Sacha Kljestan said it plainly about Switzerland: "I think Switzerland just put us to sleep." That about sums up where the quarterfinal field stands heading into the 2026 World Cup's final eight.
The FOX Sports World Cup NOW crew — Melissa Ortiz, Maurice Edu, Brad Guzan, and Kljestan — ranked all eight remaining teams after the round of 16 wrapped up. The consensus was clear at the top, messier in the middle, and agreed-upon at the bottom.
The bottom half: one historic run, one sleeping pill
Switzerland sit eighth. They're 3-2-0 at this tournament and needed penalties to beat Colombia. Belgium, originally ranked eighth, jumped a spot after a 4-1 dismantling of co-hosts United States — a result that showed genuine firepower, even if their group stage (1-2-0) and a round of 32 comeback against Senegal raised questions about consistency. Three straight wins since then counts for something.
Norway are sixth, unanimously. Erling Haaland scored twice to eliminate Brazil in the round of 16 — Brazil, of all teams — sending Norway to their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal. Norway have won every match Haaland has played in this tournament. He's in the Golden Boot conversation. The Viking row Edu led with his crewmates was, apparently, mandatory.
Morocco round out the bottom half at fifth. Their 3-0 win over Canada in the quarterfinals was comfortable, but the real statement came earlier — holding the Netherlands to 1-1 and advancing on penalties in the round of 32. Ortiz reminded the panel not to sleep on them. They face France next. That's a short price on paper, but Morocco have earned the right to make it awkward.
The top four — and why the gap is real
England sit fourth. A 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca — the first competitive win there for any team since 2013 — was the kind of performance that moves the needle. Jude Bellingham got a brace, Harry Kane scored and assisted. Edu, who was in Mexico City for the match, called it genuinely impressive. The crew agreed England have shown "championship quality."
Argentina edge them out at third, and the reason is simple: they've already done it. Defending champions, Messi still pulling the strings, five wins from five. But those last two victories — extra time against Cape Verde, then a comeback from 2-0 down against Egypt — were not comfortable viewing. "They've made football fans suffer," Ortiz said, "but they've always come through." Guzan's note that the rest of the roster needs to contribute more is the right warning. Messi can't manufacture every rescue act indefinitely.
Spain are second and arguably the most underrated team left. Nine goals scored, zero conceded in five matches. That's not a hot streak — that's a system working at near-maximum efficiency. Edu called them "incredibly efficient" and suggested there's still more to come. A team that reaches a quarterfinal with a perfect defensive record while outscoring opponents 9-0 deserves to be on every short-list.
France are first. They were the pre-tournament favorites, they've played like it, and the panel picked them unanimously before a ball was kicked. Fourteen goals scored, two conceded across five wins. Kljestan summed it up without hesitation: "Best attacking team. Best defending team in this tournament." The 1-0 grind against Paraguay in the round of 16 showed they can win ugly too. That matters in knockout football.
Kljestan doesn't think any team outside the top four can win this World Cup. "You have to win three more games from this point on, and I don't see any of those teams knocking off any of the top four teams, let alone knocking them off once and then having to do two more." Guzan agreed. The gap between tiers isn't perception — it's been demonstrated across 20-plus combined matches.
- 1. France — 14 goals scored, 2 conceded. Tournament favorites living up to it.
- 2. Spain — 9 goals scored, 0 conceded. The most defensively dominant team remaining.
- 3. Argentina — 5 wins from 5, but living dangerously in their last two.
- 4. England — Won at the Azteca. Bellingham and Kane both showing up when it matters.
- 5. Morocco — Don't underestimate them. They took the Netherlands to penalties.
- 6. Norway — Historic run. Haaland eliminated Brazil. Let that land.
- 7. Belgium — Scored four against the USA, but that group stage still lingers.
- 8. Switzerland — Still here. Barely. Tediously.
