England and France meet once again on Saturday as two European giants battle for third place at the FIFA World Cup 2026. While neither nation expected to be competing for the bronze medal after reaching the semi-finals, both sides have one final opportunity to finish the tournament with pride.
England suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to defending champions Argentina after surrendering a second-half lead, while France were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Spain despite entering the tournament as one of the favourites. For Thomas Tuchel, this fixture carries even greater importance, as victory could ease growing pressure following widespread criticism of his tactical decisions against Argentina.
With world-class players including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise all expected to start, fans should still be treated to a high-quality contest despite the disappointment of missing out on the final.
Match Details
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
|---|---|
| Match | France vs England |
| Stage | Third-Place Playoff |
| Date | July 19, 2026 |
| Venue | TBA |
France Recent Form
France enjoyed another impressive World Cup campaign before being stopped by an outstanding Spanish side in the semi-finals.
Didier Deschamps’ men comfortably navigated the group stage and knockout rounds before struggling to create chances against Spain, producing one of their quietest attacking performances of the tournament.
Despite that setback, Les Bleus remain one of the strongest teams in world football and will be determined to give their departing manager a winning send-off.
France World Cup Form
🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟥 L
France Form (All Competitions)
🟩 W 🟩 W 🟨 D 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟥 L
England Recent Form
England came within minutes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 before a dramatic collapse against Argentina.
Anthony Gordon gave the Three Lions the lead, but Argentina responded with two late goals after England adopted a more defensive approach. The result sparked heavy criticism of Thomas Tuchel, whose game management has become one of the tournament’s biggest talking points.
Even so, England remain one win away from securing their best World Cup finish in six decades.
England World Cup Form
🟨 D 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟥 L
England Form (All Competitions)
🟩 W 🟨 D 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟥 L 🟩 W
Team News
France are expected to be without William Saliba, who continues to struggle with a back injury sustained during the semi-final defeat to Spain.
Possible France Absentees
- William Saliba (Back)
- Brice Samba (Fitness Doubt)
For England, Reece James is expected to miss out after suffering another muscular injury against Argentina, while Jordan Henderson remains unavailable.
There is also uncertainty surrounding Jude Bellingham after reports suggested FIFA could review his conduct following the semi-final.
Probable Lineups
France Predicted XI
Maignan;
Koundé, Konaté, Lacroix, Theo Hernández;
Koné, Zaïre-Emery;
Cherki, Olise, Doué;
Mbappé
England Predicted XI
Pickford;
Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly;
Rice, Anderson;
Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon;
Kane
Players to Watch
France: Kylian Mbappé
Although he was kept quiet by Spain, Mbappé remains one of the world’s most dangerous forwards. His pace, movement and finishing ability make him France’s biggest attacking threat.
England: Jude Bellingham
The Real Madrid midfielder has been England’s standout performer throughout the tournament. His energy, leadership and ability to influence matches at both ends of the pitch will be crucial once again.
Key Battle
Jude Bellingham vs Warren Zaïre-Emery
The midfield battle could decide the outcome of this contest.
If Bellingham is allowed to drive forward with the ball, England will create opportunities for Kane and Gordon. However, if Zaïre-Emery and Koné control possession, France are likely to dictate the tempo and force England onto the back foot.
Tactical Analysis
France are expected to dominate possession while using Mbappé and Olise to stretch England’s defence.
England, meanwhile, may adopt a more balanced approach than they did against Argentina after criticism of their defensive tactics in the semi-final. Tuchel is likely to encourage his side to press higher and transition quickly through Bellingham and Gordon rather than sitting deep for long periods.
Set pieces could also play an important role, with both teams possessing excellent aerial threats.
Head-to-Head
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Last Meeting | France 2-1 England (World Cup 2022) |
| England Wins | 1 in Last 9 Meetings |
| France World Cup Titles | 2 |
| England World Cup Titles | 1 |
France have dominated recent meetings and have often produced their best performances against England on the biggest stage.
FootyFeed Prediction
England should produce a stronger performance after the disappointment against Argentina, but France possess slightly greater depth and attacking quality.
Les Bleus also benefited from an extra day’s recovery after their semi-final, while England may still be feeling the psychological effects of their dramatic defeat.
With Mbappé capable of changing any game in an instant and England’s defence missing key players, France appear to have the edge.
Predicted Score
France 2-1 England
Predicted Result
✅ France Win
Final Verdict
Both England and France will be desperate to finish their World Cup campaigns with a victory, even if neither team wanted to be playing in the third-place playoff. For Thomas Tuchel, the match represents an opportunity to answer his critics and restore some confidence after England’s painful semi-final exit. Meanwhile, Didier Deschamps will hope to conclude his remarkable spell in charge of France by adding another World Cup bronze medal to his legacy.
England certainly have the quality to challenge, particularly through Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, but France’s experience in major tournaments and superior attacking options make them slight favourites. Expect another closely fought encounter, with Les Bleus narrowly securing third place.
🔥 FootyFeed Prediction
🇫🇷 France 2-1 England ✅
