France lost 0-2 to Spain in the semi-final on 14 July at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, ending their run at the title.
France now play England in the third-place play-off on Saturday 18 July at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with kick-off at 5:00 PM ET. This guide covers how France’s run ended and where to find the full match schedule and travel details.
The third-place play-off: France vs England
Kick-off is at 5:00 PM ET on Saturday 18 July. Locally that is 1:00 AM in the UAE and Oman and 12:00 AM in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait — both on Sunday 19 July — and further into the morning across South Asia, also on 19 July: 2:00 AM in Pakistan, 2:30 AM in India, and 3:00 AM in Bangladesh.
The match is played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with Miami International Airport (MIA) the nearest major gateway. Compare flights to Miami or browse hotels in Miami for the weekend.
For the complete schedule across time zones and both teams’ full tournament recaps, see the World Cup 2026 Third-Place Play-Off: France vs England Schedule.
France’s run to the Semi-final
France swept Group I with nine points, opening with a 3-1 win over Senegal at MetLife Stadium, then defeating Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia before routing Norway 4-1 in Boston to qualify as runaway group winners.
Les Bleus beat Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32 and edged Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, before goals from Kylian Mbappé (60′) and Ousmane Dembélé (66′) sealed a 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco at Gillette Stadium on 9 July, sending France into the last four unbeaten in six games.
That run ended in the semi-final, where Spain shut France out 2-0 in Arlington on 14 July — a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty in the 22nd minute and a Pedro Porro strike in the 58th proved decisive.
| Fixture | Date & venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| France vs Senegal | 16 Jun — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford | 3–1 (France win) |
| France vs Iraq | 22 Jun — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 3–0 (France win) |
| Norway vs France | 26 Jun — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 1–4 (France win) |
| France vs Sweden | 30 Jun — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford | 3–0 (France win) |
| France vs Paraguay | 4 Jul — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 1–0 (France win) |
| France vs Morocco | 9 Jul — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 2–0 (France win) |
| Spain vs France | 14 Jul — AT&T Stadium, Arlington | 2–0 (France loss) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does France play in the third-place play-off?
France face England on Saturday 18 July 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
How did France’s title run end?
France lost 0-2 to Spain in the semi-final on 14 July, with Mikel Oyarzabal (penalty) and Pedro Porro scoring for Spain.
When and where is the third-place play-off?
Kick-off is at 5:00 PM ET on Saturday 18 July 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida — 1:00 AM Sunday 19 July in the UAE and Oman, and 12:00 AM the same day in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
What is the third-place play-off?
It is a one-off match between the two beaten semi-finalists, France and England, to decide third and fourth place at the 2026 World Cup, played the day before the Final.
Sources
- FIFA World Cup 2026 — France fixtures and results
- FIFA — France v Morocco 2-0 Quarter-final result
- Al Jazeera – Spain deliver masterclass to beat France 2-0 and reach World Cup Final
- ESPN — 2026 FIFA World Cup complete fixture list and results
- World Soccer Talk — France vs England: date, kick-off time and venue for the third-place match
- Wego — World Cup 2026 Third-Place Play-Off: France vs England Schedule
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
