France and England will meet Saturday,July18 in the third place playoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the final match of the tournament for both teams after their semifinal losses.
The third place playoff gives the two losing semifinalists one last chance to leave the tournament with a medal by claiming bronze. While often viewed as a consolation match, the game remains valuable for FIFA and broadcasters, generating additional revenue and filling an important slot in the tournament’s schedule.
Goals scored in the match also count toward the tournament’s Golden Boot race, adding extra stakes for players still competing for the top scorer title.
Lionel Messi currently leads the race with eight goals and four assists, while France’s Kylian Mbappe sits in second with eight goals and three assists. England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham remain in contention as well, each with six goals.
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Saturday match gives players from both France and England a final opportunity to add to their goal tallies before the tournament wraps up. The third place playoff has a long history tied to standout individual performances. In 1958, France Just Fontaine set a World Cup record by scoring four goals in a single third place match, a mark that still stands.
The fixture was first introduced at the 1934 World Cup and has remained part of every tournament since 1954. France has finished third twice in past tournaments, while England has yet to win a World Cup third place match.
🇫🇷 France v England 🏴#FIFAWorldCup Third-Placed Playoff
10pm It’s the fixture nobody wants to be in – France take on England in the World Cup third-place playoff at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday night on Betdaq. Two squads who arrived in America believing they… pic.twitter.com/lvZfQXNPIn
— BETDAQ (@BETDAQ) July 17, 2026
The result won’t affect the championship outcome, but it carries meaning for both national pride and individual accolades on the line before the tournament concludes.
Furthermore for France, a win would mark a third career finish on the World Cup podium while for England represents a first chance to finally claim third place after previous playoff appearances came up short.
Beyond the medal implications, the match also gives fans one more opportunity to watch some of the tournament’s top performers, including Messi, Mbappe, Kane, and Bellingham, all still in the running for the golden boot.
