For weeks, it felt like the script was writing itself.

Kylian Mbappé vs Jude Bellingham. France vs. England. Two Real Madrid teammates. Two of the biggest names in world soccer. Two players who have spent this World Cup filling highlight reels and climbing the Golden Boot standings.

The game will happen this weekend. Just not in the one many were expecting.

Instead of meeting in Sunday’s World Cup final, Mbappé and Bellingham will square off in Saturday’s third-place playoff after both sides suffered heartbreaking semifinal defeats. France were outplayed 2-0 by Spain before England saw Argentina snatch a dramatic late 2-1 victory in Atlanta. Thomas Tuchel got it so wrong.

It’s still a heavyweight matchup. It just comes with bronze medals instead of gold.

What’s this third-place game?

The World Cup’s third-place playoff has existed since 1934, giving the two semifinal losers one final chance to end the tournament with something tangible. There’s probably some money to be made by them upstairs too, but let’s leave that aside for the moment.

That means France and England will head to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, July 18, with a token place on the podium at stake. It’s the 103rd game of this expanded 48-team World Cup, played one day before Spain and Argentina contest the final.

For Mbappé and Bellingham, there’s potentially an extra motivation.

Both remain in the race for the Golden Boot. Mbappé has been one of the tournament’s most prolific scorers, while Bellingham has enjoyed the best scoring run of his England career. One more big performance could make the difference before the trophy is handed out on Sunday.

Is the third-place game worth watching?

History says absolutely.

Third-place games are often far more open than finals. With the pressure of winning the World Cup gone, teams tend to attack more freely, making these matches some of the tournament’s highest-scoring affairs.

It may not be the Hollywood ending fans imagined when the bracket was set. But Mbappé against Bellingham – not to mention the high-caliber supporting cast – is still a blockbuster.

It’s just happening 24 hours earlier than either of them hoped.

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