World Cup July 4, 2026: Canada vs Morocco, France vs Paraguay - What to Watch
July 4 World Cup schedule in plain English - Canada vs Morocco in Houston, France vs Paraguay in Philadelphia. UK times, why each game matters.
July 4 is Independence Day in the United States - and the start of the World Cup Round of 16.
Two knockout games today. Two winners reach the quarterfinals. Two nations go home.
Here is the schedule in plain language, with UK times.
July 4 schedule
| UK time | Match | Stadium | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 PM | Canada vs Morocco | NRG Stadium | Houston |
| 10:00 PM | France vs Paraguay | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia |
Both are knockout games. Lose and you are out.
Match 1 - Canada vs Morocco (6 PM UK)
Why watch: A co-host nation against one of the best stories of the tournament.
Canada won their first ever men’s World Cup knockout game in the Round of 32 - Stephen Eustáquio scored in the 92nd minute. Alphonso Davies is back from injury concerns. A whole country is watching.
Morocco knocked out the Netherlands on penalties. They reached the semifinals in 2022 and look dangerous again. Physical, organized, and calm under pressure.
This is a rematch of a 2022 group game that Morocco won 2-1.
Simple prediction: tight. One goal or penalties could decide it.
Winner plays: the winner of France vs Paraguay in the quarterfinals.
Match 2 - France vs Paraguay (10 PM UK)
Why watch: Favorites against giant-killers.
France are among the top teams at this World Cup. Kylian Mbappé has six goals and is fighting Messi for the Golden Boot. They beat Sweden 3-0 in the last round.
Paraguay already made history. They knocked out Germany on penalties - the first third-placed group team to win a knockout game in the 48-team era. Goalkeeper Orlando Gill was the hero.
Nobody expects Paraguay to beat France. That is exactly why it is interesting.
Simple prediction: France should win. But Paraguay have already proved they do not care about the script.
Winner plays: the winner of Canada vs Morocco.
What happened yesterday
- Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time - Messi scored, Cape Verde equalized twice, Argentina barely survived. Full recap
- Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0
Coming tomorrow - July 5
- Brazil vs Norway - Haaland at MetLife
- Mexico vs England at the Azteca
Two games today. Pick one - or stay up for both.