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Two days. That is all the time Les Bleus have to get over their disappointment and look ahead to the third-place play-off at the 2026 World Cup, on Saturday 18 July in Miami against England (11.00 pm, French time). Knocked out by a clinical Spanish side (2–0) on 14 July at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Didier Deschamps’s team cannot afford to wallow in self-pity.
The semi-final defeat has taken its toll. For the first time in the tournament, France found themselves behind on the scoreboard, and they never found a way through the Spanish defence. Kylian Mbappé, starved of the ball, had a frustrating evening, whilst France’s defensive wall – so solid since the start of the competition – conceded twice without a response.
For the first time in the tournament, France found themselves behind on the scoreboard, and they never found a way through the Spanish defence.
A third-place play-off that matters
We mustn’t trivialise this third-place play-off. Whilst the format always disappoints the unlucky runners-up, the stakes remain high. A World Cup bronze medal would bring to a close a four-year cycle marked by two consecutive finals (2022, lost to Argentina; 2024, won at the Club World Cup). The Mbappé-Griezmann generation deserves to bow out of the world stage with a victory.
Opposite them, England arrive with similar regrets. Beaten 2–1 by Argentina following a dramatic turnaround in Atlanta, Lee Carsley’s side will be keen to avenge that defeat. The Bellingham–Mbappé showdown – a semi-final clash that never materialised – will indeed take place, but for the bronze medal.
Spain v Argentina: a dream final
On Sunday 19 July, New York’s MetLife Stadium will host the clash everyone was hoping for. On one side, Lamine Yamal and Pedri’s Spain – a machine for creating play, unbeaten and displaying impressive collective control. On the other, Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the reigning world champions, driven by a team that managed to overturn England in the dying minutes.
La Roja are aiming for a second World Cup title since 2010. La Albiceleste are dreaming of a historic double that would cement Messi’s place in the pantheon of greats. The bookmakers have Spain as slight favourites, but no one dares to write off this Argentina side, which seems to have been guided by a higher power since the start of the tournament.
Messi’s final World Cup appearance?
At 39, the Argentine captain is likely playing his last World Cup match. The emotion will be immense, whatever the result. His opposite number, 19-year-old Lamine Yamal – already the driving force behind Spain’s play – embodies the next generation. The handover between two generations of world football will take place in the spotlight in New York, in front of more than 82,000 spectators.
A date with history
For Argentina, this match is the latest chapter in a winning run that began in Doha. The team has learnt to win through hardship, and this final is unlikely to be any different. Spain, for their part, are fielding a fresher side, with a team that has never before lifted the top trophy at senior level. The bookmakers have La Roja as favourites, but the Albiceleste have shown they can defy the odds at crucial moments. MetLife Stadium, the venue for this clash, adds another chapter to its history as a major venue for international finals. The scenario dreamed of by lovers of fine football is an open contest, undecided right to the very end, and one that honours the sporting legacies of both nations. It is also, for both nations, an opportunity to write a new chapter in their history.