France and England will face off in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday as the two European powerhouses seek to salvage some pride after semi-final defeats.

Les Bleus were beaten by Spain, while England fell to Argentina.

The bronze medal match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami now offers both teams a final opportunity for a positive result at the tournament.

The two sides have a long and competitive history, having met 32 times.

England hold the edge with 17 victories to France’s 10, with five draws.

France have scored 41 goals against England, who have netted 72.

Their most recent encounter was in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar, where France triumphed 2-1 with goals from Aurélien Tchouaméni and Olivier Giroud.

Players to Watch

Kylian Mbappé remains the standout performer for France.

Despite the disappointment of missing the final, the superstar forward has been in sensational form, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in seven appearances.

A strong showing in Miami could still see him claim the Golden Boot or Golden Ball.

For England, Anthony Gordon has emerged as a key player.

The winger has one goal and four assists in six matches, including a memorable strike against Argentina in the semi-final.

He will be eager to end the tournament on a high.

Key Tournament Statistics

France have shown strong attacking intent, recording the highest expected goals (xG) total of 14.6 across their seven matches.

However, Mbappé has also missed seven big chances, the most at the tournament.

England have created 26 big chances, second only to France’s 27.

Notably, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have each scored six goals — the first time two players from the same team have reached that mark in a single World Cup.

Didier Deschamps is expected to deploy a balanced and resilient France side capable of quick transitions once they gain the lead, giving creative freedom to attacking talents like Mbappé.

As this could be Deschamps’ final match in charge, his team will likely balance control with intensity.

Thomas Tuchel’s England, by contrast, favour structured possession and territorial dominance.

However, the German coach has faced criticism for overly cautious in-game decisions.

The outcome may depend on whether England can impose their game plan or if France can exploit moments of hesitation.

The third-place playoff kicks off at 23:00 CAT on Saturday, July 18, and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.