England play France to conclude their World Cup 2026 campaign down in Miami in the bronze final.
The game that nobody wants to play will see the Three Lions attempt to pick themselves up after being floored by Argentina’s late show in Atlanta.
The aftermath has seen Thomas Tuchel’s reputation shredded by parts of the media and fans, including President Donald Trump mentioning his strategy following Anthony Gordon’s opener.
France, too, must lift it to conclude the glittering Didier Deschamps reign, with Kylian Mbappe also determined to win the golden boot in a hard-fought battle with Lionel Messi.
Follow all the latest updates and build-up to the match, which is often a high-scoring, free-flowing affair, in our live blog below:
England v France – World Cup 2026 bronze final
- England battle France for third place in Miami | KO 10pm BST, live on BBC One
- Under-fire Tuchel set to make changes after devastating Argentina loss
- Deschamps set to bid farewell after 14-year reign with Les Bleus
- Mbappe (8 goals, 3 assists) targeting golden boot over Messi 8 goals (4 assists)
- England v France team news and predicted line-ups
Donald Trump questions Thomas Tuchel’s tactics in World Cup loss: ‘Harry Kane on defence?’
15:50 , Jack Rathborn
Donald Trump has remarkably become the latest person to question Thomas Tuchel’s tactics in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat.
“You have a great player in England, who I played golf with,” Trump said on Friday, at a Fifa reception in the same city. “You know that, right? He is Harry, who’s been fantastic.
“I think they perhaps made a mistake when they made him a defensive player,” Trump continued, referring to the England captain’s role as a striker, and Tuchel’s defensive moves, which led every player to get behind the ball.
“What do I know about soccer?” Trump added. “They took the lead, and they took their best player, and they put him on defence. Then somehow...
“We got to be a little offensive, right? But no, I’m not gonna call it... Look, what do I know about coaching?
“I thought that was a little unusual, but Harry is a great guy actually.”
England v France – Three Lions train before World Cup 2026 bronze match
15:40 , Jack Rathborn
World Cup 2026 team of the tournament: The Independent’s best XI from historic event
15:30 , Jack Rathborn
The 2026 World Cup is at its final furlong. After all the build-up and a thrilling five weeks of the very highest sporting drama, there are now just two matches left.
Spain and Argentina contest the final in New Jersey on Sunday, with both having come through their semi-finals against France and England respectively.
European champions Spain were ultra-impressive in dismantling France and stopping their attacking firepower, while Lionel Messi’s Argentina side again launched a stunning comeback, scoring twice in eight minutes to beat a distraught England 2-1 on Wednesday, as they eye a second consecutive triumph on the world stage.
As for France and England, they face each other in tonight’s bronze final - the match nobody wants to play in. But having reflected on the past 102 games, we’ve decided on our best players, fitted into a 4-3-3 formation.
Here is the Independent’s World Cup team of the tournament.
World Cup 2026 team of the tournament: The Independent’s best XI
World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings
15:20 , Jack Rathborn
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina), 8 goals (4 assists) - 712 minutes played
2. Kylian Mbappe (France), 8 goals, (3 assists) - 666 minutes played
3. Erling Haaland (Norway), 7 goals (0 assists) - 537 minutes played
= 4. Jude Bellingham (England), 6 goals (1 assist) - 678 minutes played
= 4 Harry Kane (England), 6 goals (1 assist) - 732 minutes played
6. Ousmane Dembele (France), 5 goals (2 assists) - 595 minutes played
England v France – Les Bleus train before World Cup 2026 bronze match
15:00 , Jack Rathborn
Bronze final? How about World Cup’s most pointless match? Why Fifa should bin off third-place play-off
14:50 , Jack Rathborn
The unique allure and jeopardy of World Cup matches, the exclusivity of such seismic occasions every four years, are undoubtedly the tournament’s greatest asset. It’s what stirs the senses, arouses tension, triggers drama. And yet, heading into this weekend’s final furlong, the World Cup’s penultimate match continues to be a showdown that nobody – players, fans, broadcasters – really cares about.
Why Fifa should bin off pointless World Cup third-place play-off
Pep Guardiola ‘had verbal agreement’ to become England boss as Thomas Tuchel exit clauses revealed
14:40 , Jack Rathborn
Pep Guardiola had a “verbal agreement” to become England boss before Thomas Tuchel was appointed and may still be interested in the role.
Questions have been raised over Tuchel’s future after England’s bitterly disappointing World Cup exit at the hands of Argentina in the semi-final, with many criticising the German’s tactics in a game that saw the Three Lions succumb to a late comeback after leading.
There are calls for Tuchel to be sacked by the FA with many pointing to Guardiola, fresh off leaving Manchester City at the end of last season, as a dream replacement.
Guardiola ‘had agreement’ to become England boss as Thomas exit clauses revealed
How England’s World Cup dream unravelled to leave one agonising regret
14:30 , Jack Rathborn
It is customary, at times like this, to mention 1966. Amid England’s repeated inability to replicate the scenes at Wembley six decades ago, however, it may be pertinent to note 1966 was the last World Cup before the introduction of substitutes. England’s defence of their title ended in 1970 after Sir Alf Ramsey’s decision to take Bobby Charlton off against West Germany. If nothing else, it is no longer the most infamous substitution an England manager has made in a World Cup in North America. When Ezri Konsa came for Anthony Gordon in Atlanta, it helped propel Argentina into the final.
Thomas Tuchel may note the only three previous managers to take England to a World Cup semi-final – Ramsey, Bobby Robson and Gareth Southgate – all ended up knighted. It is not only his German passport that suggests he need not save a date in his diary for a trip to Buckingham Palace.
How England’s World Cup dream unravelled to leave one agonising regret
Thomas Tuchel responds after Donald Trump criticism
14:15 , Jack Rathborn
"Do you use Donald Trump as your witness for the case? Just asking. I view them in the same way, we were too passive, got too passive, if you're asking if I regret my decision, then no, I don't regret my decisions, I felt we became too passive,” Tuchel said when questioned on Trump’s criticism, with the US President stating that the German coach might have “made a mistake when they made him [Kane] a defensive player” in the closing stages of the Argentina match.
“The momentum switches in the match, I tried to help my team, I tried to support, I was trusting my instincts, my intuition, my experience, my competitiveness. I took the decision in order to help the team get the result. We didn't get the result, of course, I take the responsibility.
“The decisions are made under stress. The decisions are made in-game, in-life coaching, I would regret it if I didn't help, if I didn't react, but I have no regrets over my decisions."
England v France predicted line-ups
12:40 , Jack Rathborn
France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Lacroix, T. Hernandez; Kone, Zaire-Emery; Cherki, Olise, Doue; Mbappe.
England XI: Pickford; Spence, Chalobah, Guehi, O'Reilly; Rice, Mainoo; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
England v France team news
12:39 , Jack Rathborn
France are without William Saliba due to a back injury sustained in the semi-final - Maxence Lacroix will likely deputise again. Back-up keeper Brice Samba is also absent.
For England, there are doubts over Reece James’ fitness again after he was withdrawn following treatment against Argentina, while Jordan Henderson is also out with his broken wrist. Jarell Quansah is available again after his two-match suspension, while Tuchel will likely give those who haven’t played any minutes a World Cup run-out - like Mainoo and Chalobah. Jude Bellingham may wind up with a suspension for slapping Valentin Barco.
England v France – World Cup 2026 bronze match
12:19 , Jack Rathborn
Welcome to the Independent’s coverage of the Fifa World Cup 2026 bronze final: England v France.
Thomas Tuchel has been hammered for his tactics in the devastating semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Now, a chance to salvage some credit from a bitter end to a wild ride this summer.
But France are bidding farewell to Didier Deschamps after 14 years in charge. Stick with us for all the build-up and team news in Miami.
