Every third-place play-off winner in FIFA World Cup history | OneFootball

It’s the game that no one wanted to be in as England prepare to take on France in the third-place play-off of the FIFA World Cup 2026. 

First introduced in 1934, the match decides who goes home with the bronze medal, though both sides would be playing in Sunday’s final.

England have twice featured in this fixture, in 1990 and 2018, but have never won it, while France have won two of their three appearances in this round.

Some may call it a pointless match, but we will never turn our noses up at more World Cup football. Can England finally clinch a third-place finish or will France be too strong for them?

Every third-place play-off winner in FIFA World Cup history:

1930: United States

As there was no third-place play-off in 1930, the USA were ranked third by dint of their record in the tournament ahead of the other losing semi-finalist, Yugoslavia.

1934: Germany

Result: Germany 3-2 Austria

1938: Brazil

Result: Brazil 4-2 Sweden

Read – The nations with the most FIFA World Cup final appearances

1950: Sweden

Result: Sweden 3-1 Spain

1954: Austria

Result: Austria 3-1 Uruguay

1958: France

Result: France 6-3 West Germany

1962: Chile

Result: Chile 1-0 Yugoslavia

1966: Portugal

Result: Portugal 2-1 Soviet Union

Read – Every team to reach consecutive World Cup finals

1970: West Germany

Result: West Germany 1-0 Uruguay

1974: Poland

Result: Poland 1-0 Brazil

1978: Brazil

Result: Brazil 2-1 Italy

1982: Poland

Result: Poland 3-2 France

1986: France

Result: France 4-2 Belgium (AET)

1990: Italy

Result: Italy 2-1 England

1994: Sweden

Result: Sweden 4-0 Bulgaria

1998: Croatia

Result: Croatia 2-1 Netherlands

2002: Turkey

Result: Turkey 3-2 South Korea

2006: Germany

Result: Germany 3-1 Portugal

Read – Five of England’s best ever World Cup goals

2010: Germany

Result: Germany 3-2 Uruguay

2014: Netherlands

Result: Netherlands 3-0 Brazil

2018: Belgium

Result: Belgium 2-0 England

2022: Croatia

Result: Croatia 2-1 Morocco

Read – Henry, Maradona and the most infamous handballs of all time

Read – England criticised for lack of bravery in possession after Argentina defeat

See Also – Argentina extend remarkable World Cup semi-final record

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