#世界杯冠军预测 Dark Horses Eliminated! World Cup Round of 8 Shuffle Ends—Who Will "Step on a Mine" First in the Semifinal Battle?

With Switzerland defeating Colombia in a penalty shootout, the Round of 8 lineup for the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup is finally settled. France, Morocco, England, Norway, Spain, Belgium, Argentina, Switzerland—only powerhouses remain, no more dark horses. These eight teams paint the true picture of this World Cup. Even more exciting and thrilling matches are waiting to unfold.
With the quarterfinal matchups set, the battle for the semifinals is bound to be a fierce, close-quarters fight. The suspense between France and Morocco is relatively low. France holds an absolute advantage in squad depth and individual star quality, and tactically, France has a certain "counter" relationship with Morocco. As long as France doesn't make the mistake of underestimating their opponent, they are highly likely to advance to the semifinals.
In the match between Argentina and Switzerland, Argentina's probability of advancing is also extremely high. Although Switzerland is tenacious and tough to crack, they lack a decisive game-changer. In contrast, Argentina has a superstar like Messi who can alter the course of the game. As long as they perform normally, advancing shouldn't be a problem—provided they don't choke like they did against Cape Verde and Egypt. The clash between Spain and Belgium is full of undercurrents. In the past, we always thought Spain could easily handle Belgium, but after the "Balogun red card incident," this Belgian team has surprisingly regained a rare sense of unity. When core players like De Bruyne are willing to sacrifice for the team, this once "disorganized" squad suddenly gains cohesion. Although Spain is more stable overall, a united Belgium could cause considerable trouble for the Spanish Armada. The match between England and Norway is undoubtedly the most likely upset of this round. England has a clear advantage on paper, but they have a fatal weakness: poor ability to defend high balls. And Norway happens to have Haaland, a "goal-scoring machine." Whether England's backline can withstand Haaland's impact is a huge question mark. If Norway can magnify Haaland's unique strength infinitely, England's defense could collapse at any moment.
Overall, France, Spain, England, and Argentina are the most likely to become the final four. But the beauty of the World Cup lies in its unpredictability. Who's to say Morocco can't suddenly topple France, a united Belgium can't beat Spain, or Switzerland can't wear down Argentina with excellent team execution? As for the England match, needless to say, a top star like Haaland is always the biggest "X-factor" in the game. The semifinal battle is both a touchstone of strength and a meat grinder of will. Let's wait and see who will have the last laugh.