2026 World Cup: France vs. England—Probable Lineups
It’s the match that, by definition, no one wants to play, but it’s also the one that allows the winner to end the World Cup on a high note, taking a spot on the podium despite the disappointment of not having reached the final. What’s more, the fact that France and England are facing off in this match makes the third-place game of the 2026 World Cup a fascinating contest between two historic rivals—and not just in the world of sports. The match will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Saturday at 11 p.m. Italian time (5 p.m. local time).
France will try to put its poor performance in the semifinal against Spain behind it—the only off-night in an otherwise outstanding World Cup run from the very start. There’s no shortage of motivation: Kylian Mbappé is in the running for the top scorer title (he has scored 8 goals, tying with Leo Messi), while Didier Deschamps wants to leave with a smile a coaching role that, over his fourteen years at the helm, has kept Les Bleus at the pinnacle of world soccer, culminating in the World Cup victory in Russia in 2018.
On the other hand, England has more than a few things to make up for, starting with its submissive attitude in the closing minutes of the match against Argentina—which many consider the main reason for the comeback they suffered in the semifinals. Once again, the much-coveted “return of football to its home” failed to materialize, and the last trophy remains the 1966 World Cup won on home soil: the “minor final” in Miami could still provide a very significant podium finish for a national team that has its sights firmly set on the European Championship to be held in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2028.
Probable Lineups
ENGLAND (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Spence, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane. Head Coach: Tuchel.
FRANCE (4-2-3-1): Samba; Malo Gusto, Konate, Lacroix, Theo Hernandez; Kanté, Zaire-Emery; Doué, Cherki, Dembelé; Mbappé. Head Coach: Deschamps.
