World Cup: Bundesliga stars face off in third-place showdown as Kane starts on bench

France and England lock horns in the game that will decide the bronze medalist at the 2026 World Cup.

Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Previous winners France and England face off in the third-place playoff in Miami at the 2026 World Cup. The two sides missed out on Sunday’s final after defeats to Spain and Argentina, respectively.

As expected, both coaches rotated their lineups to give the fringe players some playing time. Didier Deschamps has decided to bench FC Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano, but his teammate Michael Olise starts in the last game for France’s long-serving head coach.

Meanwhile, Harry Kane is surprisingly on the bench for the Three Lions, despite still having a chance to beat Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi for the Golden Ball. Kane and Mbappe, who is in the starting lineup for Les Bleus, are hoping to become the first to win the accolade twice. Jarell Quansah is straight back into the lineup after missing the last two games due to suspension.

Confirmed France vs. England Lineups

France: Maignan; Gusto, Konaté, Lacroix, Theo Hernández; Zaire-Emery, Rabiot; Olise, Cherki, Doué; Mbappé ©

England: Henderson; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, Spence; Rice ©; Saka, Eze, Rogers, Rashford; Toney