Is there a third and fourth place match at the 2026 World Cup? Why is it important?
What happens to France and England, the two teams that lost in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals?
The 2026 World Cup is winding down, with just two games remaining. The July 19 final is, of course, now what it’s all about, but one other match will be played the day before. It’s one that few players want to be involved in but one that is important for the bottom line of the participating federations.
The two losing semifinalists, France and England, will go head-to-head to determine who finishes third and who finishes fourth, as the name suggests.
Why is the third-place playoff match important?
Basically, money.
The team that finishes in third place receives $30 million, while fourth place receives $28 million in prize money. Those are huge amounts, but are they enough to get over losing in the semifinals? Undoubtedly not.
How much prize money do teams receive at the 2026 World Cup?
The winning side receives $51 million, while the runner-up takes home $34 million. In total, World Cup prize money reaches a staggering $871 million, which is no small sum.
The total has more than doubled since the last tournament, which, of course, featured 16 fewer teams.
World Cup prize money
| World Cup Finish | Prize money ($) |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | $10 million |
| Round of 32 | $12 million |
| Round of 16 | $16 million |
| Quarter Final | $20 million |
| Fourth place | $28 million |
| Third place | $30 million |
| Second place | $34 million |
| Winner | $51 million |
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