Rob UsryUSA TODAY
July 18, 2026, 6:03 a.m. ET
The penultimate day of the2026 <a href="https://absafricatv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026-spain-defender-laporte-surprised-by-refereeing-decisions-involving-argentina/" title="FIFA World Cup 2026: Spain defender Laporte surprised by refereeing decisions involving Argentina”>FIFA World Cup sees England and France face off in the third-place match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The two semifinal losers will try to salvage a bronze medal before the Spain-Argentina final on Sunday. This will also act as a farewell match for Didier Deschamps. He is leaving the France job after the tournament, rumored to be replaced by another Les Bleus legend, Zinedine Zidane.
All times Eastern and accurate as of Thursday, July 17, 2026, at 11:23 p.m.
Third Place: England vs France
Time/TV: 5:00 PM ET on Fox at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida
Why watch: Let’s be honest, third-place matches are weird. The pressure is completely off of both teams after suffering heartbreak in the semifinals. That means we could easily be treated to a free-flowing match full of big moments and goals. The talent on both sides and the circumstances of a consolation match definitely provide the ingredients for an entertaining appetizer ahead of the main course on Sunday.
Why it could disappoint: With all of that said, it’s still a meaningless match between two sides without much motivation. Add in the fact that the temperature will be nearing 90 degrees in Miami and this has an equal chance of being a snoozefest among two teams ready to go home. You never know what you’ll get in these types of matches. Hopefully the coin lands on the entertaining side.
World Cup matchup odds
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