England 6-4 France: Saka Hat-Trick in the Wildest Third-Place Game the World Cup Has Seen

FULL TIME (July 18): ENGLAND 6-4 FRANCE — a ten-goal classic. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England took bronze in what FOX Sports called the wildest third-place game ever played (per FIFA, Sky Sports and Reuters match reports). The “game nobody wants” produced 10 goals — and Mbappé's Golden Boot chase went to the wire. Why this fixture exists, what it pays, and the full explainer below.

The third place playoff is the match between the two teams that lost the semifinals, played to settle who finishes third and fourth. At the 2026 World Cup that means France vs England, kicking off Saturday, July 18 at 5 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida — 24 hours before Spain and Argentina contest the final. It's the game everyone loves to dismiss, and this year it has two very real reasons to watch.

What Time Is the Third Place Playoff?

• Match: France vs England
• Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
• Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. PT
• Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida (home of the Miami Dolphins)

Does the Third Place Playoff Matter? Follow the Money

Ask a player and they'll shrug. Ask an accountant and the answer changes. Under FIFA's record 2026 prize fund:

• 3rd place: about $29 million in performance money, plus a $2.5 million preparation fee — roughly $31.5 million total
• 4th place: about $27 million

That's a ~$4 million swing for 90 minutes of football. Federations notice. So do players negotiating bonus pools. The "meaningless game" pays better than most club competitions do for winning outright.

The Real Story: Mbappé's Last Shot at the Golden Boot

Here's the reason to actually tune in. Kylian Mbappé is level with Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot race on eight goals. France are out of the final — so Saturday is Mbappé's only remaining match, while Messi has the final on Sunday to answer.

That turns a "dead rubber" into a shootout: score in Miami and Mbappé pressures Messi into needing a goal in the biggest game of his life. Don't score, and he can only watch. Track it live on our Golden Boot tracker.

Why Does the World Cup Even Have a Third Place Game?

It's been a World Cup fixture for decades, and it survives for practical reasons:

• The record books want a definitive third-place finisher.
• Broadcasters and host cities get one more showcase match on final weekend.
• Prize money gives federations a concrete reason to compete.
• Players get a send-off — and squad members who barely featured often get minutes.

Critics have argued for years that it should be scrapped, because no team wants to be there. But it has produced genuinely wild games — losing semifinalists often play with the handbrake off precisely because the pressure is gone.

What Is the Third Place Match Called?

You'll see it written several ways — all the same fixture: the third place playoff, the third-place play-off, the bronze medal match, or simply the third place match. FIFA's own materials generally use "play-off for third place."

And Then: the Final

The main event follows on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium: Spain vs Argentina, with a first-ever World Cup final halftime show. The result lands on our who won the World Cup page the moment it's decided.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)