France vs England FIFA World Cup 2026: Lineup, key players, prediction, team stats, injury news

France and England will battle for third place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 when the two European giants meet at Miami Stadium, Florida, on Sunday. While both sides had hoped to be competing in the final, the bronze-medal playoff offers one last opportunity to finish their campaigns on a high.

France's bid to reach a second consecutive World Cup final ended with a semifinal defeat to Spain, while England suffered a dramatic late loss to defending champions Argentina. With pride and a podium finish at stake, both teams will be determined to end the tournament with a victory.

The match will also mark the end of an era for France, as head coach Didier Deschamps takes charge of Les Bleus for the 187th and final time after a successful 14-year tenure.

France Predicted Starting XI

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Robin Risser, Brice Samba

Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano

Midfielders: N'Golo Kanté, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaire-Emery

Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram

England Predicted Starting XI

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford

Defenders: Ezri Konsa, Nico O'Reilly, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Tino Livramento, Dan Burn, Reece James, Djed Spence, Jarell Quansah

Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze

Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Ivan Toney

France vs England Key Players to Watch

France will once again look to captain Kylian Mbappe to provide the attacking spark, while Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Aurélien Tchouaméni are expected to play crucial roles.

For England, much will depend on the creativity of Jude Bellingham, the goalscoring ability of Harry Kane, and the pace of Bukayo Saka in the final third.

France vs England head-to-head record

France and England have faced each other three times in FIFA World Cup history.

1966: England won 2-0 (Group Stage)
1982: England won 3-1 (First Group Phase)
2022: France won 2-1 (Quarterfinal)

England lead the overall World Cup head-to-head 2-1, although France won their most recent meeting in Qatar.

France vs England Match Prediction

According to the Opta supercomputer, France has a 50.7% chance of winning in regulation time. England, on the other hand, has been given a 25.6% chance to win while 23.7% of simulations ended in a draw after 90 minutes.

France vs England Injury News and Team Updates

France have suffered a major defensive setback ahead of the match. William Saliba is ruled out after sustaining a back injury during the semifinal defeat to Spain. Reports indicate the Arsenal defender requires surgery and could be sidelined for up to five months.

Theo Hernandez is expected to replace Lucas Digne at left-back after Digne struggled against Spain in the semifinal, while Malo Gusto could also start in the full-back positions.

Team stats

Both France and England have been among the tournament's strongest attacking teams, but defensive lapses proved costly in their semifinal defeats. Sunday's encounter presents one final opportunity for both nations to secure a podium finish and end their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaigns with a victory.