France and England Prepare for 2026 FIFA World Cup Third‑Place Showdown

France will meet England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third‑place match on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Miami Stadium, with the game broadcast on FOX.

The much‑anticipated clash is finally here.

After an unbeaten start that featured six consecutive wins, France were defeated 2‑0 by Spain in the semifinals on Tuesday. This marked the first time since 1986 that Les Bleus have been eliminated in the semi‑finals, ending a run of four straight semi‑final appearances from 1998 through 2022.

Entering the match as the favorite, France saw Spain seize control from the outset. An unfortunate penalty handed Spain an early 1‑0 lead, and for the first time that summer France trailed. Spain’s resilient defense then repelled France’s potent attack.

For the first time in his World Cup career, Kylian Mbappé will not feature in a final.

Conversely, England squandered a 1‑0 lead against Argentina on Wednesday, as Argentina orchestrated a dramatic comeback.

With less than ten minutes remaining, England still held a narrow lead, but Argentina, spurred by Lionel Messi, scored twice within seven minutes to overturn the deficit and win 2‑1.

England’s possession dropped to just 12% during the stretch from Anthony Gordon’s opening goal to Lautaro Martínez’s decisive strike, spanning the 55th to the 92nd minute.

Only a few days earlier, both France and England were projected to contest the final; now they meet in a third‑place encounter with diminished stakes.

Below are the latest odds for the France versus England matchup as posted on FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 18.

Kylian Mbappé is -185 to score against England (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images).

France vs. England Odds

Moneyline

• France: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
• England: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total)
• Draw: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total)

Spread

• France -0.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
• England +0.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)

Over/Under Total Odds: 3.5

• Over: +108 (bet $10 to win $20.80 total)
• Under: -132 (bet $10 to win $17.58 total)

France vs. England Prediction, Pick

From FOX Sports Research:

• Although the match may appear inconsequential for the teams, it holds significant importance for Kylian Mbappé. The third‑place game contributes to World Cup statistics and award considerations, positioning the star to claim a second consecutive Golden Boot. Mbappé and Messi are tied at eight goals, but Messi leads in assists. Given the prestige of the award, Mbappé is a strong selection for any‑time scorer, with the prospect of multiple goals.

How to Watch France vs. England

• When: Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOX Sports, FOX Sports App

Let’s take a look at some other bets for the match.

Anytime Goalscorer Props

• Kylian Mbappé: -185 (bet $10 to win $15.41 total)
• Harry Kane: +105 (bet $10 to win $20.50 total)
• Ollie Watkins: +135 (bet $10 to win $23.50 total)
• Ivan Toney: +140 (bet $10 to win $24 total)
• Ousmane Dembélé: +155 (bet $10 to win $25.50 total)
• Jean-Philippe Mateta: +160 (bet $10 to win $26 total)
• Marcus Thuram: +160 (bet $10 to win $26 total)
• Jude Bellingham: +255 (bet $10 to win $35.50 total)

To Win (Including Extra Time)

• France: -205 (bet $10 to win $14.88 total)
• England: +164 (bet $10 to win $26.40 total)

Both Teams to Score

• Yes: -280 (bet $10 to win $13.57 total)
• No: +205 (bet $10 to win $30.50 total)

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