World Cup third-place play-off and final: what to know in 2026

The 2026 World Cup semi-finals delivered a gut-punch for England fans: after Anthony Gordon's goal had given Thomas Tuchel's side a 1-0 lead over reigning champions Argentina with five minutes of normal time remaining, a stunning strike from Enzo Fernandez and an injury-time header from substitute Lautaro Martinez turned the game on its head. The 2-1 defeat means England will not contest Sunday's final – but they still have one match left to play: the third-place play-off, now widely known as the bronze final, against France. France lost their semi-final 2-0 to Spain. Both the third-place play-off and the final will be shown live on BBC TV and iPlayer, and ITV will also broadcast the final. The bronze final kicks off at 22:00 BST on Saturday, with Argentina facing Spain in the final at 20:00 BST on Sunday. All matches will be available in ultra high definition (UHD), and BBC Sport will offer its 3D experience allowing viewers to control camera angles, relive goals, and view side-by-side stats and player data. For UK readers, this is the last chance to see England in a competitive match at this tournament, and a chance to watch Argentina attempt to add a second consecutive World Cup title – with the small matter of a controversial Falkland Islands banner displayed by Argentina players after their semi-final win adding extra spice.