France and England Set for 2026 World Cup Third-Place Showdown in Miami
Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham emerge as key figures ahead of Saturday’s fixture, with betting experts highlighting their potential impact as France and England seek to close out their respective campaigns.
France and England are scheduled to contest the third-place match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Miami Stadium in Florida on Saturday, 18 July 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. The fixture serves as the final tournament appearance for both national teams, marking the conclusion of Didier Deschamps’ tenure as France manager. France were eliminated by Spain, who defeated them 2-0 in the semi-finals in Arlington, Texas, on 14 July, ending their campaign without a final berth for the first time since 2014. England lost 2-1 to Argentina in Atlanta on 15 July, having conceded two late goals.
Spain and Argentina are scheduled to contest the World Cup final on Sunday. Argentina enters the final on a 14-game winning streak, having not lost since a 1-0 defeat earlier in the tournament. The 2026 World Cup is a 48-team tournament, with Lionel Messi leading the competition’s scoring charts with eight goals.
Kylian Mbappe, who has scored eight goals, is tied with Messi for the Golden Boot. Mbappe was held off the score sheet in the semi-final loss to Spain, though he provided two assists in a 4-1 win over Norway earlier in the tournament. This was the first time since 2014 that France has not reached the World Cup final.
Sports betting experts from SportsLine, including Jon Eimer, Martin Green, Brandt Sutton, Brad Thomas, and Matt Severance, have identified Mbappe and England’s Jude Bellingham as top anytime goalscorer picks for the match. The odds, sourced from FanDuel, include extra time. Bellingham scored two goals against Norway in the quarter-finals and is highlighted as a key goalscorer pick by experts.
Historical trends for third-place matches show mixed results regarding goal totals, with the previous two fixtures finishing Under 3.5 goals, whereas the four consolation matches prior to that went Over this line. The match is set to commence at 19:00 Japan time on 19 July, offering a final opportunity for both nations to secure a podium finish.
