World Cup 2026: Third-tier game – Unwanted draw or match with ‘golden layer’?

It is a match that has been held in every FIFA World Cup for the past 72 years.

The third qualifier – known by FIFA as the Bronze Final – will be England’s and France’s turn on Saturday.

France head coach Didier Deschamps summed up the mood in the camp ahead of the match in Miami: “The best thing for France and England is that this match doesn’t happen.”

“None of our players and none of the French players want to play this game,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said after Wednesday night’s defeat to Argentina in Atlanta.

But speaking to the media on Friday, Tuchel was more positive about his chances of winning bronze. “If we win tomorrow’s game, we have achieved the best result in the World Cup in 60 years. It is a vision for this,” he said.

The playoffs give players who have been fighting for minutes or who are out of the tournament a chance to spend time on the field. And there are fans who pay for tickets and travel in anticipation of the teams performing.

England could use the game as an opportunity to introduce James Trafford to World Cup football or give Coby Mino his first World Cup minutes in an England shirt.

Former France and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate played 14 minutes for France in their third-round group game against Norway – although Miami is unlikely to add to those minutes.

“None of us want to play this game for third place,” he said. But we don’t have a choice.