England and France set for World Cup third-place showdown in Miami
The 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place match takes place on Saturday, 18 July, at Miami Stadium. England seeks its best result in six decades, while France aims to conclude Didier Deschamps’ tenure on a high note.
England and France are scheduled to contest the third-place match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Miami Stadium in Florida on Saturday, 18 July 2026. The fixture, set to kick off at 5 p.m. ET, marks the final tournament appearance for both national teams following their respective semi-final exits.
The match serves as the conclusion of Didier Deschamps’ tenure as France manager. France was eliminated from the tournament by Spain with a 2-0 defeat in the semi-finals in Arlington, Texas, on 14 July. Spain’s goals were scored by Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro, extending their recent dominance over France, who have lost three consecutive matches against the Spanish side in major tournaments, including the 2024 European Championship and the 2025 UEFA Nations League semi-finals.
England enters the playoff after a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals in Atlanta. The team is aiming to secure its best World Cup result in 60 years. Prior to their semi-final exit, England had navigated the group stages and knockout rounds to reach this final match of the tournament.
Kylian Mbappé enters the match with the opportunity to secure the Golden Boot award. The French forward has scored eight goals in the 2026 World Cup, placing him level with Lionel Messi. Mbappé’s tally includes two goals in a weather-disrupted match against Iraq in Philadelphia, where France defeated Iraq 3-0 before the pitch was washed out by severe thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, preparations continue for the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, scheduled to take place in New York. Operations in the city are currently affected by smoke from Canadian forest fires, which is impacting the venue environment ahead of the championship match.
