious; the matchup promises goals. Eight of Norway's last 10 matches have gone over 2.5 goals, while Haaland's form means England's backline won't have an easy night. However, England's defensive organisation, greater tournament experience and superior control make them favourites to progress.
For this game, I suggest we lean heavily on our goals market, making full use of the Bet Builder feature. This gives us the best value for money for our betting stake with returns rising as high as 4x.
Betting Tips:
- Bet Builder: Harry Kane Anytime Scorer + Haaland Anytime Scorer @4.10
- Bet Builder: England to Win + Harry Kane Anytime Scorer + Over 2.5 Goals @3.60
Argentina vs. Switzerland: Betting Tips
Argentina and Switzerland face off in what could be another World Cup classic, especially with the South Americans making a habit of leaving things late. Lionel Messi and his teammates produced one of the comebacks of the tournament, recovering from two goals down to knock out African heavyweights Egypt. Messi even missed a penalty that would have levelled the score after Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring and, following the miss, Mostafa Ziko doubled Egypt’s advantage midway through the second-half.
But when Argentina needed him most, Messi stepped up once again. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner set up Cristian Romero to pull one back in the 79th minute before scoring the equaliser just four minutes later. Then, deep into stoppage time, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez powered home a header to complete a stunning comeback for the reigning champions.
Switzerland, meanwhile, needed a penalty shootout to edge past Colombia after a tense, hard-fought contest. Colombia had conceded just once all tournament - an opening-game goal against Uzbekistan - so finding a breakthrough was never going to be easy. In the end, the Swiss held their nerve to reach their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954, ending a 72-year wait. Fun fact: Switzerland hosted the tournament that year and lost an unforgettable 7-5 quarter-final to Austria. The Austrians came back from 3-0 down to win in what remains the highest-scoring match in World Cup history.
Head-to-head favours the South Americans heading into this tie. Both sides have met seven times, with Argentina unbeaten across those meetings, recording five wins and two draws. Their most memorable recent clash came in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, where Ángel Di María's extra-time strike sealed a 1-0 victory for La Albiceleste.
This one should be a bit more open, though. As always, we're backing Lionel Messi as an “anytime scorer”. It's been one of our most reliable picks since 2022, and there's no reason to jump off it now. Then there's the goals market. Argentina have shown they can find the net, but their defence has looked far from convincing. After opening the tournament with back-to-back clean sheets against Algeria and Austria, they have shipped five goals in their last three games against Jordan, Cabo Verde and Egypt. That's not ideal against a Switzerland side that is tactically disciplined, has scored nine goals in five matches and is yet to concede in the knockout rounds.
That said, this game could once again be decided by a single moment of brilliance. And if it comes down to that, ask yourself one question: which team has the player most capable of producing magic out of nothing? Exactly.