After falling short in the semi-finals, France and England will now battle for third place in the 2026 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappé's French side was convincingly beaten by Spain, while the Three Lions suffered a late comeback from Argentina.
The World Cup dreams of both France and England came to an abrupt end just one step away from the final. Didier Deschamps' team, widely considered a top contender, was outplayed by Spain.
Meanwhile, England seemed to have their ticket to the final secured before a stunning turnaround by Argentina, aided by questionable tactical decisions from manager Thomas Tuchel.
Now, the two European powerhouses will compete for bronze—a small consolation after coming so close to glory. The match is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, with kickoff at 5:00 PM ET.
How They Got Here
France's semi-final defeat was a shock. Until their clash with Spain, Les Bleus had looked formidable, led by an in-form Kylian Mbappé. The Real Madrid star had scored eight goals in the tournament, matching Lionel Messi, who will now have the chance to defend his title in the final against Luis de la Fuente's Roja.
Spain, inspired by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, not only neutralized Mbappé but also shut down France's entire attacking force, including Michael Olise and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé. France enters this match with morale at an all-time low, facing heavy criticism after being tipped by many to win it all.
The disappointment is just as bitter for England, who were moments away from the final. After taking the lead through an Anthony Gordon goal, the Three Lions progressively sat deeper, abandoning their attacking intent. Tuchel opted for a defensive strategy, reinforcing his backline but ultimately ceding control of the game to Argentina—a fatal error against a team featuring Lionel Messi.
La Albiceleste struck twice in the closing stages. In the 85th minute, Messi delivered a perfect assist to Enzo Fernández, who beat Jordan Pickford with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Then, deep into stoppage time, the Argentine captain provided another decisive pass for Lautaro Martínez, who completed the comeback and sent his nation to the final, leaving England to lament another painful World Cup exit.
Predicted Lineups
France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, T. Hernandez; Koné, Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Doué; Mbappé.
Manager: D. Deschamps
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Guehi, Stones, Spence; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Manager: T. Tuchel
Miami Stadium
The match between France and England will be held at the Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
One of the most famous venues in the United States, the stadium was inaugurated in 1987 and renovated between 2015 and 2016. It is the home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins and has a capacity of approximately 65,000 spectators.
How to Watch France vs. England
The third-place playoff will be played on Saturday, July 18, kicking off at 5:00 PM ET.
The match will be broadcast on both FOX and Telemundo in the United States. Viewers can stream the game on Fubo, YouTube TV, and FOX Sports.
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