France and England set for contentious World Cup third-place clash in Florida
Both nations face disappointment after semi-final exits, with the match marking the end of an era for Didier Deschamps and potentially Harry Kane.
France and England are scheduled to contest the 2026 World Cup third-place match on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida, following their respective eliminations in the semi-finals. The fixture has drawn sharp criticism from both coaching staffs, with France manager Didier Deschamps stating that the best outcome for both nations would be for the match not to exist. England head coach Thomas Tuchel echoed this sentiment, noting that his players desire a spot in the final rather than a consolation prize.
France was defeated 2-0 by Spain in the semi-finals, with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro securing the Spanish victory. This result extends Spain’s winning streak against France to three consecutive major tournament matches, including the 2024 European Championship and the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinals. England suffered a 2-1 loss to Argentina after holding a 1-0 lead until the 85th minute, with the South Americans scoring twice in the final stages to overturn the deficit.
The upcoming match marks the final World Cup appearance for Didier Deschamps, who has led the French national team for 14 years, including their 2018 World Cup triumph. The 57-year-old coach acknowledged the significance of the moment, stating he had the privilege of experiencing both high and difficult moments with the squad. He expressed confidence that the team would not dwell on the loss, noting that life continues beyond the tournament.
Kylian Mbappé, captaining France, accepted full responsibility for the team’s failure to reach the final against Spain. The forward is currently tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi on eight goals for the Golden Boot award, matching his tally from the 2022 tournament. Mbappé has scored 20 career World Cup goals, placing him just one behind Messi’s all-time record. Other players from both squads are also in contention for the award, with England’s Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane having scored six goals each, and France’s Ousmane Dembélé having five.
Harry Kane, who turns 33 on 28 July, declined to confirm whether this will be his final World Cup appearance. He cited Messi’s continued high-level performance at age 39 as inspiration for his own longevity. England coach Thomas Tuchel defended his tactical approach against Argentina, insisting that the team played one of their best matches but could not bring the result over the line. Tuchel accepted full responsibility for the tactical decisions that led to the semi-final exit, yet maintained he had no regrets regarding the choices made.
