The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues on Saturday with the third-place match between France and England. Before you enjoy the action, let’s dive into the top World Cup expert picks for today’s match. We’ll dish out a few World Cup predictions for France vs. England on Saturday, July 18th. Check out these World Cup best bets for some top player props as well. Plus, we’ll examine key World Cup odds and trends to track.  

Best FIFA World Cup Picks for France vs. England Today, 7/18

France Moneyline & Over 2.5 Total Goals Parlay (+142 on DraftKings Sportsbook)

Today’s World Cup expert picks feature the third-place matchup between France and England. It’s an interesting game to handicap since both teams had championship aspirations, but now find themselves in consolation position. We have to factor in motivation and possible lineup changes on either side. 

On that note, France has the edge for a few reasons. First, the motivation factor. England just lost devastatingly in the semifinals, allowing a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes as Argentina stole the victory. The letdown and hangover potential is very real for the English players who were trying to end their country’s 60-year World Cup drought. 

France, meanwhile, will also be plenty disappointed in its 2-0 loss to Spain. However, that result was more a slow burn, and the better team won. Plus, France will have one extra day of rest than England to regroup and refocus. 

Furthermore, this will be the final game for Didier Deschamps as France’s head coach before he steps down. The players should want to win by multiple goals for their departing manager. Deschamps and the French can also continue their recent run of World Cup success with a third-place finish, after winning it all in 2018 and being runners-up in 2022. 

As for any potential lineup changes, France has the slight advantage there as well. Even if Michael Olise or Ousmane Dembele don’t start, the French attack has many talented playmakers to switch in. Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, and Rayan Cherki are all capable of creating chances and scoring in this match. Plus, Kylian Mbappe should start and be motivated to score once or twice (more on that later). 

Conversely, England’s quality drops off a bit to its backups. Harry Kane should still start, but the English attack could feature some younger and less-experienced options. The midfield would also take a hit if Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson and others take a seat. 

So, let’s back France to win this in regular time. Interestingly, 20 of the 21 third-place playoffs in World Cup history have failed to go into extra time. The only instance came in 1986. That means the better and more motivated team usually comes in and takes care of business in 90 minutes. 

Let’s also back the over 2.5 total goals with our parlay. France’s attack will anchor that portion with the potential to score 3-to-4 goals. The French were averaging 2.7 goals per game in this tournament before getting shut out by Spain in the semis. They should be motivated to right the ship and end the World Cup on a high note. Plus, 11 of the last 12 third-place matches have seen three or more total goals scored. 

More World Cup Expert Picks: 

 

 

 

Top World Cup Player Props Today

England Goalkeeper To Make 4 or More Saves (-120 on FanDuel Sportsbook)

Let’s keep the World Cup best bets going with a player prop. Our World Cup expert picks feature England’s goalkeeper to make four or more saves against France today. It’ll likely be Jordan Pickford in goal, but there’s a chance England rolls out a backup for this third-place match. 

Either way, the English keeper (whoever it is) should be busy against the potent French attack that will be hunting for goals. As noted above in our World Cup predictions, France should be motivated to score while sending in plenty of shots. That should result in plenty of save opportunities. 

Before the semifinal loss to Spain, France’s dangerous attack was averaging 18.3 total shots and 7.8 attempts on goal per match in the tournament. The offense struggled a bit against Spain’s stalwart defense. However, expect a bounce-back performance as Kylian Mbappe and Co. look to go out on a high note. 

France’s attacking style and tendencies have also resulted in tons of saves. Opposing keepers are averaging 4.9 saves per match against France in this World Cup. Plus, five of those seven keepers recorded 4+ saves. That even includes Senegal’s Edouard Mendy (five saves), Norway’s Egil Selvik (five), and Sweden’s Jacob Widell Zetterstrom (nine) – despite the French scoring three or more goals in each game too. 

 

Best Underdog Picks For Today’s Matches

Kylian Mbappe (France) – Higher Than 0.5 Goals

Our World Cup expert picks also feature a selection on Underdog Fantasy. Let’s roll with France’s Kylian Mbappe to score at least one goal against England today. The superstar will surely be looking to add to his goals tally, for both his World Cup career total and this year’s Golden Boot race. 

Mbappe and Lionel Messi co-lead the tournament with 8 goals apiece. The Golden Boot is still very much up for grabs with both stars in action this weekend. Even though France’s hopes for a World Cup title are gone, getting the Golden Boot for Mbappe would still be a nice accomplishment. 

The French attackers will likely feed Mbappe early and often as he tries to score. There’s a chance he nets multiple goals in this game as well. Plus, the upside to score increases if England’s defenders play with a little less intensity and/or if the lineup cycles in some backups. 

Mbappe can also add to his career World Cup goals tally. He’s currently at 20 goals, which is one behind Messi for the all-time lead. That record isn’t as much of a concern, considering Messi’s World Cup career is likely over after this year, and Mbappe should be back in a few more. Still, the underlying storyline just adds more incentive for France’s top goal-scorer to keep it going. 

 

 

 

Most Likely Goal Scorers Today

Now that we’ve broken down the top World Cup expert picks, let’s focus on which players are most likely to score goals. Below is a list of the top anytime goalscorer World Cup odds for today’s match. The odds are via DraftKings Sportsbook: 

  • Kylian Mbappe -185
  • Harry Kane +105
  • Ollie Watkins +130
  • Ivan Toney +135 
  • Ousmane Dembele +155
  • Jean-Philippe Mateta +160
  • Marcus Thuram +160

 

World Cup Betting Trends To Know 

Before you lock in those World Cup expert picks, let’s talk betting trends. The World Cup odds and recent history can tell us a lot about how a match may go. Keeping up with the trends can also help us cash in on World Cup predictions as the tournament progresses. 

Argentina’s 2-1 comeback victory over England in Wednesday’s semifinal cashed a few different bets. Both teams scored, the over 2.5 total goals hit, and the underdog won outright. Conversely, the over and “both teams to score” failed to cash in Spain’s semifinal win over France. However, the Spaniards were also underdogs. 

That means goal totals now are 19-11 to the over in the knockout rounds, and 57-45 to the over in the World Cup overall. Meanwhile, “both teams to score” is also 57-45 in the tournament and 17-13 in the knockout games. Pre-game betting favorites are now 18-3-9 on the three-way moneyline in the knockout rounds. Plus, favorites to advance are 23-7 in the knockout stage.