This Saturday, the French national team will play the 2026 World Cup third-place play-off against England at 11:00 PM CET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The match involves five Paris Saint-Germain players—all French: Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé. Canal+Foot is now announcing a somewhat surprising lineup.
Mateta
Mbappé – Cherki -Akliouche
Kanté – Zaïre-Emery
L. Hernandez – Lacroix – Konaté – Guston
Maignan.
Talk of a possible rotation has circulated since the defeat against Spain, driven by a mix of factors: a lack of motivation among the usual starters, potential fatigue, and a desire to give playing time to those who have seen little action—even if the situation hardly makes for an ideal opportunity. There are surprises, however, such as seeing Kylian Mbappé on the left; no other media outlet had floated this option.
Nothing is certain yet; the coaching staff’s options remain open. Decisions may be made following discussions with the players to gauge their mindset regarding this somewhat unusual match. We will have to wait for the official announcement—expected about 90 minutes before kickoff—to know for sure what decisions head coach Didier Deschamps has made for his final match.
