What happens if a World Cup quarterfinal ends in a draw?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its decisive stage, where every mistake can mean elimination. With eight teams fighting for a place in the semifinals, one of the most common questions is what happens if a match is tied after 90 minutes.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its decisive stage, where every mistake can mean elimination. With eight teams fighting for a place in the semifinals, one of the most common questions is what happens if a match is tied after 90 minutes.
Unlike the group stage, there are no shared points in the quarterfinals. Every match must have a winner.
Is there extra time?
Yes. If the score remains level after regulation time, the match goes to two 15-minute periods of extra time, for a total of 30 additional minutes.
During that period, either team can score to take the lead and move closer to the semifinals.
Are there penalties if the draw continues?
If the teams are still tied after extra time, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.
Each team takes five penalties. If the score remains tied after those first five attempts, the shootout moves to sudden death, with one kick per team until one scores and the other misses.
Which teams are still alive?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal field is now complete, with only eight teams still in contention for the title.
The remaining teams are Morocco, France, Norway, England, Belgium, Spain, Argentina and Switzerland.
The quarterfinal matchups are:
- Morocco vs France
- Spain vs Belgium
- Norway vs England
- Argentina vs Switzerland
Every match is single elimination, and only four teams will advance to the semifinals.
