Alan Shearer has strongly criticized the FIFA World Cup third-place play-off match, labeling it as "absolute nonsense" and "meaningless" ahead of England's upcoming game against France. Shearer, a former England captain, argued that the fixture, which has been played since 1954, should be scrapped, citing player welfare concerns and the lack of genuine motivation for teams eliminated from final contention.
England's semi-final defeat to Argentina has placed them in the third-place play-off against France, who lost to Spain. Shearer expressed that players, after the disappointment of a semi-final exit, should be heading home for a holiday rather than participating in a match he believes is primarily motivated by financial gain for FIFA.
"The third-placed play-off at the World Cup is ridiculous," Shearer told Betfair. "FIFA go on so much about player welfare that they're now out of the tournament, they can't win, yet they're making them travel to Miami and play in 37, 38-degree heat for a third-place play-off."
He added, "The players should be on their way home, if not home already and on holiday, rather than hanging around for another three or four days to play in a meaningless game, which is only there to make more money."
While finishing third offers a financial incentive, with the bronze medal-winning team receiving £21.4 million ($29 million) compared to £19.9 million ($27 million) for fourth place, Shearer believes players do not prioritize this distinction. The winners of the World Cup will receive £36.9 million ($50 million), and the runners-up £24.4 million ($33 million).
The match also presents an opportunity for players to influence the Golden Boot standings. Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are tied with eight goals, while Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have six. Should the scores remain unchanged after the final, Messi would secure the award due to more assists.
Shearer also shared a somber outlook on England's future prospects, suggesting that if the team fails to win Euro 2028, they "might never win it in my time." He feels England is currently behind finalists Argentina and Spain, as well as France. With Spain possessing a talented young squad and France potentially under a new manager like Zinedine Zidane, Shearer anticipates a challenging road ahead for England, especially with Euro 2028 being held on home soil.