The England lineup against France in the 2026 World Cup third-place match on Saturday evening saw a notable event with three Arsenal players starting, the first time in 24 years.

According to statistics network Opta, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Eberechi Eze start the match in the starting lineup, marking the first time England has fielded three Arsenal players in a World Cup match since facing Brazil in the 2002 quarter-finals, when David Seaman, Sol Campbell, and Ashley Cole featured.

Read also

Trump: We want to host the World Cup without Canada and Mexico.. and Infantino made a great decision

Spain striker: I'll shake Trump's hand reluctantly so he doesn't put me in prison

Declan Rice also became the second Arsenal player to captain England in a match in a major tournament (World Cup or European Championship), after Tony Adams who captained at Euro 1996.

In contrast, the 2026 World Cup is the first edition since 1958 in which no Manchester United player has featured for England in any match.

England lost to Argentina (2-1) in the semi-finals, while France fell to Spain (2-0) in the same round.

3 - England are starting three Arsenal players in a FIFA World Cup game (Rice, Saka, Eze) for the first time since 2002 against Brazil (Seaman, Campbell, Cole).

Timely. pic.twitter.com/FSlRtcmL6F

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 18, 2026