World Cup 2026: Third Place Match Preview

Following devastating losses in the semifinal round, France and England will have to regroup for the FIFA World Cup third place match on Saturday, July 18. England collapsed late in their match with Argentina coming within five minutes of a berth in the final.

Now they must take on a France squad that was completely shut down for the first time in the tournament in a 2-0 loss to Spain. France is listed as a -115 favorite in World Cup betting odds on the three-way line, with England at +280, and the regulation draw at +280 with a total of 3.5.

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2026 FIFA World Cup Third Place Match Overview

The FIFA World Cup 2026 third place match is historically a game team’s dread playing in. However, this matchup between European powerhouses features immense pride and a major individual trophy battle. Mbappe enters the game tied for the Golden Boot lead with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have six goals and with this game traditionally free-flowing with goals scored; those players have a chance to form the race. And the teams can end the tournament on a high note.

• The FIFA World Cup 2026 third place match is played between the two losing semifinalists the day before the championship match.
• The main reason the third place match is still played is financial, though that wasn’t always the case. Modeled after the Olympic Games’ Bronze Medal match, FIFA has held the third-place game in nearly every tournament since 1934.
• Only two of the 48 teams participating will end the World Cup with a win. And the winning team receives a few million more dollars in prize money as well as an actual bronze medal. Stats count, giving players a chance to win individual tournament awards.
• The historical impact adds to the legitimacy of the third-place game. In place since 1934 the game honors the Olympic heritage of bronze medals and actually gives medals to the winning team.

When Is the World Cup Third Place Match 2026?

Historically the FIFA World Cup third-place date is the day prior to the championship match. In 2026 the game will be played on Saturday, July 18. All the rules remain the same and the match statistics count toward a team or individual tournament-long numbers. The 2026 third-place match will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Third Place Match Date and Kickoff Time

• The Bronze Medal match between France and England will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026 with kickoff set for 5 p.m. ET.
• The match will air on FOX, Telemundo and FOX One.

Stadium and Host City

• This will be the seventh World Cup match played at the host venue, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
• France is making its debut at Hard Rock with England posting a quarterfinal win over Norway in the stadium.

World Cup Third Place Match Format

The FIFA World Cup third-place playoff follows the same format as the previous knockout stage rounds. The teams will play 90 minutes of regulation plus stoppage. If the score is level after 90+ minutes, 30 minutes of extra-time (two 15 minute halves) are played to their conclusion. If still level a standard penalty kick shootout is used to determine the match winner.

How Teams Reach the Third Place Match

• It’s not a game teams want to play because if they’ve reached the World Cup third place playoff it means they fell a win short of playing for the World Cup title.
• Teams reach the Bronze Medal match by losing in the semifinal round.

Extra Time and Penalty Shootout Rules

• Standard international tournament rules apply when it comes to extra time and the penalty kick shootout.
• If the score is tied after regulation time (90 minutes + stoppage time) the teams will play 30 minutes of extra-time to decide a winner. Two 15-minute halves are played to completion with no Golden Goal scenario.
• If the game remains level a penalty kick shootout will be used to determine the winner of the match.

Teams Most Likely to Reach the World Cup 2026 Third Place Match

Entering the last four France and England were favored to win their semifinal round matches. We didn’t expect to see either side in the World Cup third-place match let alone both of them. France entered their semifinal match with Spain as the most dominant team in the tournament and as a clear favorite to win the match and the title. But France was upset 2-0 in regulation.

England was also installed as a slight favorite to beat Argentina and they were within five minutes of doing so. However, showing their flair for drama, Argentina rallied with a pair of late goals, including the game-decider in stoppage time, to post a 2-1 upset sending England to the Bronze Medal game for the second time in the last three tournaments.

Tournament Favorites That Could Fall in the Semifinals

• In a close bunch of teams in the last four, France was the betting favorite to win the World Cup.
• They had a dominant run through the tournament outscoring opponents 16-2 before running into Spain’s defensive wall in the semifinals.

Dark Horses with Third-Place Potential

• Both France and England will embrace the chance to make up for dramatic losses in the semis.
• France’s potent offensive attack was silenced in their loss to Spain.
• England was a mere five minutes away from a berth in the World Cup final but a late collapse allowed Argentina to emerge with a 2-1 stoppage time victory.
• The teams have a shot at redemption and to end the tournament on a positive note.

World Cup Third Place Match Predictions

It’s not a match teams want to play due to the circumstances getting here. But there is plenty at stake in the World Cup third-place match between two bitter European rivals. Historically World Cup third-place matches are high-scoring with the pressure of the main tournament lifted. France has more explosive depth and will be looking for Kylian Mbappe to make a run at the Golden Boot. He’s currently tied for the tournament goal scoring lead.

Another factor favoring France is the pending retirement of coach Didier Deschamps. In the final match of the legendary coach’s career France will be highly motivated to send him off with a victory.

Factors That Matter Most in the Third Place Match

• Because teams are coming off devastating losses just days ago, there are factors other than raw talent that matter most in a World Cup third-place match.
• A team’s motivation, squad rotation and tactical freedom all come into play.

Motivation and Squad Rotation Considerations

• England coach Thomas Tuchel said that “none of our players want to play this match,” noting how difficult it is to get excited for a consolation game.
• Coaches will also sit star players who exhausted a lot of energy in preceding matches allowing bench players to get some playing time.
• As a result, the match often comes down to which team has the stronger, more cohesive lineup of reserves.

World Cup Third Place Match Odds and Betting Market Overview

The World Cup betting markets hold true for the Bronze Medal match with France favored at -115 on the 3-way moneyline. England is priced at +280 with a draw also at +280. The betting odds are steeper for France To Win the Bronze Medal at around -205 with England at +164. Prediction markets have France with a better than 60 percent chance of winning.

Match Winner Odds

• There are concerns and unknowns heading into the World Cup third-place match, but France has emerged as the clear betting favorite across all major sportsbooks.
• France is around -110 to -115 on the 3-way moneyline with England in the +280 to +285 range. A draw is also in the +280 to +285 range.
• To Advance (win the bronze) France has longer odds at -205 to -215. England is priced at around +165 to post the upset.

Total Goals and Both Teams to Score Markets

• Bettors are aggressively pursuing the OVER 3.5 goals on the total.
• World Cup third-place matches are historically more free-flowing with the total reflecting this. Nearly all matches have a total of 2.5 goals.
• Yes in the Both Teams To Score (BTTS) market is heavily juiced with lineup rotations expected to soften both backlines.

How Odds May Change After the Semifinals

• France entered the semifinals as the favorite to win the tournament.
• Soccer odds changed dramatically after they were eliminated by Spain in their last four matches.

Where to Watch the World Cup Third Place Match 2026

If you want to know where to watch the World Cup simply tune into FOX (English) or Telemundo (Spanish). Those networks will air the game live on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.

TV Broadcast Information

• To watch an English language broadcast of the World Cup third-place match tune into your local FOX network channel.
• A Spanish language broadcast of the match is available on Telemundo.

Streaming Options 

• If you prefer to stream the World Cup third-place match on a phone, tablet or smart TV, several options are available.
• FOX One and the FOX Sports app will stream the English language broadcast live.
• Peacock Premium will stream the Telemundo Spanish feed.

Players Who Could Impact the World Cup Third Place Match

Because both coaches are expected to rotate their squads, the match will likely be impacted by a mix of motivated stars chasing awards and fresh reserves looking to make their mark. Players on each side who are poised to make an impact are Kylian Mbappe (France) and Jude Bellingham (England).

Mbappe enters the match tied for the tournament goal scoring lead with Lionel Messi. Since Messi holds the tie-breaker with one more assist, Mbappe will be motivated to start and score to claim the Golden Boot. Bellingham and Harry Kane are two goals behind in the Golden Boot race and will look to add to their tournament tally.

Star Forwards to Watch

• Other than the usual suspects, keep an eye on Michael Olise, who leads France and the tournament with five assists.
• Rayan Cherki is expected to play, giving France another dynamic playmaker to break down England’s backline.
• Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze are expected to start up front for England. Their fresh legs and eagerness to contribute make them candidates to impact the match.

Midfielders and Defensive Leaders

• With James Reece doubtful due to injury, England will lean on Djed Spence to try and contain Mbappe on the wing.
• Maxence Lacroix will fill the void left by injured William Saliba. How well he defends England’s attack will determine France’s success.