The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached the quarter-final stage, with just eight teams remaining in the race to lift football’s biggest prize.

The knockout competition intensifies this week as teams battle for a place in the semi-finals.

Here’s everything fans in the UAE need to know.

When do the quarter-finals start?

The quarter-finals begin on Friday, July 10, and conclude in the early hours of Sunday, July 12 (UAE time).

The schedule (UAE time)

Friday, July 10

• 12:00am: France vs Morocco
• 11:00pm: Winner of Match 93 vs Winner of Match 94 (TBC)

Sunday, July 12

• 1:00am: Norway vs England
• 5:00am: Winner of Match 95 vs Winner of Match 96 (TBC)

When are the semi-finals?

The two semi-finals will be played next week.

• Tuesday, July 14 – 11:00pm: Winner of Quarter-final 1 vs Winner of Quarter-final 2
• Wednesday, July 15 – 11:00pm: Winner of Quarter-final 3 vs Winner of Quarter-final 4

When is the third-place play-off?

The third-place match will take place on:

• Sunday, July 19 – 1:00am (UAE time)

Final countdown?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final will kick off on:

• Sunday, July 19 – 11:00pm (UAE time)

The winners of both semi-finals will compete for the World Cup trophy in the tournament’s showpiece finale.

Which teams have already qualified?

Confirmed quarter-finalists include:

• France
• Morocco
• Norway
• England
• Spain
• Belgium

The remaining places will be decided after the completion of the Round of 16 matches between Argentina, Egypt, Switzerland and Colombia.

Every match is now a knockout, bringing teams one step closer to becoming world champions.

How to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the UAE

Football fans in the UAE can watch every FIFA World Cup match live on beIN SPORTS, which holds the exclusive broadcast rights across the UAE and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. All 104 matches are available with Arabic and English commentary. Alternatively, you could also visit fan zones and pubs across the UAE.

Fans can watch the tournament through:

• beIN SPORTS satellite channels
• beIN CONNECT, the network’s streaming platform
• TOD, beIN’s official streaming service for MENA

beIN SPORTS is broadcasting the tournament across its dedicated beIN Sports Max channels, with Arabic coverage on Max 1–4, English commentary on Max 5, and French commentary on Max 6.