If you are wondering where you can watch England vs France on Saturday evening, the match will be broadcast live on BBC One. UK coverage starts at 9:30pm ahead of the 10:00pm BST kick-off. You can also stream the England match online via BBC iPlayer.
England were ranked among the favourites at World Cup 2026 but couldn't quite get over the line against Argentina. After Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute opener, the Three Lions surrendered the initiative as the Albiceleste won 2-1 thanks to goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.
Now they must respond in the third-place play-off – the one game no footballer wants to be a part of – in search of the bronze medal at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens.
SATURDAY'S MATCH: England vs France
- Date: Saturday, July 18
- Kick-off Time: 10:00pm BST
- Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- Where to Watch: BBC One
- Lineup News: Check out Saturday's confirmed England vs France starting lineups here as soon as they're announced
After topping Group L with one good performance and two indifferent, Thomas Tuchel's England delivered one more of the latter in last 32 against DR Congo but Harry Kane's late double got the job done. Superb against Mexico to win 3-2, the Three Lions got lucky against Norway in the quarters as Jude Bellingham became the first player since Diego Maradona to score back-to-back braces in World Cup knockout stage fixtures.
Then came heartbreak against Argentina. England weren't good enough in possession when it mattered most and again tried to defend a one-goal lead when searching for a second appeared the better, braver option.
Tuchel may make changes today, with Declan Rice in particular need of a rest. Will he start Kobbie Mainoo, who has the passing creativity, but doesn't appear to be trusted. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham will both start as they seek the goals that may put them in Golden Boot territory.
France were insipid in their semi-final against Spain, who swarmed the two-time world champions from the off in an impressive pressing display. Kylian Mbappe will surely start as he seeks the goals that will take him above Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. Two will draw him level in the all-time list, too.
Didier Deschamps will take charge of his final match for Les Bleus. Will he go all out for an attacking, vibrant display and again unleash Michael Olise to lay down a reminder of this hugely fun side?
N'Golo Kante may get a start in midfield alongside Manu Kone.
England Bronze Medal Fixture and how to watch
Date |
Round |
Fixture |
UK Kick-Off Time (BST) |
How to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday 18 July |
Bronze Medal Match |
England vs France |
10:00pm |
Live on BBC One |
Today's game will be the 32nd meeting between the sides. England have won 17, to France's 10, with five draws.
This will be the fourth meeting at a World Cup. England won 2-0 in the 1966 group stage and 3-1 in the same phase in 1982. Les Bleus got their revenge four years ago, winning 2-1 in the quarter-finals which was also the most recent meeting between the sides.
England have won only one of the past nine encounters.
England's final World Cup 2026 Squad
- GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)
- GK: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
- GK: James Trafford (Manchester City)
- DF: Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
- DF: Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City)
- DF: John Stones (Manchester City)
- DF: Marc Guehi (Manchester City)
- DF: Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea)
- DF: Dan Burn (Newcastle United)
- DF: Reece James (Chelsea)
- DF: Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur)
- DF: Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)
- MF: Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- MF: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
- MF: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- MF: Jordan Henderson (Brentford)
- MF: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
- MF: Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
- MF: Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
- FW: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- FW: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- FW: Marcus Rashford (Barcelona)
- FW: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
- FW: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
- FW: Noni Madueke (Arsenal)
- FW: Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli)
Tuchel had his fair share of tough decisions to make in order to name his final squad.
Harry Kane will have been the first name on the list following the England skipper's most prolific campaign of his career, while the Bayern Munich man will be joined by tournament veterans Jordan Pickford and John Stones, who are both heading to their fifth major competition.
Jordan Henderson is back in the international picture and this will be his seventh major tournament with the Three Lions, but perhaps the more notable decisions are the players Tuchel has left at home.
Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are the victims of Tuchel's plethora of options in the No.10 position, with in-form Morgan Gibbs-White also failing to make the cut,
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw and Lewis Hall miss out at full-back, while Harry Maguire has been left at home, too, at centre-back, along with Adam Wharton, Jarrod Bowen, Conor Gallagher, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah.
Ivan Toney is the surprise pick among the forwards, while the likes Dan Burn, Noni Madueke, Jarrel Quansah and Trevoh Chalobah, who all head to their first international tournaments.
Group L Standings
FourFourTwo Prediction
England will try to get on the front foot and prove Argentina was just an aberration. Get Bellingham on the ball, feed Gordon out wide, and give Bukayo Saka some minutes.
FourFourTwo, though, predicts more England pain as France do it for Didier in a 2-0 win.
England Matchday FAQs
Who is England playing next?
England play France on Saturday, July 185, in the Bronze Medal Match.
What time is the England match on Saturday?
Kick-off is at 10:00pm BST.
Where can I watch England vs France?
It is free-to-air on BBC One and streaming via BBC iPlayer.
