Reaching World Cup semifinals mean say your team dey among last four nations standing. Pretty impressive! But, unlike all other knockout games, defeat for penultimate round no mean say tournament don finish for that team.
While all eyes dey focused on race to lift trophy on Sunday July 19, FIFA still dey stage one final game before title decider: the third-place playoff. This one involve two semifinal losers returning to field one last time to decide who finish third and who end tournament for fourth.
E be tradition wey don dey part of almost every modern World Cup and, despite expanded 48-team format for 2026 – and plenty criticism about am being waste of time – FIFA don keep am for place. The third-place playoff don be regular feature of men’s World Cup since 1934.
E give semifinal losers one last chance to end their tournament with victory and officially claim place on podium. No, there no be actual Olympic-style podium! For some teams, e fit feel like disappointing consolation after falling just short of final. For others, e be opportunity to make history.
Morocco, for example, become first African nation to reach World Cup semifinal for 2022 before finishing fourth, while Belgium secure best-ever World Cup finish by beating England to claim third for 2018. For 2026, the game go play on Saturday, July 18, at Hard Rock Stadium for Miami Gardens, Florida, one day before World Cup final.
As you fit guess if you don follow FIFA modus operandi, there be more than pride at stake. Winner of third-place game go earn $29 million for FIFA prize money, while losing team go still receive $27 million. Those payouts be part of FIFA’s record prize fund of almost $900 million for 2026 tournament.
Every team for World Cup dey receive prize money based on where e finish, meaning even nations wey dem eliminate before semifinals go leave with some financial reward. Whether e be France, Spain, Argentina or England wey miss out on final, their World Cup campaign no go end with semifinal whistle and well-deserved vacation go wait.
England and France go meet for 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff after both sides fall short for semifinals. Pre-tournament favourites France see their hopes of lifting third World Cup title dashed after 2-0 defeat to Spain, while England dream of reaching final end with 2-1 loss to defending champions Argentina.
Despite missing out on final, both European heavyweights go get one last opportunity to finish tournament on high by claiming third place. England struggle to assert themselves against Argentina, with Thomas Tuchel side losing control of midfield for large parts of contest.
Although dem threaten from wide areas, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham no fit find space wey dem need to make decisive impact. France also fail to reproduce attacking form wey don see dem emerge as one of tournament most prolific sides. Spain effectively nullify Didier Deschamps attack, while Ousmane Dembele endure quiet outing.
Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola also no fit exploit space on counterattack. The 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff between England and France go play on Saturday, July 18. Match dey scheduled to kick off at 10pm Nigeria time.
Match go play at Hard Rock Stadium for Miami, one of host venues for 2026 World Cup. Stadium, wey get capacity of 64,478, don host several major football events for recent years, including matches at 2024 Copa América and 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
With both teams dey boast world-class attacking talent but don struggle for different areas during semifinals, Saturday clash offer England and France chance to end their World Cup campaigns with podium finish.
