Soccer

France and England vie for third place in 2026 World Cup

Miami to host bronze‑match as Mbappé, Olise, Kane and Bellingham lead their squads

Stars set to shine in Miami

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will conclude its knockout stage with a third‑place playoff on Saturday, July 18, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, live from Miami’s stadium. The match will be shown on FOX and streamed via FOX One, giving viewers in the United States and abroad a chance to see the final competitive act before the championship game.

France enter the consolation match looking to restore pride after a 2‑0 defeat to Spain in the semifinals. Star forward Kylian Mbappé, who finished the tournament with eight goals, will lead the attack alongside Michael Olise, the competition’s top assist provider. Both players have been instrumental in France’s run through Group I, where they topped the group and defeated Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco before falling to Spain.

England, meanwhile, will rely on veteran striker Harry Kane and rising midfield dynamo Jude Bellingham, who have combined to drive the team through a challenging knockout bracket. After a 2‑1 extra‑time victory over Norway in the quarterfinals, the English side fell 2‑1 to Argentina in the semifinals and now seeks a podium finish to cap a tournament that has seen them finish Group L with a 2‑1‑0 record.

The bronze‑match stakes extend beyond national pride, as both squads aim to finish the tournament on a high note and give fans a memorable finale. With the eyes of a global audience on Miami, the encounter promises a showcase of talent and a final chance for each nation to leave a lasting impression before the championship decider.

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