England vs France

Confirmed lineup

Key factors

• France has demonstrated superior scoring prowess in this tournament, with Kylian Mbappé netting 8 goals and Ousmane Dembélé 5, contributing to France's total of 20 goals compared to England's 14.
• France's recent form is stronger, boasting 5 wins and 1 loss in their last 6 matches with 4 clean sheets, outperforming England's 3 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss.
• In their most recent World Cup knockout encounter, France eliminated England with a 2-1 victory in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.
• This match could mark Didier Deschamps' final tournament as France's coach, potentially providing additional motivation for the squad.
• England has shown defensive vulnerabilities, conceding in 4 out of their 5 tournament fixtures.

Briefing

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup 3rd Place Final, two European giants, France and England, will clash at Miami Stadium. While both teams narrowly lost their semi-final matches, dashing their hopes of reaching the final, they are expected to deliver a fierce contest to conclude their tournament on a high note. France, ranked 1st in the FIFA rankings, demonstrated a dominant performance in the group stage with 3 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, and a goal difference of 10-2. They subsequently defeated Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco in the knockout rounds before falling 0-2 to Spain in the semi-finals. Kylian Mbappé is a strong contender for the Golden Boot with 8 goals in the tournament, while Ousmane Dembélé has also contributed 5 goals, showcasing France's formidable attacking power. Defensively, while W. Saliba is absent due to a back bruise, the defensive line, centered around Dayot Upamecano, remains solid.

England, ranked 4th in the FIFA rankings, had a smooth group stage run with 2 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses, and a goal difference of 6-2. They then secured victories against DR Congo, Mexico, and Norway in the knockout stages before suffering a 1-2 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have each scored 6 goals, leading England's attack. Coach Thomas Tuchel's tactics are based on strong attacking play and effective use of the flanks, but he has faced tactical criticism following the semi-final loss, and England has shown defensive vulnerabilities, conceding in 4 of their 5 tournament matches.

In head-to-head encounters, England holds an overall advantage with 17 wins, 5 draws, and 10 losses out of 32 matches. However, France has had the upper hand in recent World Cup matchups. Furthermore, with this potentially being Didier Deschamps' final tournament as France's coach, the squad's cohesion and motivation are expected to be particularly high. The weather in Miami in July is anticipated to be very hot and humid, making player endurance and management a critical factor. France's potent attack and Deschamps' desire for a triumphant farewell are likely to be decisive in this match.