England vs France Set for World Cup Bronze Medal Battle After Semi-Final Heartbreak

(Mbappe And Harry Kane. Photo by Vanguard News)

England and France are set to face off in the third-place playoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after both nations fell at the semi-final stage.

France, who entered the tournament as favourites, saw their bid for a third World Cup crown ended by a 2-0 defeat to Spain, while England’s hopes of reaching the final were dashed following a 2-1 loss to defending champions Argentina.

Though neither side made it to the final, both will now battle it out for a third-place finish.

England struggled to gain a foothold in midfield against Argentina for much of the match, and despite creating some threat from wide positions, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham were unable to break through in dangerous areas.

France similarly failed to recreate the attacking sharpness that had made them one of the tournament’s standout sides, as Spain shut down Didier Deschamps’ frontline effectively.

Ousmane Dembele had a subdued performance, while Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola also struggled to capitalise on counter-attacking opportunities.

The third-place playoff between England and France is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, with kickoff set for 10pm Nigeria time.

The match will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, one of the host venues for this year’s World Cup.

The 64,478-capacity stadium has previously hosted major fixtures, including games from the 2024 Copa América and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

With both sides possessing considerable attacking quality but having come unstuck in different ways during the semi-finals, Saturday’s fixture gives England and France a final shot at ending their World Cup campaigns with a podium finish.