World Cup 2026 Third-Place Play-off Preview

England shut their 2026 FIFA World Cup marketing campaign in opposition to France within the third-place play-off, the sport FIFA now manufacturers the bronze ultimate, at Laborious Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday 18 July, kick-off 10pm BST. Each nations arrive nursing the identical wound: England had been crushed 2-1 by Argentina and France misplaced 2-0 to Spain within the semi-finals, so Saturday is an opportunity to depart the US with a medal slightly than the reminiscence of a last-four defeat. The complete fixture context, each outcome and the all-time file are set out on our England v France head-to-head web page.

What’s at stake within the bronze ultimate

Greater than satisfaction is on supply for Thomas Tuchel’s aspect. Victory would hand England their finest World Cup end in 60 years, bettered solely by the 1966 triumph, and would break a wretched file on this precise fixture: England have misplaced each of their earlier third-place play-offs, 2-1 to hosts Italy in 1990 and 2-0 to Belgium in 2018. For France there’s a sense of event too, with Saturday extensively reported to be Didier Deschamps’ ultimate match in cost after greater than a decade within the job. The winners take house bronze medals and the bigger share of prize cash, the losers end fourth.

England crew information

Tuchel has a range puzzle formed by fatigue and late accidents. Reece James is a significant doubt after being pressured off with a suspected muscular downside in opposition to Argentina, whereas Jordan Henderson is sidelined with a wrist harm. Jarell Quansah returns from suspension to strengthen the defence, and Djed Spence may shift throughout to cowl at full-back. How a lot Tuchel freshens issues up will form the sport, although he has instructed he nonetheless desires a optimistic end.

France crew information

France are near full power however should reshuffle on the again. William Saliba is dominated out after choosing up an harm in opposition to Spain, with Maxence Lacroix anticipated to step in alongside Dayot Upamecano. The larger query is Kylian Mbappe. Deschamps is prone to rotate, but his captain has each cause to start out: Mbappe is chasing the Golden Boot and sits on 20 World Cup objectives for his profession, one behind Lionel Messi’s all-time tally of 21. Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele and Want Doue give France the creativity to punish a drained England aspect on the counter.

Confirmed line-ups

Each managers rotated as anticipated, although the 2 males chasing the Golden Boot are dealt with very in another way: Kylian Mbappe begins via the center for France, whereas Thomas Tuchel leaves Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham out fully and fingers Ivan Toney the quantity 9 function.

The Golden Boot subplot

The person race offers the bronze ultimate an edge the fixture typically lacks. Mbappe has scored eight objectives on the match, stage with Messi on the high of the charts, whereas Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham sit two behind on six apiece. Objectives scored within the third-place play-off rely in the direction of the award, however with Kane and Bellingham each overlooked in Miami, Mbappe has a free run at overtaking Messi.

Head-to-head and the 2022 revenge angle

Saturday would be the thirty third assembly between the international locations, and England lead the all-time file with 17 wins to France’s 10, together with 5 attracts since 1923. It’s only their fourth encounter at a World Cup: England gained 2-0 within the 1966 group stage and 3-1 in Bilbao in 1982, earlier than France gained 2-1 within the 2022 quarter-final in Qatar, an evening outlined by Kane’s late penalty miss. That defeat offers the Three Lions an apparent motivation to log out with a measure of revenge.

What the managers stated

Tuchel was candid in regards to the temper in each camps, admitting that neither his gamers nor France’s wished to be on this match slightly than the ultimate, and that England had given the whole lot to succeed in it.

Deschamps struck a extra decided be aware, insisting there was nonetheless a 3rd place value taking part in for and that France would deal with the sport critically.

Easy methods to watch England v France

The bronze ultimate kicks off at 10pm BST on Saturday 18 July at Laborious Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. In the UK the match is stay on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Dwell.

England’s semi-final exit is roofed in full on our England v Argentina head-to-head web page, whereas the criticism aimed on the supervisor afterwards is examined in our Thomas Tuchel backlash article. You may hold observe of each knockout outcome on the World Cup 2026 fixtures and stats web page, and as soon as the bronze ultimate is settled, consideration turns to the Spain v Argentina ultimate.