England’s Declan Rice (4) scores their first goal as France’s Warren Zaire-Emery (18) and Desire Doue (20) defend during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., on July 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
AP
There is perhaps no lonelier fixture in football than the World Cup third-place playoff. For 30 days, players dream only of one destination. They imagine lifting the trophy, hearing their anthem before the final and writing themselves into history.
“None of these players, none of the French players want to play this match,” Thomas Tuchel said after England’s morale-sapping semifinal defeat. “They want to play in the final. We gave everything to be in the final. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but it is what it is.”
The fixture itself is almost as old as the World Cup. The inaugural tournament in 1930 had no playoff, with the United States later awarded third place. FIFA introduced the bronze-medal match in 1934, omitted it only during the unique final-group format of 1950 and has staged it at every World Cup since 1954.
Match details
Venue: Miami Stadium, United States
Referee: Jesus Valenzeula (VEN)
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