The FIFA rule that gives us two finals in a single World Cup
FIFA World Cup 2026 – The Two-Final Rule: The ongoing FIFA World Cup is gradually drawing to a close. The eight teams for the quarter-finals have been decided. Following this, the four semi-finalists will be determined, and the final will be played between two teams. But did you know that not just one, but two finals are played in the FIFA World Cup?
In this format, a final is played to determine the tournament winner, while a second final is played to decide the team finishing in third place. In cricket, only one final is played. Let us understand how this second FIFA final differs from a cricket final.
Two FIFA World Cup Finals:
One final is similar to finals in other sports, where the two teams that won their semi-finals face off to claim the championship title. This is the main final match; the winning team secures the title and becomes the new world champion. This match will be played on July 20 at the New York-New Jersey stadium (according to Indian Standard Time).
Just as the semi-final winners play a final to determine the top spot, the two teams that lost in the semi-finals play a match for third place. This match is known as the 'Bronze Final.' Thus, there are two finals in the FIFA World Cup, although there is only one main championship final. The Bronze Final will be played on July 19 at the Miami stadium (according to Indian Standard Time).
How is the second FIFA final different from cricket?
In the Cricket World Cup, only one final is played for the trophy. Once the semi-finalists are determined, the teams finishing third and fourth are effectively decided as well; the teams occupying the third and fourth spots upon reaching the semi-final stage remain in those positions even after the final. No separate match is played for third place. This highlights the difference between the World Cup finals in football and cricket.
