France and England face off in 2026 World Cup third-place game
Photo: Kylian Mbappé is in contention for the Golden Boot (Getty Images)
On the night of Saturday, July 18, into Sunday, July 19, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place match. Two tournament favorites expected to reach the final — France and England — will face off in the consolation game.
RBC-Ukraine takes a look at what to expect.
A fierce rivalry and the end of an era
Both teams fell just one step short of their dream. France, led by Kylian Mbappé, was unable to break through Spain's relentless pressing and lost 2-0, while England squandered a late lead against Argentina and suffered a 2-1 defeat.
Although the third-place match is often described as a game neither team wants to play, both sides have plenty of motivation.
For France, the match marks a historic moment and the end of Didier Deschamps' era. The head coach will step down after the tournament and has a chance to complete a full set of World Cup medals from his last three tournaments — gold in 2018, silver in 2022, and potentially bronze in 2026.
For England, under Thomas Tuchel, it is an opportunity to break an unwanted streak. The Three Lions have played in two previous World Cup third-place matches, losing both in 1990 and 2018.
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Golden Boot race: Mbappé vs. Kane and Bellingham
The match could prove decisive in the race for the tournament's Golden Boot. While Lionel Messi, who has scored eight goals, prepares for the World Cup final, Kylian Mbappé — also on eight goals — will be looking to claim the award outright.
England's Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are still in contention as well. Both have six goals, meaning each would likely need a hat trick against Mike Maignan to overtake the leaders — a daunting task even against a French defense weakened by the absence of the injured William Saliba.
France also has the advantage of an extra day of rest.
Earlier, we reported that Argentina could face sanctions over its celebrations following its victory over England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
