England face France in the World Cup 2026 third-place play-off at Miami Stadium on July 18. The match kicks off at 8pm local time (1am BST). Both teams are coming off semi-final defeats: England lost 2-1 to Argentina, while France fell 3-1 to Spain.
Confirmed Lineups
England made seven changes from the semi-final. Dean Henderson starts in goal behind a back three of Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi. Djed Spence and Marcus Rashford operate as wing-backs, with Declan Rice captaining the side alongside Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka in midfield. Morgan Rogers starts as the No.10, with Ivan Toney leading the line. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Anthony Gordon are among the substitutes. Kobbie Mainoo misses out due to injury.
France also rotated. Mike Maignan starts in goal; the defence features Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konate, Maxence Lacroix, and Theo Hernandez. The midfield includes Warren Zaire-Emery and Adrien Rabiot, with Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, and Desire Doue supporting Kylian Mbappe up front. William Saliba is unavailable due to a back injury.
Pre-match Reactions
England boss Thomas Tuchel defended his semi-final tactics, saying: 'If you are asking if I regret my decision, then no, I don't regret my decisions because I felt that we'd become too passive. I took the decision in order to help the team and get the result. We didn't get the result, so I take responsibility.'
Former England midfielder Chris Waddle urged patience with Tuchel: 'I wouldn't sack Tuchel. I think he is a great manager who needs a bit more time.'
France coach Didier Deschamps takes charge of his final match. Kylian Mbappe paid tribute on X: 'Today is your last dance. You who gave us so much. Thank you for giving me the chance to represent my country.'
Match Significance
England are seeking their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966. France are playing for third place in Deschamps' last game. Mbappe is in contention for the Golden Boot, needing to outscore Lionel Messi.
Former England captain Alan Shearer criticised the third-place play-off, telling Betfair: 'It's absolute nonsense. The players should be on their way home rather than hanging around for a meaningless game.' Tuchel echoed that sentiment: 'None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match.'
Match Details
The match is broadcast on BBC One in the UK, with coverage starting at 9:30pm BST. There is a slight risk of thunderstorms, but no delay is expected. Thousands of tickets remain unsold, with many available on FIFA's resale site.
Betting odds via Betfair: France 17/20, Draw 3/1, England 29/10.
