England and France reluctant for World Cup third‑place match

England and France travelled to Miami for the 2026 World Cup third‑place playoff despite both teams publicly stating they did not want to play. French defender Ibrahima Konaté said, “None of us wanted to play this match,” and England manager Thomas Tuchel added, “Nobody wants to be here tomorrow.” The winner receives an additional US$2 million in prize money, but the players’ lack of motivation has been evident.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino briefly forgot the fixture, telling press at Trump Tower that “there is one more game,” before correcting himself. The match is an official World Cup fixture, and both sides have pledged to compete.

Research from Lancaster University shows domestic‑violence incidents rise 26 % during England’s World Cup games and jump 38 % after an English loss. In contrast, Scotland recorded no similar spikes. Police reports indicate 1.35 million domestic‑abuse offences in England & Wales for the year, highlighting a broader social impact of the tournament.