The third-place playoff is one of those matches that neither side truly wants to play. Both France and England are still reeling from their semifinal defeats. On Saturday, however, they will battle for the bronze medal at the FIFA World Cup. It looks like both teams will field significantly different lineups.
- Major changes are expected in both starting XIs
- William Saliba will miss the match due to injury
- France have conceded just three goals across their last six matches combined
France vs England Predictions
France delivered a surprisingly poor performance against Spain. They suddenly looked devoid of attacking quality and were unable to cope with a brilliantly organized opponent. According to reports coming from the French camp, Didier Deschamps is expected to give several fringe players an opportunity in the third-place playoff.
Our pick: Under 27.5 total shots at odds of 1.53 (-189)
England are also expected to make numerous changes to their starting lineup. Even so, we rate France's chances of victory slightly higher, as their attacking potential is on a completely different level. However, this is likely to be a more cautious encounter played at a slower tempo than the semifinals.
| Date and timeKick-off: | 18 Saturday with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 PM ET (USA) and 10:00 PM BST (UK time) |
| Broadcast | Check on FIFA official site |
| Odds on France to win | 1.95 (-105) |
| Odds on England to win |
3.70 (270) |
France vs England Betting Odds
According to the bookmakers, France are clear favorites to win the third-place playoff. Odds on a French victory are around 1.95 (-105). The draw offers the highest price, reaching as high as 4.00 (300). England are priced slightly lower than the draw, with odds of around 3.70 (270) to claim the win. It is also worth checking the BTTS (Both Teams To Score) market.
- Check out our other soccer predictions
Predicted Lineups
Both teams are expected to make significant changes to their starting elevens. France will definitely be without William Saliba, who aggravated the injury that forced him off against Spain. Jordan Henderson has also been ruled out through injury. Reece James and John Stones were also dealing with fitness issues following England's semifinal against Argentina.
- France: Risser - Gusto, L. Hernandez, Konate, T. Hernandez - Zaire-Emery, Kante, Akliouche, Cherki, Thuram - Mbappe
- England: Pickford - Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, O'Reilly - Mainoo, Eze, Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford - Kane
Recent Results
England led Argentina 1-0 in the semifinal but ended up losing 2-1 after adopting an overly cautious and defensive approach. Before that, they defeated Norway 2-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals. France, meanwhile, were completely outplayed by Spain, suffering a disappointing 2-0 defeat. Prior to that, they produced a dominant display against Morocco, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory.
France - Recent Matches
14.07.2026 - France vs Spain 0:2 (FIFA World Cup)
09.07.2026 - France vs Morocco 2:0 (FIFA World Cup)
04.07.2026 - Paraguay vs France 0:1 (FIFA World Cup)
30.06.2026 - France vs Sweden 3:0 (FIFA World Cup)
26.06.2026 - Norway vs France 1:4 (FIFA World Cup)
England - Recent Matches
15.07.2026 - England vs Argentina 1:2 (FIFA World Cup)
11.07.2026 - Norway vs England 1:2 AET (FIFA World Cup)
06.07.2026 - Mexico vs England 2:3 (FIFA World Cup)
01.07.2026 - England vs DR Congo 2:1 (FIFA World Cup)
27.06.2026 - Panama vs England 0:2 (FIFA World Cup)
France vs England – FIFA World Cup Third-Place Playoff
Following England's semifinal defeat to Argentina, Thomas Tuchel admitted that neither England nor France wanted to play in the third-place playoff. That is hardly surprising, as both nations came to the tournament aiming for the World Cup title. A bronze medal is often viewed as little more than a consolation prize-and, in most cases, not a particularly comforting one. The question is which team will show greater determination on Saturday. Intuition suggests it could be the Three Lions, even though France enter the match as clear favorites.
Broadcast
The FIFA World Cup Third-Place Playoff between France and England is scheduled for Saturday, 18 July, at 5:00 PM ET (USA) and 10:00 PM BST (UK time). Broadcast availability depends on your country. You can find the official list of broadcasters on the FIFA website.