# France and England meet in World Cup play-off with Mbappe eyeing Golden Boot

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/france-takes-on-england-in-world-cup-third-place-game-with-mbappe-chasing-golden-boot/
- Published: 2026-07-19T04:32:06+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-19T10:42:39+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/france-takes-england-world-cup-third-place-game-mbappe-chasing-golden-boot
- Topics: Europe, Football, Sport, UK, World

## Key points

- France face England in the World Cup third-place play-off
- Mbappé chases the Golden Boot, rivalling Messi
- Paris saw unrest and 98 arrests after France's semi-final exit

## Summary

France meet England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off, a fixture unfamiliar to many American viewers but one carrying individual as well as national stakes. Kylian Mbappé is using the match to pursue the tournament's Golden Boot, putting him in direct competition with Lionel Messi ahead of the final, while France look to salvage some pride from a disappointing tournament that ended with a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain.

France's semi-final exit sparked unrest in Paris, with police reportedly arresting 98 people amid chaos on the streets following the loss. England, for their part, reach the third-place game after their own tournament ended short of the final, with midfielder Jude Bellingham sharing a poem sent by the team's bus driver following their exit. Messi and Lamine Yamal, meanwhile, have led Argentina and Spain respectively into the World Cup final.

## Coverage

- [Fox News: France and England meet in World Cup play-off with Mbappe eyeing Golden Boot](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/france-takes-england-world-cup-third-place-game-mbappe-chasing-golden-boot)
- [The Hollywood Reporter: Where to Watch France vs. England World Cup Third-Place Playoff Online](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/watch-france-england-world-cup-2026-match-live-stream-free-1236650793/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.