Preview: Sunday's Quarter-Final Double — Norway–England & Argentina–Switzerland

The other half of the quarter-final bracket lands as a Kiwi Sunday double-header. Norway face England at 17:00 ET Saturday — that is 09:00 NZST Sunday 12 July — and Argentina take on Switzerland at 21:00 ET, or 13:00 NZST Sunday. One tie has a fairy-tale underdog in Haaland’s Norway; the other has the holders chasing history against a Swiss side that has never beaten them. Here is the plan for both.

Step 1 — Preview Norway vs England (09:00 NZST Sunday, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami)

Norway are the story of the tournament. Ståle Solbakken’s side reached a first-ever major quarter-final by stunning five-time champions Brazil 2–1 in the Round of 16 on a late Haaland brace. Haaland now has 7 goals in 5 and co-leads the Golden Boot race. England, meanwhile, ground past Mexico 3–2 in the R16 and carry Harry Kane’s 6 goals — but they arrive with problems at the back.

Decimal 1X2 (bet365 via Squawka, posted 9 Jul, as of 2026-07-10 ~09:00 ET):

Team News — the England Crunch

• England: Jarell Quansah is suspended (his straight-red ban was confirmed and extended to two matches — he misses this game and the semi-final if England advance). Jordan Henderson is out for the tournament (wrist surgery). Reece James is a doubt (hamstring), compounding a right-back shortage — Ezri Konsa is the likely stopgap.
• Norway: Marcus Holmgren Pedersen a doubt (sickness bug, trending up). Jørgen Strand Larsen available. Haaland and Ødegaard both fit.

The Value Read

England are favourites at 1.94 and their tournament pedigree is real, but the right-back crisis is exactly the kind of weakness Haaland punishes. Norway at 3.80 are more than a token underdog — they have beaten Brazil and Haaland is scoring in every game. Our lean is England to advance in a high-scoring, uncomfortable tie; the over-goals market and a Haaland anytime-scorer line both look live given both defences have leaked in the knockouts.

Step 2 — Preview Argentina vs Switzerland (13:00 NZST Sunday, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City)

The holders against history. Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina are chasing back-to-back World Cups — a feat not managed since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Messi has 8 goals (joint Golden Boot lead) and 21 career World Cup goals, the all-time record. Switzerland, in their first quarter-final since 1954, got here past Colombia on penalties and have not conceded in regulation across either knockout round.

Decimal 1X2 (fractional via Squawka / CentralJersey, posted 9 Jul, as of 2026-07-10 ~09:00 ET):

Team News

• Argentina: Gonzalo Montiel is fit but a rotation / SF-ban risk (booked vs Egypt, likely rested to avoid a second yellow). No fresh injury issues elsewhere.
• Switzerland: Johan Manzambi a doubt (knee). Xhaka, Zakaria and Muheim are all one booking from a semi-final ban.

The Value Read

Argentina have never lost to Switzerland in seven meetings — the last, the 2014 Round of 16, ended 1–0 on Di María’s 118th-minute finish from a Messi pass. But Argentina’s defence has been shaky: they conceded in each of their last three, winning 3–2 twice in late comebacks. Switzerland do not concede in regulation and won a shootout last round. At 1.80, Argentina are fair to advance, but Switzerland at 6.00 to spring it — or the draw at 3.50 forcing extra time — is where the value sits for the bold. Argentina to win but concede is a realistic script given both sides’ knockout patterns.

Step 3 — Factor the Conditions

• Miami (Norway–England): hot and humid — around 92–94°F with a heat index up to ~106°F, mostly sunny with a 20% PM storm chance. Open pitch. Expect water breaks and a slower second half — that can favour the fresher legs late.
• Kansas City (Argentina–Switzerland): mild for the 20:00 local kick-off, ~75–80°F clearing to mostly clear, storm risk minimal by kick-off. No conditions edge either way.

Step 4 — Build the Sunday Card

For the cautious punter: England (1.94) × Argentina (1.80) = ~3.49 combined decimal. A NZ$25 stake returns about NZ$87. Both favourites have genuine reasons to win, though neither is a lock.

For more upside: swap in the Norway–England over-goals line, or pair Argentina with a Haaland anytime scorer. Confirm live prices before you build the multi.

Back the Sunday Double with BillyBets

Read Next

• The other quarter-final, played first: Predict Spain vs Belgium
• How the last four is shaping up: Map the Semi-Final Picture
• England’s tournament profile: Back England at World Cup 2026