FIFA World Cup 2026 Third Place Play-Off: England Beat France 6-4 to Win Bronze
England won the World Cup 2026 third place play-off, beating France 6-4 in a breathless goal fest at Miami Stadium to take the bronze medal. France, semifinal losers to Spain, finished fourth.
FIFA listed the Bronze Final as Match 103, played on Saturday, July 18 in Miami Gardens, a day before the World Cup 2026 Final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium. The ten-goal thriller was one of the highest-scoring third place matches in World Cup history, and it gave England their first ever World Cup bronze.
World Cup 2026 Third Place Play-Off Quick Facts
| Match | Match 103, Bronze Final |
| Result | England 6-4 France |
| Third place | England (bronze medal) |
| Fourth place | France |
| Date | Saturday, July 18, 2026 |
| Venue | Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium), Miami Gardens, Florida |
| Prize | England $29 million (third), France $27 million (fourth) |
| Final | Spain vs Argentina, Sunday, July 19, 3:00 PM ET |
How England Won the World Cup 2026 Third Place Play-Off
England and France, beaten in the semifinals by Spain and Argentina, met in Miami with the bronze medal on the line, and it turned into a ten-goal classic. Two heavily rotated sides traded blows throughout, but England had the firepower to win 6-4. It is England’s first third place finish at a World Cup, having lost this same match in 1990 and 2018.
| Semifinal | Match | Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal 1 | France vs Spain | Tue, July 14 | Dallas Stadium, Arlington | Spain won 2-0 |
| Semifinal 2 | England vs Argentina | Wed, July 15 | Atlanta Stadium | Argentina won 2-1 |
How France got here
Spain were the better side in Dallas. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal, and Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th. France managed just two shots and none on target before that goal, and it was their first time trailing in the entire tournament, ending a run of 358 minutes without conceding. William Saliba (back) and goalkeeper Brice Samba (calf) then missed the Bronze Final injured.
How England got here
England lost their semifinal 2-1 to Argentina in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon put them ahead in the 55th minute, but Enzo Fernandez levelled with a long range strike in the 85th and Lautaro Martinez headed home a Lionel Messi cross in stoppage time. Thomas Tuchel’s side regrouped in Miami to finally win a third place play-off, having lost it to Belgium in 2018. See our full World Cup 2026 schedule for every knockout fixture.
World Cup 2026 3rd Play-Off Result
Here is the World Cup 2026 third place play-off at a glance.
| Match | Result | Date | Kickoff (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third Place Play-Off | England 6-4 France | Sat, July 18 | 5:00 PM | Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium) |
The Golden Boot Goes Down to the Final
The ten-goal Bronze Final shook up the adidas Golden Boot race, with France’s Kylian Mbappe and England’s Harry Kane both chasing the award in Miami. Mbappe’s tournament is now over, so the destination of the Golden Boot rests on Sunday’s Final, where Lionel Messi, level at the top on eight goals going into the weekend, has the last word. FIFA breaks a tie on goals by assists first, then fewer minutes played.
Deschamps’ Last Match Ends in Defeat
Didier Deschamps’ 14-year reign as France coach ended with a 6-4 loss in the Bronze Final. He won the World Cup in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, but signed off in fourth place. Thomas Tuchel’s England took the bronze, their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966.
Where the Third Place Play-Off Was Played
The match was at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. FIFA called it Miami Stadium during the tournament, because commercial sponsor names are not used at World Cup venues.
- FIFA set a tournament capacity of 64,478, one of the smallest of the 11 US venues.
- It is the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
- A canopy roof shades most seats but leaves the pitch open, with no air conditioning.
- Mid-July heat and humidity, regularly 32 to 35 degrees Celsius, helped make it an open, end-to-end game.
Miami hosted seven matches at this World Cup, and the Bronze Final was its last. England had also played there in the quarterfinals, beating Norway 2-1 in extra time.
How to Watch the World Cup 2026 Third Place Play-Off and Final
The Bronze Final aired free to air in most major markets, and the same broadcasters carry Sunday’s World Cup 2026 Final. In the United States it is on FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish, and in the United Kingdom on BBC One and ITV.
| Country | Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish) | Fox One, Peacock |
| United Kingdom | BBC One, ITV | BBC iPlayer, ITVX |
| Canada | TSN, CTV, RDS (French) | TSN+, Crave |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca | ViX, Azteca Deportes |
| Australia | SBS | SBS On Demand, Optus Sport |
| MENA | beIN Sports | beIN Connect |
FIFA’s official broadcast partners also stream the first 10 minutes of every match free on YouTube worldwide. FIFA+ carries highlights only, not live matches.
What the Third Place Play-Off Was Worth
FIFA committed a record $871 million to the 2026 prize fund, nearly double the $440 million paid out in Qatar. By finishing third, England banked $29 million to France’s $27 million for fourth.
| Finish | Performance Prize Money |
|---|---|
| Champion | $50 million |
| Runner-up | $33 million |
| Third place (England) | $29 million |
| Fourth place (France) | $27 million |
| Quarterfinal exit | $19 million |
Every team also received a $2.5 million preparation grant on top of its performance prize, and third place carried FIFA ranking points and a bronze medal alongside the cash.
Rules and Format
The World Cup 2026 third place play-off followed standard knockout rules: 90 minutes, then two 15-minute periods of extra time and a penalty shootout if level, with no replays. England’s six goals meant none of that was needed. Teams had five substitutions in three windows, plus a sixth in extra time, and both managers used the bench freely.
Third Place Play-Off Winners Since 1994
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | England | 6-4 | France |
| 2022 | Croatia | 2-1 | Morocco |
| 2018 | Belgium | 2-0 | England |
| 2014 | Netherlands | 3-0 | Brazil |
| 2010 | Germany | 3-2 | Uruguay |
| 2006 | Germany | 3-1 | Portugal |
| 2002 | Turkey | 3-2 | South Korea |
| 1998 | Croatia | 2-1 | Netherlands |
| 1994 | Sweden | 4-0 | Bulgaria |
England’s 6-4 win was the highest-scoring third place play-off of the modern era. Seven of the previous eight bronze finals had already produced three or more goals, at an average of 3.6 per match, but the 2026 edition blew that away with ten. Tired legs and no fear of losing tend to open these games up, and this one was the proof.
England had lost this fixture in 1990 to Italy and in 2018 to Belgium, so victory in Miami finally turned the third place play-off in their favour and delivered a first World Cup bronze.
Final Word on the World Cup 2026 Third Place Play-Off
England won the World Cup 2026 third place play-off, beating France 6-4 in Miami to take the bronze medal and finish third at a World Cup for the first time. Attention now turns to Sunday’s Final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium, where the trophy and the adidas Golden Boot will be decided. Kickoff is 3:00 PM ET on July 19.
FAQ About World Cup 2026 Third Place Play-Off
Who won the World Cup 2026 third place play-off?
England won it, beating France 6-4 in Miami on Saturday, July 18, 2026 to take the bronze medal. France finished fourth. It was England’s first third place finish at a World Cup.
What was the score in the France vs England third place play-off?
England beat France 6-4 at Miami Stadium. The ten goals made it one of the highest-scoring third place matches in World Cup history, so no extra time or penalties were needed.
Why does FIFA still play a third place match?
Three reasons. It gives fans one extra match and broadcasters one more window. It awards a real medal and a $2 million prize gap. And it gives a beaten semifinalist a chance to end the tournament with a win instead of a loss.
Do players get medals for finishing third?
Yes. England received bronze medals in an on pitch ceremony. The fourth place team, France, received no medal, which is a big part of why the match is more competitive than people expect.
Who will win the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot?
It is decided in the Final. Kylian Mbappe finished his tournament in the Bronze Final on eight goals, level with Lionel Messi, who plays Spain vs Argentina on July 19 and can still overtake the field. FIFA breaks a tie on goals by assists, then fewer minutes played.
Where is the 2026 World Cup Final played?
The Final is Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which FIFA calls New York New Jersey Stadium. Kickoff is 3:00 PM ET. Spain face Argentina, who beat England 2-1 in the semifinals.
Has a host nation ever won the third place play-off?
Yes, three times. Chile beat Yugoslavia 1-0 at home in 1962. Italy beat England 2-1 in 1990. Germany beat Portugal 3-1 in 2006. No 2026 co-host reached the semifinals, so the United States, Mexico and Canada were all out of contention this year.
