France and England will meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off after both nations fell just short of reaching the final.
The match will be played on Sunday, 19 July, at Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, with kickoff scheduled for 00:00 East Africa Time.
France were beaten 2-0 by Spain in the first semi-final, while England suffered late heartbreak against Argentina, conceding twice in the final five minutes to lose 2-1.
Although neither side achieved their ultimate goal of reaching the final, both have the opportunity to finish the tournament on a high by securing third place.
France Looking to End on a Positive Note
France entered the semi-finals unbeaten but struggled to break down an organised Spain side.
Mikel Oyarzabal’s first-half penalty handed Spain the lead before Pedro Porro sealed a 2-0 victory in the second half. Despite creating 14 shots and winning seven corners, Didier Deschamps’ side could not find a breakthrough.
France’s tournament, however, has included impressive victories over Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco, demonstrating their quality throughout the knockout rounds.
With players such as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise leading the attack, Les Bleus remain one of the tournament’s strongest sides despite falling at the semi-final stage.
England Left Heartbroken by Argentina
England were minutes away from reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 before Argentina mounted a dramatic late comeback.
Anthony Gordon gave the Three Lions a deserved lead in the 55th minute after being set up by Morgan Rogers.
England defended well for much of the contest, but Lionel Messi inspired Argentina’s comeback. He assisted Enzo Fernández’s equaliser in the 85th minute before creating Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage-time winner.
Despite the defeat, England impressed throughout much of the tournament, defeating Mexico in the Round of 16 before overcoming Norway after extra time in the quarter-finals.
Thomas Tuchel’s side will now aim to recover quickly and finish the competition with a victory.
Players to Watch
Kylian Mbappé remains France’s biggest attacking threat despite being unable to score against Spain.
England will again look to Anthony Gordon, whose pace caused Argentina problems, while Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka will hope to finish the tournament strongly after productive campaigns.
Both managers are also expected to rotate portions of their squads, giving opportunities to players who have seen fewer minutes during the tournament.
What to Expect
Third-place play-offs often produce open football as neither team faces the pressure of elimination.
France possess greater attacking depth, while England have shown resilience throughout the knockout stages.
Both sides will be eager to avoid leaving the United States empty-handed after coming so close to reaching the final.
Prediction
France may have more quality across the squad, but England’s attacking transition game could create problems.
An entertaining contest with goals at both ends appears likely.
Prediction: France 2-1 England
