After a two-day pause, the World Cup returns to action on Friday as the quarterfinals kick off. Eight teams left in the tournament, and there are no shortage of star power and intrigue. Regardless of who moves on to the semifinals, we certainly expect a high degree of drama and heartbreak!
Be sure to check in with ESPN throughout the tournament as we bring you the latest from Qatar. Here’s what you might have missed from Thursday’s World Cup happenings, and a look ahead to Friday’s action.
– World Cup news, features, previews and more
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World Cup quarterfinals: Prepare yourself for heartbreak
As the World Cup progresses, each passing elimination becomes that much harder to stomach. Cinderellas return to scrubbing floors, no glass slipper or Golden Boot to show for their heroism that won the hearts of so many neutrals. Favorites slip up, blinded by the brightest spotlight in the sport. All the while, the tournament marches on without them.
On Friday, two teams’ Qatari fairytales will come to an end, and no one is going to be happy about it. After this two-day hiatus that followed the round of 16, the World Cup returns to action with the quarterfinals, with Croatia taking on Brazil and the Netherlands facing Argentina. Regardless of which of those four teams advance, there will be legions of football fans sobbing over the two who will be heading home.
Brazil are always, always, always the neutrals’ favorites, and their eye-catching play and joyful demeanour in this tournament will have done nothing to change that. So of course a defeat will take the wind out of the sails of fan zones up and down Qatar, and yet, a win will hardly be satisfying for so many fans of the game, as such a result will surely end the international career of legendary midfielder Luka Modric.
The 37-year-old Croatia captain has won everything there is to win in the club game with Real Madrid, and his individual achievements have been recognized by taking home the Ballon d’Or in 2018, but a World Cup semifinal that year in Russia is the closest he’s ever come to lifting silverware in the international game. One of modern football’s true artists deserves more, don’t you think?
If that’s got you down, just wait until the late game. Are you ready for Lionel Messi to have played his last game in a World Cup should they fall to the Dutch? The 35-year-old has hinted that he won’t partake in the 2026 edition, making this his last opportunity to finally win the one trophy that’s eluded him throughout his illustrious career.
There won’t be a dry eye at Lusail Stadium if it’s confirmed that soccer’s greatest ever never did win its biggest trophy.
How tacos, homemade salsas and Mexican cuisine are feeding hungry World Cup fans
With the World Cup bringing together cultures from around the globe, Mexican cuisine has made an unexpected impact in Qatar.
What it’s like taking a penalty in a World Cup shootout
ESPN talks to those who’ve done it to detail what it’s like to be on the spot and the weight of a nation on your shoulders.
The eight most important players of the quarterfinals (ESPN+)
With eight teams remaining at the World Cup, it’s time to drill down and pick out the player on each team who will be the most impactful.
News and notes
World Cup officials has launched a work safety investigation into the death of a Filipino man following reports that the man died while working at a training site. Nasser Al Khater, chief executive of the 2022 World Cup in Doha, confirmed to Reuters that a worker had died, but gave no further details. He offered his condolences to his family and said “death is a natural part of life.” Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers has come under enormous scrutiny during the build-up to the tournament, with human rights groups accusing the Gulf state of systematic labour abuses.
Portugal‘s Football Federation has denied media reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during the World Cup after coach Fernando Santos dropped the captain for their round of 16 win over Switzerland. Ronaldo, Portugal’s most-capped player and all-time top scorer, was benched for their first knockout game on Tuesday as they beat Switzerland 6-1, with his replacement Goncalo Ramos netting a hat trick.
Spain announced the departure of Luis Enrique as coach of the men’s national team on Thursday following the team’s shock penalty shootout defeat on Tuesday to Morocco in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar, and named Luis de la Fuente has his replacement. De la Fuente, 61, guided Spain’s under-19 side to a European Championship title in 2015 and led the under-21s to the same honour in 2019, while he was in charge of the team that won a silver medal at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Raheem Sterling will rejoin England‘s World Cup squad in Qatar on Friday after flying home to deal with the fallout of a robbery at his house, the Football Association has confirmed. The 28-year-old left the camp on Sunday morning following talks with manager Gareth Southgate after it emerged he had been the victim of at least one incident at his Surrey home.
