Before Sunday’s showpiece there is unfinished business in Miami: France and England meet in Saturday’s third-place play-off (10pm UK time) — a rematch of the 2022 quarter-final and a chance for two wounded heavyweights to leave the tournament with a medal.
Both arrive hurting. France never got going in their semi-final, beaten 2-0 by a dominant Spain; England’s exit was crueller still — ahead against Argentina until the 85th minute, beaten by a stoppage-time header.
The great subplot is the Golden Boot. Kylian Mbappé, level with Lionel Messi on eight goals this tournament, plays first: score in Miami and the pressure shifts to Messi in Sunday’s final. There is an even bigger board in play, too — Messi tops the all-time World Cup scoring chart with 21 goals, and Mbappé sits just one behind on 20.
Kick-off: Saturday 18 July, Miami, 10pm UK time.