France vs England set for World Cup third-place match

France and England will meet in the third-place playoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, July 18, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a match both teams approached with profound disappointment after falling short of the final. The contest kicks off at 5 p.m. ET, one day before Argentina and Spain compete for the championship in New Jersey.

Both nations suffered narrow semifinal defeats earlier in the week. France was defeated 2-0 by Spain on Tuesday, July 14, while England lost 2-1 to Argentina on Wednesday, July 15, after conceding two late goals. The shared sentiment was captured by managers and players alike. France coach Didier Deschamps stated the best thing for both nations would be for this match not to exist. England manager Thomas Tuchel echoed that, saying none of the players from either side wanted to play the third-place match, as everyone's goal was to win the World Cup.

Despite the anticlimactic nature of the fixture, several significant subplots remain. For France, the game marks the end of Deschamps' 14-year tenure as head coach, a period that included guiding the nation to the 2018 World Cup title. Defender Ibrahima Konate said the French...