France and England will compete for third place in the 2026 World Cup following losses in their respective semifinal matches. France fell to Spain on Tuesday, while England lost to Argentina on Wednesday.
The third-place game has been a consistent fixture in the World Cup since 1934, with the exception of the 1950 tournament. In the most recent 2022 World Cup, Croatia defeated Morocco 2-1 to claim the bronze medal.
Prior to their semifinal exits, France had an undefeated run in the tournament, winning six consecutive matches and outscoring opponents 16-2. Striker Kylian Mbappé has scored eight goals, tied for the tournament lead with Argentina's Lionel Messi, and contributed three assists. Michael Olise leads the tournament with five assists.
England's campaign included a 5-1-0 record before their semifinal elimination. Star forward Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham have each recorded six goals and one assist. Both players have scored two braces during the tournament. Kane achieved this against Croatia on June 17 and DR Congo on July 1, while Bellingham scored two goals against Mexico on July 5 and Norway on July 11.
The exact date and time for the 2026 third-place match have not been specified, but it typically takes place the day before the final.