England face France in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff as Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham vie for the Golden Boot, with Mbappé aiming to overtake Lionel Messi in the race.
KATHMANDU, July 18: England and France will battle for the bronze medal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday night, with kickoff scheduled for 2:45 AM (NST) on Sunday.
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The match carries historical significance for England, whose hopes of winning the title were dashed after a defeat to Argentina on Wednesday. England has been waiting to win its first major men's football title since 1966.
Several players from both England and France are also in contention for the prestigious Golden Boot award. France captain Kylian Mbappé is second in the scoring charts with eight goals and three assists, while Argentina's Lionel Messi leads with eight goals and four assists.
With Messi set to play in the final and Mbappé featuring in the third-place playoff, the French captain has an opportunity to overtake the Argentine star. If Mbappé scores another goal or provides two assists, he could match the feat of Italy's Salvatore Schillaci, who secured the Golden Boot after scoring in the third-place playoff against England at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have scored six goals each, also remain in contention for the Golden Boot.
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