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England and France Set Record in Highest-Scoring Third-Place Match in FIFA World Cup History
The match famously dubbed "the game nobody wants to play" became an unforgettable World Cup classic, as England and France combined for a record-breaking 10-goal spectacle in the highest-scoring third-place playoff ever.
The England 6-4 France thriller at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has earned its place in the record books.
The 10 goals scored at Hard Rock Stadium—known as Miami Stadium during the tournament—not only secured England a third-place finish but also established a new FIFA World Cup record for the highest-scoring third-place playoff.
The spectacular contest also joined an exclusive list of the highest-scoring matches in World Cup history, finishing tied for the fifth-most goals ever scored in a single tournament match.
A Historic Classic in the World Cup's Most Debated Match
Before the 2026 edition, the highest-scoring third-place match in World Cup history was France's 6-3 victory over West Germany at Sweden 1958, a game that produced nine goals.
England's 6-4 victory shattered that record with 10 goals, becoming the first third-place playoff ever to reach double digits.
It was also the first FIFA World Cup match to feature 10 goals since Hungary's 10-1 win over El Salvador at Spain 1982, ending a 44-year wait for such an offensive spectacle.
In the end, the match exceeded every expectation. Despite both teams fielding rotated lineups and playing only for pride, a bronze medal, and prize money, the so-called "game nobody wants to play" turned into one of the greatest third-place matches the tournament has ever seen.
Goal Fest Joins an Exclusive World Cup List
The offensive explosion also climbed into the World Cup record books.
With 10 goals, England and France tied for the fifth-highest-scoring match in FIFA World Cup history, trailing only matches that produced 11 or 12 goals.
The result proved once again that even a third-place playoff can deliver unforgettable drama on football's biggest stage.
Highest-Scoring Matches in FIFA World Cup History
| Rank | Match | Goals |
| 1 | Austria 7-5 Switzerland (1954) | 12 |
| 2 | Brazil 6-5 Poland (1938) | 11 |
| 3 | Hungary 8-3 West Germany (1954) | 11 |
| 4 | Hungary 10-1 El Salvador (1982) | 11 |
| 5 | England 6-4 France (2026, Third-Place Playoff) | 10 |
| 6 | France 7-3 Paraguay (1958) | 10 |
| 7 | Argentina 6-3 Mexico (1930) | 9 |
| 8 | Hungary 9-0 South Korea (1954) | 9 |
| 9 | West Germany 7-2 Turkey (1954) | 9 |
| 10 | France 6-3 West Germany (1958, Third-Place Playoff) | 9 |
