2026 FIFA World Cup Third Place Playoff Match Centre, Preview & Stats

Time for the lucky losers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, although neither France nor England were very lucky in the Semi Finals, nor were they unlucky, just sh!t. One side for a whole game, the other for a painful 30 minutes. Their reward is a relatively meaningless game to determine which team is less sh!t. Your reward is our 2026 FIFA World Cup Third Place Playoff Match Centre which has some stats, visual stats, our own in-house ratings using non AI assistance, another prediction using an alternative AI model to predict winners, and splashes of AI Greg Norman trying to steal the show.

It’s all here, and something for everyone. Enjoy our 2026 FIFA World Cup Third Place Playoff Match Centre.

2026 FIFA World Cup Third Place Playoff Match Preview

SUNDAY 20 JULY 7am – Third Place Playoff – France vs England

STATS SUMMARY

More stats than you could ever need, or want.

RATINGS

The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system chooses the winner. Using H2H history, World Cup performance history, World Cup qualifying, the last four years of international games, performance against the confederation, and current effort at this World Cup.

Ratings say France are just a bit better. Probably right.

BARELY INTERESTING STATS

• France have scored more goals (16 v 14), conceded less goals (4 v 8), and saw better results than England.
• France have lost just one of their last nine games v England (W6 D2 L1).
• England lead the World Cup H2H by 2-1.
• Record is France two wins, England one win, and two draws for games in neutral countries.
• Prior to the loss to Spain, France had lost only one of 20 World Cup matches going back to winning the 2018 version.

GURGLER’S MATCH PREDICTION

Before we hit AI up for their thought, or create some pathetic stunt using an animal to select a winner (not below that just don’t have an appropriate animal), here’s an old-fashioned tip from a human

France 3 England 2

AI GREG’S MATCH PIC-REDICTION

We harnessed or wasted (delete appropriate) the power of AI to ask them to picture how an AI Greg Norman would visualise the result of this Quarter Final clash.

AI MATCH PREDICTION

Since AI is all the rage, and a management buzzword of the highest order, we have decided to dip a few toes into AI pond. We asked AI to come up with a winner and score based on the following:

2026 FIFA World Cup form so far, last four years on international matches, overall FIFA World Cup history, overall FIFA World Cup knockout stage history, value of the playing squad, relative strength of each team’s mascot, military success of country over the past 100 years, overall non-football sporting success of country over the past 100 years, popularity and sales of each teams playing shirt, strength of fan noise, beer consumption.

AI MATCH RESULT AND WHY

England 2–2 France (England win on penalties)

Reasoning: France probably have the slightly stronger football résumé entering the match, but third-place games are notoriously strange, often more open and emotional than tactical. England’s squad depth, attacking talent and the traditional power of the Three Lions (the actual lions, not the football team) nudge the absurdity-adjusted model toward England.

Predict the winner of the world cup 3rd v 4th place playoff between England and France based on the ability to bounce back from historically bad defeats, who can drink more beer, better crowd atmosphere, likelihood of rioting in their home country, which sets of fans would beat each other in a fight, which sets of wags is more attractive, the stature of the five most famous fans of each country, the likelihood of which team FIFA would prefer to win, whose football kits look better, which team mascot would win a fight

Prediction using this completely non-scientific methodology:

England 3 – 1 France

Reason: beer, crowd noise, celebrity supporters, and the overwhelming combat advantage of three lions over one rooster.

Predicted Bronze Medal Winner: England 🥉