France and England meet for World Cup bronze as Deschamps bows out and Mbappé chases Golden Boot

The match nobody wants

France and England will meet at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Saturday, 18 July 2026, for the World Cup's third-place playoff. Kick-off is set for 17:00 local time (22:00 in Lisbon), with Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela in charge. Both sides fell in the semifinals: France lost 0-2 to Spain, while England surrendered a lead to lose 1-2 against Argentina. Thomas Tuchel did not hide the mood. "None of our players, nor the French, want to play this match. They want to play the final," he said. Didier Deschamps acknowledged the disappointment but insisted the fixture carries responsibility. "It is better to finish third than fourth and we will do everything we can to achieve that," he stated.

Deschamps says goodbye

After 14 years, seven major tournaments and 186 matches, Deschamps will take charge of France for the last time. He opened his heart at the pre-match press conference. "I know very well it is the end. Without wanting to make anyone cry, I know I will miss the national team. I had the privilege of experiencing magical moments and more difficult ones over 25 years," he said, referencing his time as a player too. His tenure brought a World Cup title in 2018, a runners-up finish in 2022, and a Euro 2016 final appearance. France can secure a seventh podium finish if they win.

Representing France was the best thing that happened to me and that leaves an even bigger mark. Unforgettable memories remain.

Tuchel under fire

England's German coach faced sharp questions after the semifinal defeat, where his side conceded twice late on. He defended his tactical changes, saying, "I do not regret my decisions because I felt we were becoming too passive. I felt the momentum was shifting and I tried to help my team." The briefing took a surreal turn when a journalist invoked Donald Trump's criticism of Tuchel's defensive approach. Visibly irritated, Tuchel interrupted: "Are you using Donald Trump as your witness for this case?" He also stressed that England are not yet at the level of France, Spain or Argentina. "There is still a gap to close in how we play under pressure, in how we impose our game," he said.

We are not like them. France, Spain and Argentina expect to win. We are not there yet. There is a gap to close.

Mbappé's golden chance

Kylian Mbappé will captain France and is determined to play, Deschamps confirmed. The forward is tied with Lionel Messi on eight goals in the Golden Boot race, though Messi holds the tiebreaker with four assists to Mbappé's three. Mbappé could draw inspiration from Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup, including four in the third-place match. A strong performance would put pressure on Messi ahead of Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain.

What history says

France have appeared in the third-place match three times before, winning in 1958 (6-3 vs West Germany) and 1986, and losing in 1982 to Poland. England have lost both their previous bronze-medal games, against Italy in 1990 and Belgium in 2018. A victory would give England their best World Cup result since winning the tournament in 1966. The match is the 103rd and penultimate fixture of the first 48-team World Cup, with the final set for Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.