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France and England meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third place on Saturday 18 July 2026 at 5:00 PM ET from Miami Stadium.
France won all six games before the semi-final loss to Spain, outscoring opponents by a combined 16-2. Kylian Mbappé led the way with eight goals, tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the tournament lead, and added three assists. Michael Olise had five assists of his own in the tournament.
England went 5-1-0 before their own semi-final exit against Argentina. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham each scored six goals and added an assist, each registering two possessions along the way. Kane scored twice against Croatia on 17 June and again against DR Congo on 1 July. Bellingham did the same against Mexico on July 5 and against Norway on July 11.
The third-place match has been part of the World Cup since 1934, the second men’s tournament ever, apart from 1950. Croatia beat Morocco, 2-1, in the last third-place match back in 2022.
Below are the details on how to watch.
How to watch France vs. England
France vs England Preview
France’s transition defense against Jude Bellingham’s late runs is the key game.
France still look most dangerous when the games open. Kylian Mbappé has 8 of France’s 16 goals in this World Cup, meaning England cannot afford sloppy turnovers or broken spaces in midfield when France break forward. The real pressure is what happens just behind the first wave because Bellingham has matched England’s team record with 6 goals without a penalty and continues to arrive at scoring points after the opening action starts.
England are built to create those second-phase moments. Harry Kane and the wide service around him can hold down France’s back line, and if that forces Aurelien Tchouameni and the centre-backs to collapse, Bellingham gets the pocket he wants. France have the stronger clean sheet, but England’s best way into the game is to turn those moments of transition into a midfield runner who gets free.
Watch the space at the top of France’s box after England’s first pass in attack, because that’s where this game could tip.
Players to watch
Manchester City’s attacking midfielder is full of promise for the French side, but played only limited minutes at this World Cup due to playing behind Michael Olise. If Deschamps wants to change things for the third spot, Cherki would be a good place to start as he is likely to be keen to make a positive impression and build a case for more minutes in the coming years.
The Paris Saint-Germain winger is another testament to the depth of this French team. As one of the most talented young players in the world, with two Champions League titles under his belt at the age of 20 (he turned 21 just before the start of this tournament), he is not a regular starter for France. At this tournament, he started only three of France’s first seven matches. In those starts he scored against Norway and assisted against Morocco. He could thrive in this third-place battle if it becomes wide open, as is likely. Like Cherki, he is a big part of the team’s future.
The Tottenham full-back has played in all seven of England’s games and has made two starts. Defensively, he was strong off the bench to help preserve wins over Mexico and Norway in the knockouts. He may be rewarded with a start in this game to try and deal with the powerful French attack.
In a game that should be offensively heavy, Rogers should have a chance to show what he can do. The Aston Villa forward assisted Anthony Gordon’s goal against Argentina and worked well with Jude Bellingham. Rogers typically plays on the outside when Bellingham is on the court, but moves centrally when Bellingham is not playing. In this game, he could hold the keys to the offense if Bellingham is used as a sub.
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France vs England Odds
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