England's World Cup campaign will continue into an eighth match, despite their semi-final defeat to France. The third-place play-off, scheduled for this weekend, has drawn fierce criticism from fans and pundits alike who deem it a meaningless fixture that only prolongs an already gruelling tournament.
The Absurdity of the Third-Place Play-Off
After the heartbreak of losing a semi-final, players are forced to regroup for a match that determines who finishes third. For many, it is a hollow consolation. "Lining up in a third-place play-off just days after having your childhood aspiration of winning the World Cup shattered is what every footballer dreams of, right?" wrote Amos Murphy in a scathing opinion piece.
The expanded World Cup has already added extra matches to players' schedules, coming at the end of a long club season. With the new domestic campaign just over a month away, critics argue the play-off is an unnecessary burden.
Prize Money Not Worth the Risk
The financial incentive is minimal. The difference in prize money between winning the third-place play-off (£21.5m) and losing (£20m) is only £1.5m. "Is it really worth it?" Murphy asked, noting that some players earn that amount in a month. While the money is more significant for national federations, the risk of injury to star players far outweighs the reward.
Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, both in contention for the Golden Boot, may be motivated to play. Murphy sarcastically suggested they "agree among themselves to make a mockery of the third-place play-off" by scoring uncontested goals to skew the records. For the rest, he called it "nothing more than a humiliation ritual."
Calls for Abolition
The play-off has long been derided as a pointless exercise. In 2026, with player welfare at the forefront of football discussions, many believe FIFA should scrap it entirely. "FIFA have lost any shame they might have been clinging on to by allowing this to still happen," Murphy concluded.
