So we’ve reached the sharper-er end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and what a sensational Round of 16 it was. Presuming it was as we started this before it was over. But there’s so much further to go, real important stuff, winning more knockout games to win the trophy or head home with respectability. We’re up to the last eight teams, eliminating the worst 40, and just the four games to cover. Our 2026 FIFA World Cup Quarter Final Match Centre has all the games in one convenient place, for you to read and us to compile. It has some stats, visual stats, our own in-house ratings using non AI assistance, another prediction using an alternative AI model to predict winners, and splashes of AI Greg Norman trying to steal the show.
It’s all here, and all in the same place, all four games. Enjoy our 2026 FIFA World Cup Quarter Final Match Centre.
Note: we are using AI to invent a prediction system using mostly football, but some nonsense footballing stats and figures. To save us typing it too many times, here are the categories we got AI to assess who could be the winner of all of our games.
AI MATCH PREDICTION
Since AI is all the rage, and a management buzzword of the highest order, we have decided to dip a few toes into AI pond. We asked AI to come up with a winner and score based on the following:
2026 FIFA World Cup form so far, last four years on international matches, overall FIFA World Cup history, overall FIFA World Cup knockout stage history, value of the playing squad, relative strength of each team’s mascot, military success of country over the past 100 years, overall non-football sporting success of country over the past 100 years, popularity and sales of each teams playing shirt, strength of fan noise, beer consumption.
2026 FIFA World Cup Quarter Final Match Previews
Times are AEST, because that’s where we are. Refer to better websites in your country for more.
Friday 10th July 6am – France vs Morocco
STATS SUMMARY
RATINGS
The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system chooses the winner. Using H2H history, World Cup performance history, World Cup qualifying, the last four years of international games, performance against the confederation, and current effort at this World Cup.
| France | 59.1% | Morocco | 40.9% |
RATINGS: France by not many says our Ratings computer.
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
- France have won the only World Cup game between these sides – a Semi Final win on the way to the final in 2022.
- France are undefeated v Morocco in all competitions – W4 D2. They have scored two or more goals in five of those games.
- France’s win over Senegal earlier in this World Cup ended a sequence of Win followed by Loss against African teams at the World Cup over 7 games.
- Morocco haven’t lost a game since January 2024 – it’s been W35 D8 since.
GURGLER’S MATCH PREDICTION
Before we hit AI up for their thought, or create some pathetic stunt using an animal to select a winner (not below that just don’t have an appropriate animal), here’s an old-fashioned tip from a human
France 2 Morocco 0
AI GREG’S MATCH PIC-REDICTION
We harnessed or wasted (delete appropriate) the power of AI to ask them to picture how an AI Greg Norman would visualise the result of this Quarter Final clash.
AI MATCH PREDICTION
As per our summary at the top we asked AI for a prediction using mostly football related comparisons, but some additional but no less important factors. And here’s the results below…..
AI MATCH RESULT AND WHY
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 form | France |
| Last 4 years | France |
| World Cup history | France |
| Knockout history | France |
| Squad value | France |
| Mascot strength | Morocco |
| Military history | France |
| Other sports | France |
| Shirt sales | France |
| Fan noise | Morocco |
| Beer consumption | France |
Morocco are good enough to keep it tight and make France work extremely hard, but France’s greater attacking depth, elite tournament experience and superior squad quality make them the most likely winners.
France 2–0 Morocco
Saturday 11th July 5am – Spain vs Belgium
STATS SUMMARY
RATINGS
The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system chooses the winner. Using H2H history, World Cup performance history, World Cup qualifying, the last four years of international games, performance against the confederation, and current effort at this World Cup.
| Spain | 56.1% | Belgium | 43.9% |
RATINGS: It’s Spain.
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
- Spain are unbeaten in their last 11 games v Belgium with a record of W9 D2. And by a combined total of 26-5.
- Two games between Spain and Belgium have been played at a World Cup in 1986 and 1990, with a win to Spain and a draw.
- Belgium have lost just one of their last seven games at the World Cup v European nations (back to 1998) – with a record of W4 D2 L1.
- Spain are yet to concede a goal at this World Cup.
GURGLER’S MATCH PREDICTION
Before we hit AI up for their thought, or create some pathetic stunt using an animal to select a winner (not below that just don’t have an appropriate animal), here’s an old-fashioned tip from a human
Spain 1 Belgium 0
AI GREG’S MATCH PIC-REDICTION
We harnessed or wasted (delete appropriate) the power of AI to ask them to picture how an AI Greg Norman would visualise the result of this Quarter Final clash.
AI MATCH PREDICTION
As per our summary at the top we asked AI for a prediction using mostly football related comparisons, but some additional but no less important factors. And here’s the results below…..
AI MATCH RESULT AND WHY
Final verdict
Belgium have enough attacking quality through De Bruyne, Doku and Lukaku to score and make the match uncomfortable.
However, Spain appear to have the stronger overall squad, better tournament control, superior midfield and more convincing form through the competition.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 form | Spain |
| Last 4 years | Spain |
| World Cup history | Spain |
| Knockout history | Spain |
| Squad value | Spain |
| Mascot strength | Belgium |
| Military history | Spain |
| Other sporting success | Spain |
| Shirt sales | Spain |
| Fan noise | Spain |
| Beer consumption | Belgium |
Spain 2 Belgium 1
Sunday 12th July 7am – Norway vs England
STATS SUMMARY
RATINGS
The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system chooses the winner. Using H2H history, World Cup performance history, World Cup qualifying, the last four years of international games, performance against the confederation, and current effort at this World Cup.
| England | 59.4% | Norway | 40.6% |
RATINGS: England by 1 or enough.
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
- Erling Haaland was just over 14 when Norway last played England, he probably would have scored anyway. Norway are winless in the last four games v England – with a record of D2 L2 without scoring a goal.
- England did fail to beat Norway over a five game period between 1981 and 1995 with a record of D3 L2.
- Norway have yet to beat a European nation at a World Cup with a record of D2 L4.
- England have an average record v European nations at the World Cup recently – their record since 1998 is W4 D3 L8.
- Norway’s 47% Shots on Target figure is the best of the teams still left at the World Cup. They also average the fewest shots per game.
GURGLER’S MATCH PREDICTION
Before we hit AI up for their thought, or create some pathetic stunt using an animal to select a winner (not below that just don’t have an appropriate animal), here’s an old-fashioned tip from a human
Norway 1 England 1 (England win on Pens)
AI GREG’S MATCH PIC-REDICTION
We harnessed or wasted (delete appropriate) the power of AI to ask them to picture how an AI Greg Norman would visualise the result of this Quarter Final clash.
AI MATCH PREDICTION
As per our summary at the top we asked AI for a prediction using mostly football related comparisons, but some additional but no less important factors. And here’s the results below…..
AI MATCH RESULT AND WHY
Norway have the most dangerous individual player in the match in Erling Haaland, and their confidence after eliminating Brazil is enormous.
However, England have greater depth, much stronger World Cup pedigree, more knockout experience, and a higher-quality squad across all positions.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 form | Norway |
| Last 4 years | England |
| World Cup history | England |
| Knockout history | England |
| Squad value | England |
| Mascot strength | Norway |
| Military history | England |
| Other sporting success | England |
| Shirt sales | England |
| Fan noise | England |
| Beer consumption | England |
Norway 1 England 2
Sunday 12th July 11am – Argentina vs Switzerland
STATS SUMMARY
RATINGS
The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system chooses the winner. Using H2H history, World Cup performance history, World Cup qualifying, the last four years of international games, performance against the confederation, and current effort at this World Cup.
| Argentina | 59.1% | Switzerland | 40.9% |
RATINGS: Argentina of course. FIFA approved.
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
- Argentina are unbeaten in 11 World Cup matches.
- Argentina are unbeaten in 6 World Cup matches v European nations
- Switzerland have won only once in 10 games v South American teams at the World Cup in regular/extra time. Record is W1 D3 L6.
GURGLER’S MATCH PREDICTION
Before we hit AI up for their thought, or create some pathetic stunt using an animal to select a winner (not below that just don’t have an appropriate animal), here’s an old-fashioned tip from a human
Argentina 3 Switzerland 0
AI GREG’S MATCH PIC-REDICTION
We harnessed or wasted (delete appropriate) the power of AI to ask them to picture how an AI Greg Norman would visualise the result of this Quarter Final clash.
AI MATCH PREDICTION
As per our summary at the top we asked AI for a prediction using mostly football related comparisons, but some additional but no less important factors. And here’s the results below…..
AI MATCH RESULT AND WHY
Likely scenario
- Messi or another attacking star contributes a goal.
- Switzerland remain organized and difficult to break down.
- Argentina’s superior attacking quality, tournament experience and knockout pedigree eventually decide the match.
| Factor | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 World Cup form | Argentina |
| Last 4 years | Argentina |
| World Cup history | Argentina |
| Knockout history | Argentina |
| Squad value | Argentina |
| Mascot battle | Argentina |
| Military history | Switzerland |
| Non-football sport | Switzerland |
| Shirt sales | Argentina |
| Fan noise | Argentina |
| Beer consumption | Switzerland |
Argentina 2 Switzerland 1
