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France and England will go head-to-head in the 2026 FIFA World Cup bronze final on Thursday at Miami Stadium, but will star striker Kylian Mbappé be part of the action?

Here is everything we know about the France star's status for the bronze final match vs. England:

Why Mbappé Might Not Play

After France failed to advance to the final, coach Didier Deschamps might opt to give other players a chance to have their World Cup moment, like veterans Lucas Hernández and N'Golo Kanté, who have yet to log a single minute at the tournament, or younger players like Warren Zaïre-Emery and Robin Risser.

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He might also use it as an opportunity to rest his starters after a long tournament. Four different France players — Mbappé, Jules Koundé, Mike Maignan and Dayot Upamecano — have played over 500 minutes at this year's tournament.

(Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Why Mbappé Likely Will Play

With eight goals, Mbappé is tied with Lionel Messi for the most goals at the 2026 World Cup. While Mbappé won't be playing in the final like Messi, he will still have the opportunity to eclipse him in the race with goals against England. If Mbappé wins the Golden Boot for a second time, he will become the first player in World Cup history to win the award more than once.

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Mbappé also has the opportunity to end the tournament as the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer. He is currently one goal behind Messi for the all-time record with 20 goals. If he doesn't do it before Saturday, he will almost certainly do it at the 2030 World Cup.

How To Watch France vs. England

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  3. How to Watch the World Cup Today: Schedule, Times, TV, Streaming for Quarterfinal Two Could Lamine Yamal Be Benched For Spain vs. France World Cup Semifinal? The Summer Of Erling Haaland: Norway's Star Striker Enjoying All Of The USA World Cup

Why Steve Cherundolo And The 2028 Olympics Matter For USA's Future

  1. How Do You Stop Lionel Messi? Switzerland Focused On Simply Containing Argentina’s GOAT Shohei Ohtani Out Of MLB All-Star Game, Will Also Miss Friday Night's Start Mikel Merino Rescues La Roja Again: 4 Takeaways From Spain's Win Over Belgium
  2. The Young Star vs. The Old Guard: What To Know For Spain vs. Belgium 2026 World Cup Bracket: Argentina Set To Face Spain In World Cup Final The Lore Of Lamine Yamal: From The Lionel Messi Baby Picture To The 2026 World Cup
  3. How to Watch the World Cup Today: Schedule, Times, TV, Streaming for Quarterfinal Two Could Lamine Yamal Be Benched For Spain vs. France World Cup Semifinal? The Summer Of Erling Haaland: Norway's Star Striker Enjoying All Of The USA World Cup

Source: Fox Sports