Marcus Rashford and Kylian Mbappe set for World Cup third-place clash

Marcus Rashford and Kylian Mbappe will meet again in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday after their teams fell in the semifinals. England lost 2-1 to Argentina, while France were beaten 2-0 by Spain, setting up a rematch of their 2022 quarter-final clash.

What happened in their last World Cup meeting?

Four years ago, France defeated England 2-1 in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. After the match, Rashford posted on Instagram about the heartbreak, vowing England would return stronger. Mbappe responded with a love-heart emoji, and Rashford replied, "Good luck with the rest of the tournament brother! Go smash it king."

How did their paths cross in La Liga?

Rashford and Mbappe faced each other in Spain’s La Liga last season during Rashford’s loan spell at Barcelona. Real Madrid won 2-1 in October 2025, but Barcelona secured a 3-2 victory in the Supercopa final. Rashford ended the season as a La Liga champion, with Barcelona finishing eight points ahead of Madrid.

What’s at stake in the third-place playoff?

Neither team will play in the final, but the third-place match still carries prestige. For Rashford, it’s another chance to compete against one of the world’s best players. For Mbappe, it’s an opportunity to end the tournament on a high after France’s semifinal defeat.