Last Updated on 19/07/2026 by TinHN Editor
France and England meet in the 2026 World Cup third-place match on Saturday, July 18 at 5:00 PM ET (10:00 PM BST) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
This was one of the craziest and most captivating third-place play-offs in World Cup history. Stripped of tactical caution and showing no signs of the heavy legs that usually follow semifinal heartbreak, England and France threw themselves at each other in a display of blistering attacking football, producing a breathtaking 10-goal thriller.
France vs England Live Scores
- From the very first whistle, the tempo was dialed up to a dizzying speed. Relentless waves of counterattacks left the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium with scarcely a second to breathe. Even the referee was seen grimacing with a muscle strain after a succession of full-blooded sprints to keep up with the end-to-end, box-to-box action.
- Despite the absence of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham from the starting lineup, the Three Lions still played an explosive brand of football. Declan Rice opened the floodgates, Ezri Konsa chipped in, and then Bukayo Saka stole the show with a historic hat-trick. The Arsenal star stamped his authority on the match with three ice-cold finishes, becoming one of only four players ever to score a World Cup hat-trick for England.
- On the other side of the pitch, Kylian Mbappé proved once again why he is the icon of football’s new generation. A brilliant brace and an assist propelled the French forward to the 10-goal mark at the 2026 World Cup, making him the first player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to reach double figures in a single tournament. To cap it all off, his second goal of the night was his 22nd overall in World Cup finals, officially surpassing Lionel Messi to become the greatest goalscorer in World Cup history.
- Yet, on a day when records fell like dominoes, victory ultimately belonged to England. Jude Bellingham came off the bench to net the decisive goal, sealing a 6-4 scoreline to bring the curtain down on an unforgettable footballing feast. In doing so, it also spelled the end of Didier Deschamps’ glorious 14-year reign at the helm of Les Bleus.
England vs France highlights
Match Info at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 2026 World Cup Third-Place Play-off |
| Teams | France vs England |
| Kickoff (ET) | 5:00 PM, Saturday, July 18 |
| Kickoff (BST) | 10:00 PM, Saturday, July 18 |
| Venue | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL |
| TV (English) | Fox Sports |
| TV (Spanish) | Telemundo |
How Both Teams Missed Out on the Final
France 0-2 Spain: Heavy pre-tournament favorites, France were outplayed from start to finish. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a 22nd-minute penalty and Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th minute. It was the first time in 20 matches France had failed to score.
England 1-2 Argentina: Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute, but Argentina struck twice late on — Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martínez headed home the winner in second-half stoppage time, both goals set up by Lionel Messi.
Both sides now turn their attention to finishing the tournament on a high note in Miami.
History leans toward France: Les Bleus haven’t finished third at a World Cup in 40 years, but England have never finished third at all — outside their 1966 title, their best finish is fourth (1990, 2018). France have won 8 of the last 9 meetings between the two sides. Since the turn of the century, England have beaten France just 2 times in 7 meetings, including a 1-2 loss in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final.
Golden Boot Race: Mbappé’s Last Chance
This match carries extra weight for Kylian Mbappé, who has no more matches left after this one to add to his tournament tally.
| Player | Goals | Assists | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messi (Argentina) | 8 | 4 | Leads on tiebreaker, one match left |
| Mbappé (France) | 8 | 3 | Final chance of the tournament |
| Harry Kane (England) | 6 | — | One match left, 2 goals behind |
| Jude Bellingham (England) | 6 | — | One match left, 2 goals behind |
The race shifted in the semi-final: Messi’s two assists against England — setting up both Enzo Fernández’s equalizer and Lautaro Martínez’s winner — moved him ahead of Mbappé on the tiebreaker, even though both remain level on 8 goals. This is Mbappé’s last match of the tournament, so he needs either a goal to overtake Messi outright or a multi-goal game to close the assist gap before Messi’s final appearance on July 20. Kane and Bellingham remain long shots but not mathematically out.
Deschamps’ Final Match, Mbappé’s Farewell Gift
This is also Didier Deschamps’ final match in charge of France, closing out a 14-year reign that delivered the 2018 World Cup title, the 2022 runner-up finish, and a semi-final run this year. According to French media, Mbappé has repeatedly told teammates the squad wants to send Deschamps off with a win before Zinedine Zidane takes over as head coach.
France will be without defender William Saliba, who picked up a back injury and left the pitch early in the semi-final loss to Spain. This may also be N’Golo Kanté’s last appearance in a France shirt — seen as a farewell nod to the veteran midfielder, who was part of the 2018 title-winning squad.
Tuchel: “We Still Feel the Pain”
Speaking to The Guardian ahead of kickoff, Thomas Tuchel admitted the squad is still hurting after the stoppage-time collapse against Argentina, but said football always demands you get back up. He also acknowledged that Argentina, Spain, and France are currently setting the highest standard in world football, and that England still have ground to make up to win a World Cup. Despite it being a third-place match, Tuchel stressed his side can still secure England’s best World Cup finish since 1966, building momentum ahead of the next Euros and World Cup cycle.
France vs England Predicted Lineups
France (4-3-3): Maignan; Hernández, Konaté, Upamecano, Digne; Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Camavinga; Barcola, Mbappé, Olise/Dembélé.
England (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Konsa, Gordon; Rice, Bellingham, Anderson; Saka, Kane, Rogers.
Both Didier Deschamps and Thomas Tuchel are expected to rotate their squads to some degree, as third-place matches are traditionally lower priority for player fitness management. On England’s side, Reece James has a recurring injury issue while Jarell Quansah returns from suspension — a possible change at right-back.
How to Watch France vs England
- Fox Sports — English-language broadcast
- Telemundo — Spanish-language broadcast
- Streaming options include Fubo (both channels) and Peacock (Telemundo)
France vs England Score Prediction
Data-driven prediction models cited by Vietnamese outlet Giáo dục & Thời đại give France roughly a 55% win probability, England 25%, with a 20% chance of a draw after 90 minutes. The most likely scoreline projected is France 2-1, giving Les Bleus the third-place finish.
FAQ
What time is France vs England?
5:00 PM ET on Saturday, July 18, at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami.
Who is leading the Golden Boot race at the 2026 World Cup?
Messi leads with 8 goals and 4 assists after his two assists in the semi-final. Mbappé is close behind on 8 goals, 3 assists — and this is his last match, while Messi still has the final on July 20.
Is this Deschamps’ last match as France coach?
Yes. It’s Didier Deschamps’ final match in charge of France, closing a 14-year reign that included the 2018 title and 2022 runner-up finish.
How can I watch France vs England?
Fox Sports (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) in the US.
Why aren’t France and England in the final?
France lost 0-2 to Spain and England lost 1-2 to Argentina in the semi-finals. The 2026 World Cup final is Argentina vs Spain on July 20.
This article will be updated with the final result shortly after the match ends.
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