France starting lineup vs England confirmed as Kylian Mbappe named for FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff
(Courtesy : Getty)
Les Bleus are chasing a podium finish in the expanded 48-team World Cup.
France are set to take on England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on July 18. Les Bleus, one of the standout teams in the tournament, will look to recover from the disappointment of failing to reach the final by securing a third-place finish.
The two-time world champions, despite being the only team to win all of their games in regulation time in the tournament in North America, were stumped by Spain in the semi-final. Goals in either half from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory for La Roja, consigning Les Bleus to this clash.
As opposition manager Thomas Tuchel made it clear, neither side want to play in this game, having already gone through the heartbreak of missing out on the final. The French team will nevertheless seek a win as it guarantees them a podium finish.
Also Read: Which stadium will host France vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 Third place play-off?
Let’s look at the France confirmed lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against England:
France (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konate, Maxence Lacroix, Theo Hernandez; Warren Zaire-Emery, Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, Desire Doue; Kylian Mbappe (c).
Substitutes: Robin Risser (gk), Brice Samba (gk), Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Lucas Digne, Lucas Hernandez, N’Golo Kante, Manu Kone, Jules Kounde, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Williab Saliba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Marcus Thuram, Dayot Upamecano.
Thoughts on the lineup
With little riding on this game, head coach Didier Deschamps has opted for a much-changed lineup, giving opportunities to some of the fringe members of the squad. However, Mike Maignan keeps his place between the sticks, having excelled throughout the tournament.
Having suffered what looks like a serious back injury against Spain, William Saliba is ruled out of tonight’s clash. His replacement in the previous fixture, Maxence Lacroix, starts tonight and is paired with Real Madrid’s new signing, Ibrahima Konate.
Theo Hernandez makes his first start at left-back since the group-stage rout of Norway. Malo Gusto, who has played 28 minutes throughout the campaign, also gets a start at right-back.
Warren Zaire-Emery, who would be very disappointed to have played just one match in the tournament – 19 minutes against Morocco – finally starts tonight. He is paired with Adrien Rabiot in the midfield pivot. Rayan Cherki, another player who would have been surprised by his bit-part role in the team, starts in an advanced role.
Michael Olise keeps his place in the starting lineup, slotting in at right wing, and he is joined by Desire Doue on the left. Captain Kylian Mbappe starts up front, having already scored eight goals and chasing the Golden Boot.
When is the France vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 third‑place playoff?
The match will be played on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. In India, the match will kick off at 2:30 AM IST on July 19.
How to watch France vs England match in India?
Fans in India can watch the game live on DD Sports (free‑to‑air via DD Free Dish) and on Unite8 Sports channels. For streaming, the match will be available on the ZEE5 app and website, requiring the dedicated FIFA World Cup subscription pack.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.