Sport: Soccer Country: Spain Category: Scores & Results

France and England among favorites in World Cup quarter-finals

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 9, 2026, 7:00 AM

Last updated Jul 9, 2026

France and England among favorites in World Cup quarter-finals

Summary

The quarter-finals of the World Cup commence with eight teams remaining, including top contenders France and England. According to Opta, these teams are favored to reach the semifinals based on key statistics. Each team has demonstrated strengths throughout the tournament, contributing to their advancement. The matches are expected to showcase various tactical strengths, including Switzerland's speed and Spain's defense.

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The Guardian Sport

By the Numbers

•World Cup quarter-finals feature eight remaining teams.
•Opta lists France, Spain, Argentina, and England as favorites.
•Teams exhibit unique strengths, influencing potential match outcomes.
•Matches are set to highlight tactical diversity across teams.

Latest Updates

7:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — England’s big chances and France’s shots: how World Cup quarter-finalists’ stats line up

What they're saying

"
Each of the eight teams has at least one key strength, from Swiss speed to Spanish defence The World Cup has reached the quarter-final stage and the favourites to reach the last four in descending order of likelihood, according to Opta, are France, Spain, Argentina and England. All eight remaining teams have positive data in their favour from the tournament, though. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Andrew Beasley

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