England vs France Third-Place Playoff: Golden Boot Race Takes Centre Stage Before World Cup Final
England and France meet in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff with more than pride at stake. The match could play a crucial role in deciding the Golden Boot as Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Ousmane Dembele remain in contention before the final.
July 17, 2026: England and France may have missed out on the FIFA World Cup final, but their journey is not over yet. The two European giants will face each other in the third-place playoff on Saturday, with more than just a bronze medal at stake. The match could also play a crucial role in deciding the winner of the tournament's Golden Boot.
Following England's semi-final defeat to Argentina, head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted that the third-place match is not one that players look forward to.
"None of our players want to play the match. Not even the French players. Everyone wants to play in the final."
While Tuchel's comments reflect the disappointment of missing the final, several players from both teams still have a major personal target to chase before the tournament ends.
Golden Boot Race Set for Dramatic Finish
The third-place playoff remains important because goals scored in the match count towards the Golden Boot standings. With several players still in contention, the England-France clash could significantly impact the race for the tournament's top scorer award.
At present, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are jointly leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals each. Messi currently holds the advantage because he has registered one more assist than the French captain.
Norway striker Erling Haaland sits on seven goals, but his campaign has already ended after Norway's quarter-final exit, leaving him unable to improve his tally.
England captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham have six goals each, while France's Ousmane Dembele and Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal have scored five goals. A strong performance in the third-place match could therefore reshape the Golden Boot standings before the final.
๐จ OFFICIAL KIT NEWS!
For the third-place match, both France and England will wear their traditional home kits.
๐ซ๐ท France in blue
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ England in white
Classic clash incoming!!#FIFAWorldCup2026 #FRAENG pic.twitter.com/rpGBjUoxIq
โ CUPID FC (@CUPID_FC) July 17, 2026
Third-Place Match Has Decided the Golden Boot Before
History shows that the third-place playoff has often influenced the outcome of the Golden Boot race. On seven occasions, players have scored in the match before going on to finish as the tournament's highest scorer.
Germany's Thomas Muller (2010), Croatia's Davor Suker (1998), Italy's Salvatore Schillaci (1990), and Brazil's Leonidas (1938) all secured the Golden Boot after scoring in the third-place playoff.
Similarly, Grzegorz Lato (1974) of Poland, Eusebio (1966) of Portugal, and France legend Just Fontaine (1958) also found the net in the third-place match. Although they would have won the Golden Boot without those goals, their performances added to their impressive tournament records.
According to FIFA's rules, if two or more players finish with the same number of goals, the first tie-breaker is assists. If players are still level, the award is decided by fewer minutes played during the tournament.
With Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Ousmane Dembele all still capable of adding to their goal tally, the England-France third-place playoff could have a major influence on the Golden Boot race. At the same time, Lionel Messi will enter the World Cup final knowing exactly what he needs to do to secure another individual honour before the tournament comes to a close.
