Explained: Why England and France are jockeying for third place in the play-offs; Golden Boot race, prize money, everything you need to know

ByTech Word News

England and France seek redemption in World Cup bronze medal final The 2026 FIFA World Cup has one trophy left to be awarded, but before Spain and Argentina meet in Sunday’s final, England and France will return to the pitch one last time to battle for third place in the tournament, which FIFA now officially refers to as “bronze final.”Neither side imagined their campaign would end here. England suffered late heartbreak in a dramatic 2-1 semi-final defeat to defending champions Argentina, while France’s hopes of a third World Cup title ended a day earlier with a 2-0 draw against Spain.Although neither nation reached the finals they had set their sights on, the stakes are still high when they meet in Miami.

Why does the World Cup have a playoff for third place?

The concept is straightforward. The losing semi-finalists play one final match to determine who will finish third and who will finish fourth.For FIFA, this ensures that each team in the final four gets a definitive final position. It also fills the gap between the semi-finals and the final, providing another marquee for fans, broadcasters and the host city.

France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) reacts during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

While some players see it as an unwanted extra game after the disappointment of failing to make the finals, others will welcome the opportunity to end the tournament with a win and a podium finish. It’s also often a very exciting matchup, a clash between two elite teams that were undefeated deep into the tournament and just fell short at the final hurdle. In the case of England and France, both sides boast world-class attacking talent, contenders for the Golden Boot and players capable of producing hat-tricks on the biggest stage, making this much more than just a consolation match.

England’s Harry Kane (9) hugs England’s Anthony Gordon (18) after England’s World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

How long has it been around?

The third-place playoff has been a part of the World Cup’s history for almost its entire existence. It was first introduced at the 1934 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where Germany beat Austria 3-2 to finish third. The match was also introduced at the 1938 tournament in France before disappearing at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. This edition used a unique final round bracket to determine the champion, rather than the traditional knockout stage, meaning there was no semi-final and thus no third-place playoff. The match returned at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland and has appeared at every tournament since.Interestingly, there was no play-off for third place at the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, which featured 13 teams from three confederations. Instead, the losing semifinalists, the United States and Yugoslavia, were ranked based on their overall tournament records, with the United States officially finishing third and Yugoslavia fourth.

Does it count towards the official records?

Yes. The match is a fully recognized World Cup fixture, meaning every statistic recorded officially counts.Goals scored contribute to:

  • The Golden Boot race.
  • Individual World Cup scoring records.
  • Participation in the World Cup in his career.
  • Assistance and disciplinary records.

One of the most famous examples came in 1958 when France’s Just Fontaine scored four goals in a 6-3 win over West Germany. These goals took his tournament tally to 13, a World Cup record that still stands today.

Why this year’s game matters even more

The bronze final of this edition could have a significant impact on the fight for the Golden Boot.After the semi-finals, the standings are:

  • Lionel Messi (Argentina): 8 goals, 4 assists
  • Kylian Mbappé (France): 8 goals, 3 assists
  • Erling Haaland (Norway): 7 goals
  • Harry Kane (England): 6 goals, 1 assist
  • Jude Bellingham (England): 6 goals, 1 assist

Messi currently leads as assists act as the first tiebreaker when players are level on goals. With Argentina not playing again until the final, Mbappé has one more chance to equalize or advance during Saturday’s play-off. Kane and Bellingham also remain in contention mathematically, though they would require more targets.

Is there a trophy?

Not exactly.The winning team officially finishes third and receives bronze medals, but no separate trophy is presented.However, there is a financial incentive.The FIFA rewards for the top four teams are:

  • World Cup Winners: 51 million dollars
  • In second place: 34 million dollars
  • third place: 30 million dollars
  • fourth place: 28 million dollars

That means winning the bronze final is worth an extra $2 million compared to fourth place.

How have England and France fared in previous bronze finals?

France are making their fourth appearance in the match and are celebrating far greater achievements in history.Their previous results are:

  • 1958: They beat West Germany 6-3
  • 1982: Lost to Poland
  • 1986: They beat Belgium 4-2 after extra time

England, meanwhile, are still chasing their first third-place finish in the play-offs.Their previous appearances ended in defeat:

  • 1990: They lost 2-1 to Italy
  • 2018: They lost 2-0 to Belgium

In the last bronze final, Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup.

A fixture that usually produces goals

Despite often being labeled as the least glamorous match of the tournament, history suggests that the Bronze Final is rarely short on entertainment.Since Poland’s 1-0 victory over Brazil in 1974, every World Cup third-place play-off has featured at least two goals, making it one of the tournament’s consistently highest-scoring matches, a trend reflected in recent editions:

  • 2022: Croatia (beat Morocco 2-1)
  • 2018: Belgium (beat England 2-0)
  • 2014: Netherlands (beat Brazil 3-0)
  • 2010: Germany (beat Uruguay 3-2)
  • 2006: Germany (beat Portugal 3-1)
  • 2002: Turkey (beat South Korea 3-2)

What did the managers say?

Neither Thomas Tuchel nor Didier Deschamps hid their disappointment at not reaching the final.Deschamps said: “It’s up for third place so we’ll do everything to get it. We’re not where we wanted or expected to be. Disappointment matches our ambitions but we have to accept it.”Tuchel acknowledged the emotional challenge both teams face.“None of our players, none of the French players want to play this game. They want to play the final. We gave everything to be in the final. Everyone is playing to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is.”England and France meet at the Miami Stadium in Florida.For viewers in India, kick-off is scheduled for Sunday, July 19 at 2:30 IST, while the winner leaves the United States with bronze medals, an additional $2 million in prize money and, perhaps most importantly, the chance to end their World Cup campaign with one final victory before attention turns to Sunday’s blockbuster final between Spain and Argentina.