​Before the spotlight shifts to Sunday’s World Cup Final, there is still one important match left on the schedule. France and England may not have planned to meet in the third-place game when the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, but the two European soccer powers will close out their tournament runs against each other on Saturday, July 18, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The France vs. England matchup will determine who finishes third at the 2026 World Cup. While it is not the championship match either nation hoped to reach, the game still carries plenty of meaning. A third-place finish at the World Cup is a major achievement, and both teams will want to end their campaigns with a victory after painful semifinal defeats.
France enters the third-place match after losing 2-0 to Spain in the semifinals. It was a disappointing result for a French squad that had been aiming to return to the World Cup Final and compete for another global title. France has been one of the most consistent national teams in recent World Cup history, and Saturday’s match gives the team a chance to finish the tournament on a positive note.
England, meanwhile, comes into the game after a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Argentina. The Three Lions held a late lead before Argentina rallied to win the match and book a place in the final. For England, the defeat was especially frustrating because the team appeared to be within reach of its first World Cup Final appearance since 1966. Now, England must regroup quickly and focus on earning third place.
The third-place game is often viewed differently by fans and teams, but it can still provide an exciting matchup. Players who came close to the final often have something to prove, and coaches may use the game to reward strong performers or give important minutes to key squad members. With France and England both featuring elite talent, Saturday’s contest in Miami could be one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament’s final weekend.
Fans wondering how to watch France vs. England in the 2026 World Cup third-place match will have several options. The game is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. ET. The match will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, one of the host venues for the 2026 World Cup.
The France vs. England third-place game will be televised in English on FOX. Spanish-language coverage will be available on Telemundo. Fans who prefer to stream the match can watch live through Fubo, which carries World Cup broadcasts and offers access to FOX and Telemundo in many markets.
Here are the key details for the 2026 World Cup third-place match between France and England: the game will be played on Saturday, July 18, at 5 p.m. ET. The location is Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Television coverage will be available on FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish. Live streaming will be available through Fubo.
Although the World Cup Final will take center stage on Sunday, France vs. England gives soccer fans one more high-profile match before the tournament comes to an end. Both teams have the talent to produce a memorable performance, and both will be motivated to avoid ending their World Cup journeys with back-to-back losses.
For France, the match is an opportunity to respond after falling short against Spain. For England, it is a chance to recover from the disappointment of losing a late lead to Argentina. For fans, it is another chance to watch two of the world’s biggest soccer nations compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The 2026 World Cup third-place match may not be the game France or England wanted, but it still matters. A win would allow one team to leave Miami with a medal, momentum and a strong finish to the tournament. As the World Cup weekend begins, all eyes will first turn to Hard Rock Stadium for England vs. France before the champion is crowned in Sunday’s final.