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France and England will meet in the World Cup third-place match on Saturday, as both teams failed to win their semi-final matches and progress to the tournament finals. France lost to Spain in the semi-finals, while England lost to Argentina.
So both are playing for a consolation prize Saturday at Miami Stadium. But the battle for third place is about more than just avoiding being number four in the history books. There is something at stake, even if it is not the World Cup trophy.
The bronze medal still counts for the golden boot
Four players participating in the third place in the 2026 World Cup are in the race for the Golden Boot. French forward Kylian Mbappé currently holds the lead with eight goals, tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. But England striker Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham have six goals each, as does French striker Ousmane Dembélé.
While Mbappé is ahead right now, a huge game from any of these other three players could lift them to the top of the rankings and at least give them a shot at the golden boot this World Cup.
(Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
What do the teams get for winning the bronze final?
The four remaining teams in the World Cup each receive a cash prize, but the final ranking determines how much money a team will earn. The fourth-place team in the 2026 World Cup will earn $27 million, while the third-place team will bank another $2 million for $29 million.
There is also pride and history
England’s best ever World Cup came in 1966 when they won the tournament for the first and only time. It is also the only time when England reached the final, and in two previous trips to the semi-finals, fourth place was the final result, most recently in 2018.
For France, this is the last game coached by Didier Deschamps, who won the World Cup in charge of France in 2018. What better way to go out than with a win?
How to watch France vs. England
