World Cup Third-Place Playoff: Everything to Know About England vs France
The 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff will see England take on France in a battle for the bronze medal after both teams suffered semifinal defeats. The match may not be the final either side wanted, but it still carries significance for national pride, rankings, prize money, and individual awards.
Match details
Fixture: France vs England
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Third-Place Playoff
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Kick-off: (10:00 PM Nigerian Time)
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida, United States
Why are they playing?
England and France lost their semifinal matches and must now compete to determine who finishes third and who finishes fourth at the tournament.
FIFA has included a third-place playoff in every World Cup since 1934, except the inaugural 1930 edition.
How they got here
England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semifinal after conceding twice late in the game.
France were beaten 2-0 by Spain in the other semifinal.
What is at stake?
Although it is often called the “bronze final,” the match still matters because:
The winner receives World Cup bronze medals.
It affects FIFA rankings and official tournament records.
Additional prize money is awarded for finishing third rather than fourth.
Individual awards, including the Golden Boot, remain in play.
Key players to watch
France
Kylian Mbappé – still in contention for the Golden Boot and confirmed fit by coach Didier Deschamps.
Ousmane Dembélé
Ibrahima Konaté
England
Harry Kane – chasing another strong World Cup finish.
Jude Bellingham
Anthony Gordon, who scored against Argentina in the semifinal.
Team news
France coach Didier Deschamps has hinted at possible changes due to injuries and fatigue, while England manager Thomas Tuchel is also expected to rotate his lineup after criticism of his semifinal tactics.
Head-to-head
England and France have developed one of Europe’s biggest international rivalries, and recent meetings between the two sides have been closely contested.
This is their first meeting in a World Cup third-place playoff.
Possible lineups
France (4-2-3-1)
Mike Maignan
Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne
Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot
Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola
Kylian Mbappé
England (4-2-3-1)
Jordan Pickford
Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Luke Shaw
Declan Rice, Elliott Anderson
Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon
Harry Kane.
Prediction
Both teams enter the match disappointed, but France may have extra motivation as it could be Didier Deschamps’ final game in charge of Les Bleus. Expect a more open contest than a typical knockout match, with goals likely at both ends.
Prediction: France 2-1 England.
