France and England meet in the WM 2026 Spiel um Platz drei on Sunday, 21 Uhr MESZ, with Kylian Mbappé in the France starting lineup and Harry Kane initially on the bench. It is a small final in name, but there is still real prestige on the line, along with a final chance to influence the race for the Goldenen Schuh.
The matchup was confirmed on 17.07.2026 at 11.10 Uhr, and it gives France one last chance to finish the tournament with a podium place. England, meanwhile, will try to close out the World Cup with a strong performance even without Kane starting from the opening whistle.
Mbappé has the clearest scoring edge
Mbappé’s place in the starting XI matters because he remains the France player most likely to decide the game and keep pressure on the Goldenen Schuh race. The article frames the individual award as one of the key side stories of the match, and Mbappé is the player with the best chance to shape it alone.
That adds another layer to a game that already carries meaning for both teams. For France, the third-place match is also part of the final chapter of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year spell as coach. Deschamps led Les Bleus to the World Cup title in 2018 and to second place in 2022, and this match now closes that long run.
Lineup choices add to the intrigue
The starting decisions are the main practical takeaway for fans following France vs England. Mbappé is in from the start for France, while Kane begins on the bench for England. The setup raises the question of how much each team will chase the match early and how quickly the key attacking names might be introduced.
Even in a third-place match, the context is straightforward: finish the tournament well, claim the final podium spot, and see whether the Goldenen Schuh picture changes before the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday at 21 Uhr MESZ. For France, the evening is about one last push with Les Bleus and one final chance for Mbappé to leave his mark.
