Crazy scenario in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup has not yet started, but initial assumptions about the knockout round situation have made fans restless.

The 2026 World Cup could see some high-profile matches from the knockout stages.

FIFA has introduced the first-ever branching principle. According to the new draw mechanism, the top 4 teams in the FIFA rankings, including Spain (1), Argentina (2), France (3) and England (4), will be pushed into 2 different branches.

The tennis-style bracket model was originally designed to allow the top players to meet in the final. In football, the similar goal is to maximize the likelihood of a final between the two best teams in the world .

Following the draw, The Touchline claimed that if the top eight teams all top their groups and stay on track, the quarter-finals could be a rare high-profile football feast in the tournament's history.

This ideal scenario includes four major matches between France - Netherlands, Spain - Belgium, Brazil - England and Argentina - Portugal.

Among them, the prospect of Argentina meeting Portugal is considered "unrealistic but dreamy". The match could mark the final confrontation between two superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, thereby exploding the biggest football festival on the planet.

The World Cup is always famous for its unpredictable shocks. And if this scenario comes true, the 2026 quarter-finals will certainly become one of the most climactic rounds in history. There, 8 football powers will create 4 dream matches for fans.

President Donald Trump jumped up and danced to the music as the Village People performed at the 2026 World Cup draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on the night of December 5.

Source: https://znews.vn/kich-ban-dien-ro-o-tu-ket-world-cup-2026-post1608869.html