After heartbreaking defeats in the World Cup semi-finals earlier in the week, France and England trudged on to the repechage in Miami for a bronze medal match that both teams openly admit “no one wants to play.”
With severe weather expected in South Florida, with heat index expected to exceed 95 degrees for kickoff at 5 p.m. ET, both teams are expected to make significant lineup changes.
However, French star Kylian Mbappé is tied at the top of the 2026 World Cup with eight goals, one goal behind Lionel Messi on the career record, and will be set to play meaningfully to finish the tournament on a high.
England manager Thomas Tuchel said: “Nobody wants to play in this game.” “All four of these teams wanted to go to New York, but this is an official World Cup game.”
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England’s Bukayo Saka looked to have scored his team’s second goal with a brilliant run down the right, but the offside flag was raised.
Declan Rice’s goal with three minutes remaining was the only score, but both teams looked positive in the first 10 minutes, with England in particular pushing forward through their front line of Marcus Rashford, Ivan Toney and Bukayo Saka.
Less than three minutes into the match, Declan Rice came forward and scored a long-range goal to put England ahead against France for the first time this World Cup.
On this day, England representative Rice wore the captain’s armband, while Harry Kane started on the bench.
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Kylian Mbappé has paid tribute to France manager Didier Deschamps, saying he deserved a better sending off.
“Those of you who have given us so much, we should have offered you a better ending, but we failed,” Mbappe wrote. “It’s very difficult to put into words everything you’ve given us over the past 14 years. You played a very important role in the rebuilding of this team. People didn’t always know how to assess your greatness, but time and history will change everything.”
– Nancy Armor
Despite the third-place game being played at Hard Rock Stadium, the stands were fairly full minutes before kickoff. We have all kinds of uniforms, including uniforms from teams that aren’t playing today, such as Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina.
– Megan L. Hall
The matchup will kick off at 5pm ET.
- GK: Dean Henderson
- DF: Ezri Konsa
- DF: Marc Gehi
- DF: Jed Spence
- DF: Jarrell Quansah
- Midfielder: Declan Rice
- Midfielder: Morgan Rogers
- MF: King’s Mercy
- FW: Bukayo then
- FW: Marcus Rashford
- Forward: Ivan Toney
- GK: Mike Menyan
- DF: Maro Wants
- DF: Ibrahima Konate
- DF: Theo Hernandez
- DF: Maxence Lacroix
- FM: Adrian Rabiot
- Midfielder: Warren Zaire-Emery
- Midfielder: Rayan Cherki
- FW: Kylian Mbappe
- FW: Michael Olise
- FW: Desire Due
The third-place match will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Seth Bartelny: France 3 – 1 England
The match for third place is usually a fairly open match, so this will be an advantage for France, whose attacks were surprisingly subdued in the match against Spain.
John Arnold: France 2-1 England
No one wants to go there, but with so many players at different tiers getting their chances, it could be a livelier game than expected. Rayan Cherki and Koby Mainu are ready to shine.
Jesse Yomtov: France 3 – 0 England
Let’s all watch and enjoy Rayan Cherki. Also Desiree Duet. And N’Golo Kante could receive his final red card. Why does this game exist again?
Victoria Hernandez: France 1 – 2 England
I’m never afraid to be different. I think they were much more depressed when France lost to Spain than when England lost to defending champions Argentina. It’s not coming back, but Pride Points just mean more to the Three Lions.
- Champion: $50 million
- Runner-up: $33 million
- 3rd place: $29 million
- 4th place: $27 million
- 5th to 8th place: $19 million
- 9th to 16th: $15 million
- 17th to 32nd: $11 million
- 33rd to 48th: $9 million
According to AccuWeather, as of 8 a.m. July 17, the high temperature on July 18 is expected to be 93 degrees, but the outside temperature will feel like 104 degrees. The weather will be “sunny with occasional thunderstorms,” and “lightning from nearby storms could affect the soccer game.”
- Referee: Jesus Valenzuela
- Assistant referee: Jorde Urrego, Tulio Morena
- Fourth person involved: jalal jade
- Reserve assistant referee: Zachariah Brinssi
Kylian Mbappé of France plays soccer for Real Madrid.
- 2022: Argentina🇦🇷
- 2018: France 🇫🇷
- 2014: Germany 🇩🇪
- 2010: Spain🇪🇸
- 2006: Italy🇮🇹
- 2002: Brazil🇧🇷
- 1998: France 🇫🇷
- 1994: Brazil🇧🇷
- 1990: west germany
- 1986: Argentina🇦🇷
- 1982: Italy🇮🇹
- 1978: Argentina🇦🇷
- 1974: west germany
- 1970: Brazil🇧🇷
- 1966: England 🏴 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
- 1962: Brazil🇧🇷
- 1958: Brazil🇧🇷
- 1954: west germany
- 1950: Uruguay 🇺🇾
- 1938: Italy
- 1934: Italy
- 1930: Uruguay 🇺🇾
The third-place match between England and France kicks off at 2pm Pacific time.
France’s Kylian Mbappe, who will be in the third-place match, is tied for the top spot with Argentina’s Lionel Messi with eight goals in the 2026 World Cup. Mbappe, 27, currently has 20 World Cup goals, one behind Messi on the all-time list.
Kylian Mbappé is 19 years old and helped France win the 2018 World Cup.
Saturday’s game will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
England won their only World Cup in 1966, but have lost twice since then in the third-place match (1990 and 2018).
The match between France and England will kick off at 4pm central time.
round 16
- July 4: France vs. Paraguay – Philadelphia
- July 4: Morocco vs. Canada – Houston
- July 5: Norway vs. Brazil – East Rutherford
- 5th July: England v Mexico – Mexico City
- July 6: Spain vs. Portugal – Arlington
- July 6: Belgium vs. USA – Seattle
- July 7: Argentina vs. Egypt – Atlanta
- July 7: Switzerland vs. Colombia – Vancouver
quarterfinals
- July 9: France vs. Morocco – Foxborough
- July 10: Spain vs. Belgium – Inglewood
- July 11: England vs. England – Miami
- July 11: Argentina vs. Switzerland – Kansas City
Semi-final
- July 14: Spain vs. France – Arlington
- July 15: Argentina vs. England – Atlanta
final
- July 19th at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
French star Ousmane Dembele plays for Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will all host one match to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup.
France has won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018.
France’s Kylian Mbappé is 27 years old.
