World Cup live updates: France vs. England lineups, preview for third-place game
Neither England or France want to play in this game. They would rather be in New Jersey vying for the World Cup title. Instead, they’ll face off in Miami for third place after both losing in the semifinals.
There are some angles to this match that will be interesting to follow. First, it is the final one in charge of France for Didier Deschamps. The former midfielder led his country to titles at the 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euros as a player. As a manager, Les Bleus made back-to-back World Cup finals, winning in 2018. His 14 years in charge will come to an end on Saturday with Zinedine Zidane expected to replace him.
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Kylian Mbappé is still in the hunt for his second straight World Cup Golden Boot. Entering his final match of the tournament, the France star is tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi with eight goals, though Messi holds the tiebreaker with one more assist.
England, meanwhile, is still recovering from the dramatic loss to Argentina in the semifinals. It was a defeat that has led to pointed criticism at manager Thomas Tuchel and his decision to have his team sit back and defend after Anthony Gordon’s opening goal. Will it be his final match in charge of the Three Lions?
Start time: 5 p.m. ET
Venue: Miami Stadium | Miami Gardens, Florida
TV channel: Fox, Telemundo (Spanish)
Live stream: Fox One, Peacock (Spanish)
Follow along below for all the latest news, lineups, highlights, analysis and live updates from France vs. England:
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Sean Leahy, Ian Casselberry
Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi enter their final matches of the tournament tied atop the Golden Boot race with eight goals each. France will play for third place, while Argentina looks to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
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Lewis Watson
Once again, England fans, it’s not “coming home.”
Well not yet, anyway …
England was defeated 2-1 by Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Wednesday in Atlanta, registering yet another semifinal loss in the World Cup knockout rounds for the “Three Lions,” following on from similar exits in 1990 and 2018.
England’s 60 years (and counting) of hurt have been littered with painful World Cup exits, but where does this latest addition slot in on the pain-o-meter?
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane.
Read more from Yahoo Sports here.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 15: Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham #10 of England looks dejected after losing the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
(Justin Setterfield via Getty Images)
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Sean Leahy
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Sean Leahy
Didier Deschamps said he will make changes to France’s starting XI and that Kylian Mbappé will be available for Saturday’s World Cup third-place match against England.
Mbappé is chasing the Golden Boot and enters Saturday tied for the lead with Argentina’s Lionel Messi with eight goals. Messi currently owns the tiebreaker with one more assist than Mbappé.
“Whether they play or not, I have the duty as a head coach to do everything I can to reach tomorrow’s objective,” said Deschamps, who will be managing his final game in charge of France. “I hope that we do, and we must display all the efforts to do so.
“It is one game. I have some keys in my possessions. Some players might play, others due to personal reasons will want to play. “I do not want to betray any discussions I had with the players. I do not have all the elements but, yes, I will substitute some players.”
FT LAUDERDALE, FL – JULY 17: Kylian Mbappe #10 of France is seen during a France team training session in preparation for a FIFA World Cup 26 Bronze Final match between France and England at the Inter Miami CF Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.(Photo by Chris Arjoon)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Sean Leahy
England and France will look to join the list of World Cup third-place finishers today:
1930: No playoff
1934: Germany
1938: Brazil
1950: No playoff
1954: Austria
1958: France
1962: Chile
1966: Portugal
1970: West Germany
1974: Poland
1978: Brazil
1982: Poland
1986: France
1990: Italy
1994: Sweden
1998: Croatia
2002: Turkey
2006: Germany
2010: Germany
2014: Netherlands
2018: Belgium
2022: CroatiaDOHA, QATAR – DECEMBER 17: Luka Modric of Croatia with team after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 3rd Place match between Croatia and Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.(Photo by Richard Sellers/Getty Images)
(Richard Sellers/Allstar via Getty Images)
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Sean Leahy
The Three Lions and Les Bleus will meet at 5 p.m. ET at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Both teams would rather be playing in tomorrow’s game in New Jersey, but will have to settle for battling for third place.
Crédito: Link de origem