France - England / 3rd Place Play-off 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the France vs. England 3rd place play-off match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, also broadcast live on JOJ Šport, kicks off at 11:00 PM.

Hot Miami will host a clash on Saturday, a blend of the bitterness of missed opportunities and the desire for a dignified World Cup farewell. Footballing giants France and England, both defeated semi-finalists, will battle it out for the bronze medals.

For the "Rooster's" nation, this will be an exceptionally emotional moment, as a glorious era definitively concludes. Didier Deschamps bids farewell to his role as national team manager after 14 years and an incredible 187 matches on the bench – a French national record. The 57-year-old tactician, who led the team to a title in 2018, a silver medal in Qatar 2022, and now a top-four finish, puts a definitive end to his successful mission.

However, the initial enthusiasm for a medal fight in both camps is overshadowed by the specter of semi-final failure, for which many experts believe they are primarily to blame. Didier Deschamps, much like his English counterpart Thomas Tuchel, faced harsh criticism after the final-four battles for their tactical missteps. The French, who until Tuesday appeared to be the tournament's most dominant team and were aiming for a third consecutive final appearance, found no counter-weapon to Spain's well-thought-out play and succumbed 0-2.

On the other side stands "the Three Lions," whose dream of a first final appearance since their memorable triumph in 1966 has once again been extinguished. Yet, the squad with the highest tournament ambitions still has something to play for. If coach Thomas Tuchel's charges can squeeze the last remnants of physical strength from their weary bodies, they can secure bronze and, by surpassing their fourth-place finishes in 1990 and 2018, achieve their most successful result in 60 years.

The psychological advantage before Saturday's kick-off lies with France. The record from the last nine head-to-head confrontations is unforgiving for the English – they've celebrated only one victory, drawn twice, and walked away with their heads down six times, including their elimination in the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup.

Beyond the team bronze, the prestigious Golden Boot for the tournament's top scorer is also at stake. French captain Kylian Mbappé currently shares the lead with eight goals alongside Argentine captain Lionel Messi. English duo Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham trail by two goals (both have six goals each), but in an open match, their entry into the race for the top spot cannot be ruled out.

Statistical predictions promise a highly engaging spectacle in Florida with a higher number of goals, although both teams achieve their goals differently. While the French have scored their last 7 World Cup goals after the 40th minute, and only in one of their last six appearances have both teams scored, the trend is opposite for the English. In four consecutive "Three Lions" matches, both teams have scored, and 9 of their 12 recent goals have come in the second half.

Spectators in Miami should therefore be treated to an offensively-minded performance, with goals expected from both major attacking stars – Mbappé and Kane.