Explanation: Why England and France are playing in the third round; Golden Boot competition, prize money, everything you need to know | Football News

England and France are looking for redemption in the World Cup bronze final

The 2026 FIFA World Cup still has one trophy left to be awarded, but before Spain and Argentina meet in Sunday’s final, England and France will return to the final for the third tournament, now recognized by FIFA as a tournament. “bronze final.”Neither side thought their campaign would end here. England suffered late heartbreak in a dramatic 2-1 defeat to defending champions Argentina, while France’s hopes of a third World Cup title ended the day before with a 2-0 loss to Spain.While neither race made it to the finals they wanted, there’s still plenty at stake when they meet in Miami.

Why does the World Cup have third place?

The idea is straightforward. The losers play a playoff to determine the third and fourth place finishers.For FIFA, it ensures that every team in the final four will receive a place in the final. It also bridges the gap between the semifinals and the final, providing another marquee look for sponsors, broadcasters and the host city.

Kylian Mbappe (10) of France reacts during the World Cup final 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 unnecessary extra game after the disappointment of missing out on the finals, others welcome the opportunity to finish the tournament with a victory and finish. It is also, in most cases, a very interesting contest, a clash between two elite teams who were undefeated in the competition and only fell short in the finals. In the case of England and France, both sides have world-class attacking talent, Golden Boot contenders, and players capable of scoring hat-tricks on the biggest stage, making this more than just a consolation game.

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

How long have you been there?

The third round has been part of the history of the World Cup for almost its entire existence. It was first introduced in the 1934 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where Germany beat Austria 3-2 to finish third. The game was repeated at the 1938 tournament in France, before appearing at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. This edition used a special round robin group stage to determine the winner instead of a knockout tournament, meaning there were no semi-finals and therefore no finals. The game made a comeback at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland and has been featured in every tournament since.Interestingly, there was no third playoff at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay, which featured 13 teams from three federations. Instead, the eventual losers, the United States and Yugoslavia, were ranked based on their overall tournament records, with the United States finishing third and Yugoslavia fourth.

Does it depend on legal documents?

Yes. The game is a World Cup standard, meaning that all recorded statistics are officially counted.The scores provided help to:

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

Why this year’s games are so important

A bronze medal for this race could have a huge impact on the Golden Boot race.After the semifinals, the standings are:

Messi is in the lead at the moment because he is the first player to score goals. However, Argentina did not play until the final, Mbappé still has one chance to draw or advance in Saturday’s game. Kane and Bellingham are also mathematically challenged, though they may need a few more goals.

Is there competition?

Not exactly.The winning team will finish third and receive bronze medals, but no other competition.However, there is a financial incentive.The FIFA awards for the top four teams are:

That means winning the bronze medal is an extra $2 million compared to finishing fourth.

How did England and France do in previous bronze medals?

France is making its fourth appearance at the tournament and is the best in history.Their previous results are:

Meanwhile, England are looking for their first win in three.Their previous appearances ended in defeat:

The most recent bronze medal saw Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup.

A show that often creates goals

Although often referred to as the sport’s most exciting game, history shows that the bronze medal is never short on entertainment.Since Poland’s 1-0 victory over Brazil in 1974, every World Cup third-place finisher has had at least two goals, making it one of the most successful matches in the competition, as seen recently:

What did the managers say?

Neither Thomas Tuchel nor Didier Deschamps hid their disappointment at missing out on the final.Deschamps wrote: “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. Disappointment matches our ambitions, but we have to accept it.”Tuchel acknowledged the psychological problems both teams are facing.“None of our players, none of the French players want to play this game. They want to play in the final. We have given everything to reach the final. Everyone is playing to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is.”England and France will meet at the Miami Stadium in Florida.For viewers in India, kick-off will take place at 2:30 AM IST on Sunday, July 19, where the winner will leave 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 a final victory before we consider Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina.