After their semifinal loss to Spain (0-2), the French national team will have one last chance to end the 2026 World Cup on a positive note by playing in the third-place match.
Their opponents will be determined this Wednesday evening: England and Argentina will face off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in the tournament’s second semifinal. The loser of that match will join France in the third-place game, which will take place on Saturday.
While this type of match is often considered emotionally insignificant, it nonetheless represents an opportunity to win a bronze medal and bring the tournament—in which Les Bleus have put on some great performances—to a dignified close. It would also be Didier Deschamps’ final match as head coach of the French national team, after more than a decade on the French bench—yet another reason to want to end on a winning note.
Rayan Cherki, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Kylian Mbappé will have one last chance to shine in this World Cup before returning to their clubs to prepare for the upcoming season.