Explanation: Because England and France are playing for third place; Golden Boot race, prize money, everything you need to know | Football news

The 2026 FIFA World Cup still has a trophy to be awarded, but before Spain and Argentina meet in Sunday’s final, England and France will return to the field for the final time to contest the tournament’s third-place playoff, now officially branded by FIFA as FIFA. “final bronze”.Neither party imagined that their campaign would end here. England suffered late on in a dramatic 2-1 semi-final defeat to defending champions Argentina, while France’s hopes of lifting a third World Cup title ended a day earlier after a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Spain.Although neither nation reached the end they had aimed for, there is still a lot at stake when they meet in Miami.

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

The concept is clear. The losing semifinalists play a final match to determine who will finish third and who will finish fourth.For FIFA, it ensures that each team in the final four receives a definitive finishing position. It also bridges the gap between the semi-final and final, providing another marquee event for supporters, broadcasters and the host city.

While some players see it as an unwanted extra game after the disappointment of missing the final, others embrace the opportunity to finish the tournament with a win and a podium. It is also, more often than not, a very exciting contest, a clash between two elite teams that were unbeatable in the tournament and simply fell at the final hurdle. In the case of England and France, both sides boast world-class attacking talent, Golden Boot contenders, and players capable of producing hat-tricks on the biggest stage, making this much more than a consolation match.

How long has it existed?

The third-place playoff has been part of World Cup history for almost its entire existence. It was first introduced at the 1934 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where Germany defeated Austria 3-2 to finish third. The match was also staged at the 1938 tournament in France, before disappearing at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. That edition used a single round-robin final group to determine the champion rather than a traditional elimination stage, meaning there were no semi-finals and thus no third-place playoff. The match returned to the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland and has featured in every tournament since.Interestingly, there was no third-place playoff in the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, which featured 13 teams from three confederations. Instead, the losing semi-finalists, 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 for official records?

Yes. 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 came in 1958, when France’s Just Fontaine scored four goals in a 6-3 win over West Germany. Those goals brought his tournament tally to 13, a World Cup record that stands today.

Because this year’s game matters even more

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:

Currently, Messi leads because the assist acts as the first tiebreaker when the players finish on the level of the goals. However, with Argentina not playing until the final again, Mbappé still has a chance to level or advance in Saturday’s playoff. Kane and Bellingham also remain mathematically in contention, though they would need several goals.

Is there a trophy?

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

This means that winning the bronze final is worth $2 million more than finishing fourth.

How have England and France performed in previous bronze finals?

France are making their fourth appearance in the match and have had more success historically.His previous achievements are:

England, meanwhile, are still looking for their first third place win in the playoffs.His previous appearances ended in defeat:

The last bronze medal saw Croatia defeat Morocco 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup.

A workshop that usually produces goals

Although it is often labeled the least glamorous match of the tournament, history suggests that the bronze final is rarely short of entertainment.Since Poland’s 1-0 win over Brazil in 1974, every World Cup third-place playoff has featured at least two goals, making it one of the tournament’s highest-scoring matches, a trend reflected in recent editions:

What did the leaders say?

Neither Thomas Tuchel nor Didier Deschamps hid the disappointment of missing the final.Deschamps said: “There is a third place to play for, so we will do everything we can to get it. We are not where we wanted or expected. The disappointment corresponds to our ambitions, but we have to accept it.”Tuchel admitted the emotional challenge facing both teams.“None of our players, none of the French players want to play this match. 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 the Miami Stadium in Florida.For viewers in India, kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 AM IST on Sunday, July 19, while the winner will leave the United States with bronze medals, an extra $2 million in prize money and, perhaps most importantly, the chance to end their World Cup campaign with a final victory before attention turns to Sunday’s blockbuster final between Spain and Argentina.