The match for third place in the World Cup has become an important part of the tournament, and goals scored in this match still count towards individual goal totals and the Golden Boot race.

World Cup 2026: Is it a Match for Third Place

According to Bbc.

Background

Kylian Mbappe currently leads the World Cup scoring charts, and with the chance to add to his tally in the third-place match, he has the potential to win the Golden Boot award. Apart from that, Ousmane Dembele and Jude Bellingham will also try to show their abilities in this match.

Why this is important

The match for third place at the 2026 World Cup could provide the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane with the opportunity to add to their tally and compete in the race for the Golden Boot. Even though their team has been eliminated, the goals scored in this match still count, which makes this match important for the players' individual achievements.

Main Points

World Cup 2026: What is the Match for Third Place.
The third-place match at the World Cup has become an important part of the tournament, and goals scored in this match still count towards individual goal totals and the Golden Boot race.
World Cup 2026: Does third-place play-off count towards Golden Boot award?.

The match for third place in the World Cup is a tradition that has existed in almost every edition of the tournament. Goals scored by players in these matches still count towards their individual goal totals, as well as in the race for the Golden Boot award. The game was first introduced at the second World Cup in 1934 and was not held in only three tournaments; twice because the competition was canceled in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II, and in 1950 when the competition resumed in a round-robin format. This third place match was held back in 1954 and has been part of the tournament ever since.

This match can be a psychologically difficult match for players who have to deal with the disappointment of being eliminated from the tournament. England manager Thomas Tuchel stated that “no one wants to play” in this match. However, goals scored in this match will contribute to the player's total goals. Thus, players such as Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham still have a chance to win the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup, even though France and England have been eliminated in the semifinals.

Heading into the final two games of the tournament, the four players are among seven players who have scored five or more goals. England will meet France in the third-place match on Saturday, while the following day, Spain will face Argentina in the final. Mbappe currently leads the goalscoring list with Lionel Messi, with each scoring eight goals. However, Messi is ahead in this race thanks to one more assist than Mbappe.

Norway's Erling Haaland is next with seven goals, but he will not be able to add to that tally after his country's quarter-final exit. England duo Bellingham and Kane have six goals each, while French winger Dembele and Spanish striker Mikel Oyarzabal have five goals each.

The race for the Golden Boot could be determined by how strong the teams England and France field in Saturday's third-place match. When England faced Belgium in the same match in 2018, then coach Gareth Southgate made five changes from the team that lost to Croatia in the semi-finals. Although Kane, the tournament's Golden Boot winner, played in the match, he did not score.

Historically, the previous seven World Cup Golden Boot winners have scored in the third-place match. Four of the seven players needed a goal they scored in that match to win the award. Germany's Thomas Muller (2010), Croatia's Davor Suker (1998), Italy's Salvatore Schillaci (1990) and Brazil's Leonidas (1938) all benefited from the match, with goals in the match deciding their Golden Boot awards. Poland's Grzegorz Lato (1974), Portugal's Eusebio (1966), and France's Just Fontaine (1958) also won the award and scored in the third-place match that same year. However, they will still win the award even if they don't score a goal in that match.

What happened next

With England and France meeting in the third-place match, attention will be on Mbappe and Kane's form. If one of them manages to score a goal, this could affect the final result in the hunt for the Golden Boot, especially ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the match for third place in the 2026 World Cup?

The match for third place in the 2026 World Cup will bring together England and France.

Who confirmed that goals in the third-place match count for the Golden Boot?

This information is based on World Cup tradition which states that goals in the third place match still count towards the individual goal total.

Why is the match for third place still being held?

The match for third place has become a tradition in almost every edition of the World Cup since its introduction in 1934.

What changes have occurred in the hunt for the Golden Boot ahead of the final match?

Four players, including Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane, still have a chance to win the Golden Boot even though their teams have been eliminated in the semifinals.

Who currently leads the scoring charts for the Golden Boot?

Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi currently lead the goal charts with eight goals each.

World Cup 2026: What is the Match for Third Place