France and England will play for third place in the 2026 World Cup after losing their semifinal matches. The game will take place in Miami on Saturday, July 18.
Both teams are disappointed to not be playing for the championship. England lost 2-1 to Argentina. Manager Thomas Tuchel said the loss was painful but that his team must show resilience. England has never won a bronze medal in the World Cup. Their best finish was winning the championship in 1966.
For France, this game is special because it is the last match for manager Didier Deschamps. He has managed the team for 14 years, leading them to win the World Cup in 2018 and finish second in 2022. The players want to win for him. France lost their semifinal match 2-0 to Spain.
This will be the fourth World Cup match between France and England. They have each won two previous games. England also won their quarterfinal match in Miami. Several players are competing for individual awards. Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi have eight goals, and Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have six. Michael Olise leads with five assists. The match is not just about pride; it's a chance for England to finally win a bronze medal and for France to achieve their seventh World Cup podium finish.