BEST·THIRD·PLACE TRACKER An independent tracker for the 2026 World Cup.
FINAL UPDATE:
2026 · THIRD PLACE
England
The Three Lions
BRONZE WINNER
IN OUR BEST THIRDS RANKING
#3OUR RANK
19PTS
+8GD
20GF
England finished third place of the 2026 World Cup.

England's group stage began with a 4-2 win over Croatia, 7 places lower in the world ranking, before a goalless draw with Ghana, 69 places lower in the world ranking, slowed the momentum on matchday 2. The Three Lions closed things out with a 2-0 win over Panama, 30 places lower in the world ranking, on matchday 3. Seven points and a goal difference of 4 were enough to top Group L and move into the knockout rounds.

England's knockout run opened with a 2-1 win over Congo DR, 42 places lower in the world ranking, then a 3-2 victory against Mexico, 10 places lower, in the Round of 16. The quarter-final against Norway, 27 places lower, needed extra time before England came through 2-1. The run ended in the semi-finals with a 1-2 loss to Argentina, 3 places higher in the world ranking, dropping England into the 3rd Place Final against France, 1 place higher in the world ranking.

England finished third at the 2026 World Cup, beating France 6-4 in the bronze final to claim the third-place medal against a side ranked 1 place higher in the world ranking.

THE RUN
Third at the World Cup.
Their full knockout run, start to finish.
Congo DRR32 · WON 2-1
MexicoR16 · WON 3-2
NorwayQF · WON 2-1
ArgentinaSF · LOST 1-2
FranceBF · WON 6-4
🥉
THIRD PLACE
Won the third-place play-off for bronze.

PER MATCH · INCL. GROUP STAGE

2.38PTS / match
2.50GF / match
−1.50FAIR / match

Across 8 matches (group stage included), England has averaged 2.38 points and 2.50 goals scored per game, with 1.50 fair-play points lost per game.

PLAYED

Croatia
Ghana
Panama
Congo DR
Mexico
Norway
Argentina
France
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
Won the group in the end. England topped their group to qualify outright, so the best-thirds cut this tracker is built on did not settle where they finished.

How hard was England’s road at this World Cup?

Every team’s road through the tournament, on one chart. Each line shows how hard each stage is. The base is the gap in FIFA world ranking between the two sides; on top of that, current form (each team’s last three matches, and how convincingly they were won against how strong an opponent) nudges the step: a hot opponent makes it taller, a team’s own hot form makes its own steps shorter. Higher means a tougher road. In the group stage the opponents are known, so each match sits at a fixed height; each knockout round shows the average difficulty across every opponent still left in that round. England’s road is highlighted, along with every team it played. Hover or tap any team to compare, or pick one from the legend.

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