France vs England – World Cup third-place playoff: Prediction, kickoff

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that France and England will meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff after both teams lost their semifinals. The match is scheduled for Saturday at Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida, with kickoff at 5pm local time, or 21:00 GMT. The game comes one day before the final and offers the losing semifinalists a chance to finish the tournament with a bronze-medal placing.

France enter the match after a 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain, while England were beaten 2-1 by Argentina, extending their long wait for a major men’s trophy. Al Jazeera notes that the fixture is often viewed as difficult for elite teams so soon after missing the final. England coach Thomas Tuchel and France coach Didier Deschamps both acknowledged the disappointment of having to play for third rather than the title.

The match carries added significance for France because it will be Deschamps’ final game as national team coach after 14 years in charge, a period that included the 2018 World Cup title, the 2022 final and another semifinal run in 2026. Kylian Mbappe also has an individual prize to chase: he is level with Lionel Messi on eight goals in the Golden Boot race but trails on assists, according to Al Jazeera.

Opta’s pre-match simulations cited by Al Jazeera make France the favourite, with a 50.7 percent chance of winning in 90 minutes, compared with 25.6 percent for England and 23.7 percent for a draw. Team news lists William Saliba and Brice Samba out for France, Jordan Henderson injured for England and Reece James doubtful.