France and England meet in the 2026 World Cup Third-Place Playoff after both sides fell just short of the final. France won their first 6 matches, scoring 16 goals and conceding only 2, before losing to Spain in the semi-finals. England also reached the last four unbeaten, scoring 13 goals, but saw their title hopes ended by Argentina.
Neither team came to the United States aiming for third place. France were chasing another World Cup final, while England hoped to reach their first since 1966. Instead, both now have one last chance to finish the tournament with a medal.
There is still plenty at stake. Kylian Mbappé, with 8 goals, remains in the race for the Golden Boot, while both squads will be eager to end their campaign on a positive note.
England have historically enjoyed more success in this fixture, winning 17 of the 32 meetings between the nations. France have won 10, while 5 matches have ended in draws. However, Les Bleus won the most recent World Cup meeting, defeating England 2-1 in the 2022 quarter-finals.
After coming so close to the final, which side can end its World Cup journey with a victory and a place on the podium?
France vs England Head-to-Head History
| Statistic | France | England |
|---|---|---|
| Total Matches | 32 | 32 |
| Wins | 10 | 17 |
| Draws | 5 | 5 |
| Goals Scored | 41 | 72 |
France Tactical Analysis
France are expected to use a flexible 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 setup, an approach that has helped them score 16 goals in 7 matches. A key feature of their World Cup campaign has been quick attacks after regaining possession, using the pace of their forwards before opponents can recover their shape.
Kylian Mbappé remains the focal point, especially with the Golden Boot still within reach. Around him, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Désiré Doué provide movement and creativity, giving France several attacking routes.
After struggling in midfield against Spain, France are likely to place greater emphasis on central protection through Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot. Their role will be to give France a stronger platform and prevent England from finding too much space through the middle.
Defensively, France must adjust to the absence of William Saliba, with Maxence Lacroix expected to partner Dayot Upamecano. A slightly deeper defensive line could help limit the space available for Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and England’s pace in wide areas.
With third place still on the line, France are expected to stick to the approach that brought them this far, relying on quick transitions, direct attacking play and creating opportunities for Mbappé in dangerous areas.
France World Cup Match Performance
| Match Statistic | France vs Senegal (3–1) | France vs Iraq (3–0) | Norway vs France (1–4) | France vs Sweden (3–0) | Paraguay vs France (0–1) | France vs Morocco (2–0) | France vs Spain (0–2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expected Goals | 1.79 | 2.67 | 1.50 | 3.24 | 1.45 | 3.69 | 0.31 |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Shots off Target | 1 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
| Blocked Shots | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Possession (%) | 53% | 56% | 57% | 61% | 76% | 48% | 49% |
| Corner Kicks | 6 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Fouls | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
| Throw-ins | 9 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 22 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crosses | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Goal Kicks | 7 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
France World Cup 2026 Squad
Goalkeepers
Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders
Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders
N’Golo Kante (Fenerbahce), Manu Kone (AS Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG)
Forwards
Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Desire Doue (PSG), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
France Players to Watch
Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé remains France’s biggest threat and heads into the third-place playoff with 8 goals, level in the Golden Boot race. Much of France’s attacking play is built around getting Mbappé into space as quickly as possible, whether through direct passes or quick transitions. His pace and movement could be particularly important against an England defence that has occasionally looked vulnerable when defending open spaces.
Ibrahima Konaté
With William Saliba ruled out, more responsibility falls on Ibrahima Konaté at the heart of the defence. England’s attack often revolves around Harry Kane’s movement and link-up play, making Konaté’s positioning and decision-making crucial. His ability to defend one-on-one situations and deal with crosses could play a major role in keeping England under control.
Warren Zaïre-Emery
Warren Zaïre-Emery could have an important role after France’s midfield struggled against Spain in the semi-final. The teenager brings energy, ball-carrying ability and defensive intensity, which could help France compete against the physical presence of Declan Rice and the movement of Jude Bellingham. His ability to drive forward from midfield may also help France launch quicker attacks.
Michael Olise
Michael Olise has become one of France’s most creative players during this World Cup. Operating between midfield and attack, he provides the vision and passing range needed to unlock compact defences. Against England’s organised defensive shape, Olise’s ability to find pockets of space and deliver
Our Predicted France Line-up
4-2-3-1
GK: Mike Maignan
RB: Malo Gusto
CB: Ibrahima Konaté
CB: Maxence Lacroix
LB: Lucas Hernandez
CDM: Manu Koné
CDM: Warren Zaïre-Emery
RW: Ousmane Dembélé
CAM: Michael Olise
LW: Bradley Barcola
ST: Kylian Mbappé
England Tactical Analysis
England are expected to continue with their 4-2-3-1 system, but significant rotation is likely after the semi-final. With Jordan Henderson ruled out, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka expected to be rested, and Reece James unlikely to feature, Thomas Tuchel may use the Third-Place Playoff to give opportunities to players who have seen fewer minutes.
Despite the expected changes, England are likely to retain the same tactical principles that have helped them score 13 goals in 7 matches. Much of their attacking play has been built around movement between the lines, with midfield runners supporting the centre-forward and wide players stretching opposition defences.
The biggest difference could be a more attacking approach. After the ultra-defensive strategy against Argentina drew criticism, England are expected to press higher and commit more players forward, particularly through the wide areas.
Fresh players such as Eberechi Eze, Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins could bring extra energy and directness in attack, while Dean Henderson may be handed a start in goal. At the back, Dan Burn and Jarell Quansah are both pushing for opportunities.
Against France, England’s challenge will be balancing that attacking intent with defensive discipline. They need to create more pressure in the final third, but they must also avoid leaving too much space for Kylian Mbappé and France’s quick attackers to exploit in transition.
England World Cup Performance
| Match Statistic | England vs Croatia (4–2) | England vs Ghana (0–0) | Panama vs England (0–2) | England vs DR Congo (2–1) | Mexico vs England (2–3) | Norway vs England (1–2 AET) | England vs Argentina (1–2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expected Goals | – | 1.36 | 1.56 | 2.16 | 1.61 | 0.96 | 0.53 |
| Shots on Target | 11 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Shots off Target | 6 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Blocked Shots | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Possession (%) | 52% | 79% | 67% | 60% | 33% | 52% | 36% |
| Corner Kicks | 8 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Offsides | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Fouls | 10 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 11 |
| Throw-ins | 15 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 19 |
| Yellow Cards | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Red Cards | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Crosses | 12 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 3 |
| Counter Attacks | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Goal Kicks | 6 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 7 | 9 |
England World Cup 2026 Squad
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders
Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), John Stones (Manchester City), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)
Midfielders
Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
Forwards
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Noni Madueke (Arsenal)
England Players to Watch
Harry Kane
Harry Kane heads into the Third-Place Playoff with 6 goals, leaving him firmly in the Golden Boot race. England’s captain remains the focal point of their attack, not only because of his finishing but also because of his ability to drop into deeper areas and bring teammates into play. With France occasionally leaving space between midfield and defence, Kane’s movement could be crucial.
Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham has also scored 6 goals and continues to be England’s biggest threat from midfield. His ability to arrive late in the penalty area has been a major feature of England’s tournament, while his energy and ball-carrying offer another route through compact defensive blocks. If England are to finish the tournament with a victory, Bellingham is likely to be heavily involved.
Noni Madueke
With rotation expected, Noni Madueke could be handed a starting opportunity on the right flank. His direct running and willingness to attack defenders one-on-one provide a different profile to England’s usual wide options. Against a France side missing several first-choice defenders, Madueke’s ability to drive into space could be an important attacking weapon.
Morgan Rogers
Morgan Rogers is another player who could benefit from England’s expected squad rotation. Operating between midfield and attack, Rogers offers energy, physicality and forward running. His ability to carry the ball through central areas may help England move quickly through the thirds and create overloads around France’s penalty area.
Our Predicted England Line-up
4-2-3-1
GK: Jordan Pickford
RB: Djed Spence
CB: Ezri Konsa
CB: Marc Guéhi
LB: Nico O’Reilly
CDM: Kobbie Mainoo
CDM: Elliot Anderson
RW: Noni Madueke
CAM: Morgan Rogers
LW: Jude Bellingham
ST: Harry Kane
France vs England Tactical Battle
This feels like a more open game than either semi-final. Both teams are expected to rotate, and that could shift the focus away from control and caution towards energy and direct attacking play.
England look likely to be more aggressive than they were against Argentina, with players such as Morgan Rogers, Noni Madueke and Jude Bellingham offering more running power around Harry Kane. France, meanwhile, have the pace of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, making them especially dangerous when the game becomes stretched.
Another interesting aspect is that both teams have shown greater vulnerability recently. France have conceded 4 goals in their last 2 matches, while England have conceded 5 goals in their last 3. That suggests there could be more space and opportunities than we saw in the semi-finals.
The numbers also point towards an entertaining contest. France have scored 16 goals in 7 matches, while England have scored 13. With less caution, more rotation and plenty of attacking quality on both sides, this game has the feel of a match where chances could arrive at both ends throughout the 90 minutes.
France vs England Comparison
| Comparison | France | England |
|---|---|---|
| World Football Ranking | 3 | 4 |
| World Cup Appearance | 17 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) | 17 (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) |
| Best World Cup | Champions (1998 and 2018) | Champions (1966) |
| Form (Last 5 Matches) | W W W W L | W W W W (AET) L |
| Head-to-Head | 10 Wins, 5 Draws, 17 Losses | 17 Wins, 5 Draws, 10 Losses |
| Football Achievement | World Cup: 2 titles (1998, 2018) World Cup runners-up: 2006, 2022 European Championship runners-up: 2016 Nations League: 1 title (2021) |
World Cup: 1 title (1966) World Cup Semi-finalists: 1990 (4th), 2018 (4th), 2026 European Championship: Runners-up (2020, 2024) UEFA Nations League: Third Place (2018–19) |
France vs England – Our Match Favourite
This is a difficult game to call because both teams are expected to rotate heavily and approach the match differently from their semi-finals.
France perhaps have a slight advantage because their attacking threat remains clear regardless of who starts, with Kylian Mbappé still leading the line and chasing the Golden Boot. England should also benefit from fresh legs, but there is a little more uncertainty around how their changed lineup will perform.
Although England hold the stronger head-to-head record, this matchup feels slightly more in France’s favour. Les Bleus look marginally more likely to claim a narrow win and finish their World Cup campaign in third place.
Match Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | France vs England |
| Competition | World Cup 2026 |
| Stage | Third-Place Playoff |
| Date | 19 July 2026 |
| Stadium | Miami Stadium |