Explanation: Why England and France are playing for third place in the play-offs; Golden Boot Race, prize money, everything you need to know | Football news

England and France seek redemption in World Cup bronze medal final

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has one more trophy to hand out, but before Spain and Argentina meet in Sunday’s final, England and France will return to the pitch one last time to compete in the tournament’s third-place play-off, now officially designated by FIFA as “Bronze Final”.Neither side imagined their campaign would end here. England suffered late heartbreak in a dramatic 2-1 semi-final defeat by defending champions Argentina, while France’s hopes of lifting a third World Cup title ended a day earlier after a 2-0 defeat by Spain.Although neither nation reached the finals they were aiming for, there is still plenty at stake when they meet in Miami.

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

The concept is simple. The defeated semi-finalists play one final match to determine who will finish third and who will finish fourth.For FIFA, it ensures that each team in the final four gets the final finishing 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 view it as an unwanted extra game after the disappointment of missing out on the finals, others embrace the opportunity to end the tournament with a win and a podium finish. It’s also, more often than not, a very exciting contest, a matchup between two elite teams that were undefeated deep into the tournament and just fell at the last hurdle. In the case of England and France, both sides boast world-class attacking talent, Golden Boot contenders and players capable of scoring hat-tricks on the biggest stage, making this far 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 World Cup 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. That edition used a single, back-to-back final group to determine the champion, rather than the traditional knockout stage, meaning there were no semi-finals and therefore no third-place play-off. The game 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 World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay, which featured 13 teams from three confederations. Instead, the defeated semifinalists, the United States and Yugoslavia, were ranked based on their overall tournament results, with the United States officially finishing third and Yugoslavia fourth.

Is it included in official records?

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

One of the most famous examples occurred in 1958, when Frenchman Just Fontaine scored four goals in a 6-3 win against West Germany. Those goals took his tournament tally to 13, a World Cup record that still stands today.

Why this year’s game is even more important

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

Messi currently leads as assists act as the first tiebreaker when players finish tied for goals. However, since Argentina will not play until the final, Mbappé still has one chance to equalize or advance during Saturday’s play-offs. Kane and Bellingham also remain in contention mathematically, although they would need more goals.

Is there a trophy?

Not really.The winning team officially finishes in third place and receives bronze medals, but no separate trophy.There is, however, a financial incentive.FIFA’s prize money for the top four teams is:

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

How were England and France in the previous bronze finals?

France are making their fourth appearance at the game and have enjoyed far more success in history.Their previous results are:

Meanwhile, England are still looking for their first win in the third-place play-off.Their performances so far have ended in defeat:

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

A game that usually brings goals

Despite being often called the least glamorous match of the tournament, history shows that the bronze final is rarely short on entertainment.Since Poland’s 1-0 win over Brazil in 1974, every World Cup third-place play-off has featured at least two goals, making it one of the tournament’s highest-scoring games, a trend reflected in recent editions:

What did the managers say?

Neither Thomas Tuchel nor Didier Deschamps hid their disappointment in missing the final.Deschamps said: “We have to play for third place, so we will do everything we can to achieve it. We are not where we wanted or expected to be. The disappointment is in line with our ambitions, but we have to accept it.”Tuchel acknowledged the emotional challenge facing both teams.“None of our players, none of the French players want to play this game. They want to play in the final. We gave everything to be in the final. Everyone is playing to win the World Cup, but it is what it is.”England and France meet at Miami Stadium in Florida.For viewers in India, kick-off is scheduled for 2:30 am IST on Sunday, July 19, with the winner leaving 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.