A World Cup bronze medal and Kylian Mbappé’s Golden Boot are on the line in Miami. France and England, two of the pre-tournament favourites, meet in one of the most compelling third-place play-offs in years — Mbappé level with Messi on eight goals and desperate to overtake him, while England carry the hurt of another semi-final exit. Here is how to watch France vs England, the kick-off time where you are, the line-ups and our prediction. The final is the day after: see our World Cup 2026 final guide for everything about Spain vs Argentina.
Kickoff is 5:00 PM ET on Saturday, July 18 / 10:00 PM in the UK at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. In Britain it is free on BBC One, with streaming on BBC iPlayer. In the US it is on Fox. The winner takes the bronze medal; the loser finishes fourth.
Where to Watch France vs England
Free on BBC One in the UK. In the US it is on Fox.
Quick tip: in the UK this is free on BBC One and BBC iPlayer — England games always attract the biggest BBC audiences. This is also the last game of the UK broadcast split; the BBC has the bronze final while ITV has the final on Sunday. Our guide to watching the World Cup in the UK has every channel and time.
France vs England TV Channel and Live Stream
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IndiaWhat Time Is France vs England in Your City?
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Sydney (AEST)When Does It Kick Off Where You Are?
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The Road to the Bronze Final
France, the tournament’s highest scorers before the semis, were shut out 2-0 by Spain in Dallas. England, who beat Norway in the quarter-finals, led Argentina before losing 2-1 with two late goals. The full bracket is in our World Cup 2026 schedule.
FranceEnglandMbappé’s Golden Boot and England’s Revenge
Third-place play-offs often feel hollow. Not this one. Kylian Mbappé arrives in Miami level with Lionel Messi on eight goals, and with Messi locked into the final on Sunday, this is Mbappé’s best and last chance to win his first Golden Boot — and become only the second man in history to win it twice. He will play, and he will shoot. That alone makes this unmissable. France were irresistible until Spain stopped them cold in Dallas, shutting Mbappé and co. to just 0.3 expected goals and winning 2-0 through an Oyarzabal penalty and a Pedro Porro side-foot. It was the first time France had been blanked all tournament, after rampaging through the draw by a 16-2 aggregate margin. Crucially, this is also Didier Deschamps’ final match as France manager after 14 years, 121 wins and a World Cup in 2018. His players will want to send him off with bronze.
England’s exit was crueller. They led Argentina 1-0 at Atlanta until the 78th minute before Messi’s fingerprints appeared on two goals that sent England home. The reaction in the British press has been ferocious, with Tuchel’s defensive substitutions questioned and “same old story” headlines already written. England carry the hurt, but they also carry motivation: France knocked them out at the quarter-final stage in Qatar in 2022, a 2-1 defeat featuring a missed Kane penalty that still stings. This game is England’s chance to settle the score. Harry Kane (six goals) and Jude Bellingham (six) are also in the Golden Boot race, though they trail Mbappé and would need a very good night to overhaul him. Expect rotation from both benches, but both managers will want to win.
The head-to-head record runs to 32 meetings, with France winning 17 and England 14, and one draw, in a rivalry stretching back to 1923. In World Cup competition the honours are even: England won the 1966 group-stage meeting 2-0 and the 1982 game 3-1, while France claimed the 2022 quarter-final 2-1. This is their fourth ever meeting at a World Cup and their first ever third-place play-off.
Bronze-medal matches historically produce goals: both teams play with less caution and there is nothing to lose. France’s attack is the more dangerous even with rotation, and Mbappé’s motivation is unique. England may rest Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and possibly Bellingham, whereas France are unlikely to rest Mbappé. A French win with goals at both ends feels like the most natural shape of this game, though England’s record in these situations — they beat Croatia in a third-place play-off at Euro 2021 — and the revenge factor should keep it tight until the final quarter.
How They Might Line Up
France are without defender William Saliba (strained back) and goalkeeper Brice Samba is doubtful. Mbappé starts; Deschamps may rotate elsewhere. England have Reece James doubtful with an undisclosed injury, while Rice, Saka and possibly Bellingham could be rested with the next campaign in mind. Kane is expected to lead the line regardless.
FRANCE · Deschamps · 4-3-3Maignan · Kounde, Upamecano, Konate, Digne · Tchouameni, Camavinga, Rabiot · Dembele, Mbappe (c), Olise
ENGLAND · Tuchel · 4-2-3-1Pickford · James, Guehi, Stones, Livramento · Mainoo, Eze · Madueke, Palmer, Rashford · Kane (c)
Mbappé for the Bronze, or England’s Revenge?
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A Word on Hard Rock Stadium
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens hosted Norway vs England in the quarter-finals, and now hosts the bronze final before the World Cup final moves up to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and regularly used for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open tennis, the open-air bowl seats around 65,000. England have already played here and won; France arrive for the first time at this tournament. A 5pm kickoff means the worst of the Florida heat has passed, but humidity will still be a factor. There is more on the venue at Wikipedia.
Across 32 meetings since 1923, France lead 17–14 with one draw. In World Cup football England won 2-0 in 1966 and 3-1 in 1982, before France claimed the 2022 quarter-final 2–1. This is the fourth all-time World Cup meeting between the sides and the first ever at the third-place play-off.
France vs England: Quick Answers
What time does France vs England kick off?
5:00 PM Eastern time in the US, 4pm Central, 2pm Pacific. In the UK it is 10pm BST on Saturday night. In France it is 11pm CEST. The date is Saturday, July 18, 2026.
What channel is France vs England on in the UK?
It is live and free on BBC One, with free streaming on BBC iPlayer. The World Cup Final on Sunday is on ITV, not BBC — so this is the last BBC match of the tournament.
How can I watch France vs England in the US?
Fox has the broadcast, with streaming via Fubo and Peacock. Spanish-language coverage is on Telemundo.
Is this a semi-final or third-place play-off?
Third-place play-off. France lost 0-2 to Spain and England lost 1-2 to Argentina in their respective semi-finals on July 14 and 15. The winner here takes the bronze medal; the final is Spain vs Argentina on Sunday, July 19.
Is the Golden Boot on the line?
Yes. Kylian Mbappé has eight goals, level with Lionel Messi, who is in the final. If Mbappé scores, he moves ahead. If he scores two, he wraps up the Golden Boot regardless of what Messi does on Sunday. It would be the first time the award has been won twice by the same player.
Is this Didier Deschamps’ last match?
Yes. Deschamps announced before the tournament that he would step down as France manager at its conclusion, after 14 years in charge, 121 wins and a World Cup title in 2018. This is his 160th and final match as France head coach.
Who won the last time France and England met at a World Cup?
France, 2-1 in the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, settled by an Olivier Giroud header after Harry Kane missed a second penalty of the game. It is the wound England hope to avenge here.
What is the prediction for France vs England?
We lean towards France 2-1, with Mbappé motivated by the Golden Boot, France’s superior firepower even with rotation, and an open game that suits both teams to score. England’s revenge factor keeps it close, but France’s quality should edge it.
World Cup 2026 Guides
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