World Cup Daily—Day 38: The Match Nobody Wants to Play

Saturday’s third-place playoff could be a somber affair.

⚽ World Cup Daily: Day 38 Kylian Mbappe has one last chance to boost his goals tally. | Chris Arjoon/Getty Images The action returns on Saturday as France and England do battle for the most unwanted title in all of soccer. Defeats in the World Cup semifinals mean the two nations are forced to contend a third-place playoff for the chance to be named the second-best loser of the tournament. Such an honor. The occasion should, at least, offer both France and England the chance to banish the demons of their recent disappointments. England’s shortcomings against Argentina have attracted particular criticism, with President Trump even getting involved. Once that fixture is out of the way, attentions will quickly turn to Sunday’s showpiece event as Spain and Argentina prepare to battle it out in the World Cup final. It will, unsurprisingly, be the most expensive event in the history of U.S. sports, although there are major concerns over whether the fixture can even go ahead as wildfires in Canada have sent a worrying level of smoke towards MetLife Stadium. There is set to be a bit of a nervous wait for updates on the conditions, but at least we have time to reflect on how fate brought Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal together in a timeline that began with a photoshoot in the bath and could end with a World Cup final. WORLD CUP NEWS    Recommended by  VISIT OUR WORLD CUP FAN ZONE  Thomas Tuchel has come under fire after England’s exit. | Martin Rickett/PA Images/Getty Images TODAY’S MATCH France vs. England - Miami, 5 p.m. ET - Fox SEE FULL SCHEDULE AND STANDINGS  ⚽ Biggest World Cup Stories Ira L. Black/FIFA/Getty Images Messi, Kane, Ronaldo: Five Takeaways From President Trump’s Surreal World Cup Speech READ MORE Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu/Getty Images Yamal Injury: Spain Boss Provides Update for 2026 World Cup Final READ MORE Shaun Botterill/Getty Images ‘A Feeling’—The Moment That Decided Mainoo’s World Cup Fate READ MORE Nicolò Campo/LightRocket/Getty Images Ticket Prices for 2026 World Cup Final Soar, Set Huge Record READ MORE ⚽ Away from the World Cup  Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images Saliba Injury: Three Ways Arsenal Could Cope With ‘Long Term Layoff’ READ MORE Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC/Getty Images Szoboszlai Makes Ambitious Vow After Signing Bumper New Liverpool Contract READ MORE Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door. Click to subscribe! 📽 World Cup Today: SI FC Show Join the SI FC crew in New York City as they discuss the biggest World Cup talking points.  ⚽ The Great 48 The 2026 World Cup will be bigger than ever, thanks to an expanded field that will bring 48 teams (split into a dozen groups of four) to the festivities. With the help of an artist connected to each nation who was asked to capture the spirit of the game in their homeland, we’ve got what you need to know about all of the competitors. CHECK OUT ALL 48 WORLD CUP COVERS Join SI The Post-Up A weekly spotlight on the biggest stories and in-depth reporting of women’s basketball—from compelling athlete features to sharp commentary on the latest news and scores. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE 💬 Chat with us ... Join the conversation. Share your thoughts, story ideas and feedback with us at newsletters@si.com We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email. Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. 625 Broadway, 10th floor New York, NY. 10012 You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI FC newsletter. You can unsubscribe here . Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions © 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. All betting and gambling content included in the SI FC newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators' opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER or texting 800GAM. Click this link to view the newsletter in your browser.