France favoured over England in 2026 World Cup third-place clash with records on the line

France enter Saturday’s 2026 World Cup third-place match as favourites over England, with the moneyline set at France +100, England +260, and a draw at +260, according to FanDuel Sportsbook odds as of 15 July. The two nations were eliminated in the semi-finals — France by Spain, England by Argentina — and now contest the bronze medal in what doubles as a farewell for France manager Didier Deschamps.

For England, the stakes are tangible. Gareth Southgate’s side have already matched the country’s record of five wins at a single World Cup, and a victory on Saturday would break it outright. Jude Bellingham has also drawn level with Gary Lineker’s England record of six non-penalty goals at a World Cup, giving him one final opportunity to claim sole ownership. A third-place finish would also improve on England’s best post-1966 World Cup results — two fourth-place finishes, in 1990 and 2018.

France have their own history to write. Kylian Mbappé has scored eight goals in the tournament, level with Lionel Messi’s tally, meaning the Golden Boot remains undecided heading into the final round of fixtures. A goal from Mbappé would make him the first player to win the Golden Boot twice and the first to win it in back-to-back World Cups.

The occasion carries additional weight for Deschamps, who confirmed this will be his last match in charge of the national team. His record across 186 games stands at 121 wins, 36 draws and 29 defeats. He already holds the World Cup records for most knockout-stage wins by a manager (10) and most overall wins (20), and can extend both marks with a victory on Saturday.

France’s World Cup history includes two titles, two runner-up finishes and two third-place finishes. England’s solitary triumph came in 1966, and a podium finish on Saturday would represent their best performance at the tournament in 35 years.