France and England will contest the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff on July 18 in Miami, following their semi-final defeats to Spain and Argentina respectively [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. France lost 2-0 to Spain on July 14, while England fell 2-1 to Argentina on July 15 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

France is led by Didier Deschamps in what will be his last match as coach after 14 years in charge since 2012 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 7, 8]. Deschamps had announced last year he would leave following the tournament [4, 5, 7, 8]. "It is not a friendly. It is a third-place playoff. The players, staff, and I have the duty to reach this last objective," Deschamps said, acknowledging both teams’ reluctance but emphasizing the professional commitment needed [4]. He added, "In my head I know that it is my last match. I don't want anybody to cry. The end is near but life goes on," reflecting on his farewell [7].

Kylian Mbappe, France captain and 27 years old, is key for the team. He has scored eight goals in the tournament, tied with Lionel Messi as top scorer, and is chasing the World Cup all-time scoring record[s1-s12]. Mbappe, confirmed to start [6], paid tribute to Deschamps calling him a "legend" and expressing regret they could not provide a better send-off [9].

England’s squad includes Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, each with six goals, who could influence the Golden Boot race if they perform well [2, 3, 11, 12]. This match could mark England’s best World Cup finish since 1966 [6].

Both France and England players are physically and emotionally drained after deep runs and semi-final defeats[s1,s2,s3,s8-s10]. The third-place match is widely disliked by players and coaches, often seen as an unwanted "chocolate-medal" game [1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8]. England coach Thomas Tuchel said, "None of these players, none of the French players want to play this match. They want to play in the final. We gave everything to be in the final," but added the teams would approach the match professionally [1, 2].

France is expected to rotate its lineup significantly due to injuries and player availability [4, 5, 7, 8]. Defender Ibrahima Konate said the team wants to repay Deschamps by winning the bronze medal, calling it the "chocolate medal" [4, 5, 7, 8].

The final concrete step is the third-place playoff itself, scheduled for July 18, 2026, in Miami, where both teams will compete for third place and individual honors in what is the last competitive match for Didier Deschamps as France coach [3, 6].