The 2026 World Cup is almost over, but there are still the third-place play-off and final still to come.
As we go deeper in the tournament, games are getting increasingly tense. And so, the possibility for penalty shootouts is increasing.
Now, the third-place play-off has never gone all the way to penalties, since shootouts were first introduced in 1978. Often teams use this game as a chance to give stars an early rest, and fringe players World Cup experience. And so, quality often shines through inside 90 (or 120) minutes.
But there have been four penalty shootouts at this summer’s World Cup, the joint-second most at a single edition of the tournament. France and England will likely not want this game to go to penalties, with both sides hoping to end their tournament as soon as they can after their semi-final defeats.
If it does go to a penalty shootout, though, who would win?
France vs England penalty analysis
France World Cup penalty record
France were involved in the first-ever World Cup penalty shootout at the 1982 tournament — though they were introduced four years earlier. Of course, they were beaten by West Germany, despite taking the lead in the shootout. It was the first of five World Cup penalty shootouts France have taken part in. Les Bleus won their second, at the very next World Cup. And it was the second-ever World Cup penalty shootout. Luis Fernandez scored the winner with the last of France’s five penalties, sending opponents Brazil packing.
Les Bleus didn’t face their next World Cup penalty shootout until 1998, taking on Italy in the quarter-finals. Fabien Barthez was the hero, saving Luigi Di Biagio’s final penalty send send France through, en route to lifting the trophy in Paris. Unfortunately, France have lost their last two penalty shootouts. And they have both come in World Cup Finals. Italy got their own back — and then some — in 2006, beating France on penalties to lift the trophy. David Trezeguet missed the only spot-kick in the shootout, with France down to 10 men after Zinedine Zidane’s infamous red card. Then, four years ago, France lost their second World Cup Final on penalties, beaten 4-2 by Argentina.
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Penalty shootouts contested | 5 |
| Penalty shootouts won | 2 |
| Penalty shootouts lost | 3 |
| Penalties scored | 17 |
| Penatlies missed/saved | 7 |
England World Cup penalty record
England fans will not want to see this game go to penalties. They don’t have happy memories of World Cup shootouts. Even though they did win their most recent one. But England lost their first three World Cup penalty shootuts, a joint-record for the most consecutive shootout defeats in the tournament. The first came in Italy in 1990 against West Germany. England scored their first three penalties of the semi-final shootout and were looking confident. But both Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle missed their efforts, sending England out.
Eight years later, England were knocked out of the World Cup last-16 on penalties by Argentina. Paul Ince and David Batty were the English players to miss, but the game will always be remembered more for David Beckham’s red card. In 2006, England only scored one of their four penalties against Portugal — thwarted by an inspired performance from Ricardo in goal. But history came in 2018. England recovered from Jordan Henderson’s miss to beat Colombia on penatlies en route to the World Cup semi-finals.
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Penalty shootouts contested | 4 |
| Penalty shootouts won | 1 |
| Penalty shootouts lost | 3 |
| Penalties scored | 11 |
| Penatlies missed/saved | 8 |
Who will take France’s penalties?
Kylian Mbappe is France’s main penalty taker. He has already scored one at the World Cup, in normal time to secure a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the last-16. But he did see a poor effort saved by Yassine Bounou against Morocco. However, Mbappe did score in the penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in 2022, one of just two Frenchman to convert. The other was Randal Kolo Muani, but he isn’t in the squad this summer. Despite his recent miss, Mbappe has an excellent record from the spot in normal time, scoring 65 of his 80 penalties. In shootouts, Mbappe has scored four from five for club and country. His only miss was the decider against Switzerland at Euro 2020.
Ousmane Dembele is another strong penalty-taker. The 29-year-old has often had to play second fiddle across his carer, meaning he’s only taken 11 penalties in matches. But Dembele has scored eight of those 11. He has also scored nine of 10 in penalty shootouts.
A lot of the current France squad do have experience in penalty shootouts. And they often keep a similar order. Aurelien Tchouameni is never shy to step up, despite missing in the 2022 World Cup Final. He did score in the Uefa Nations League quarter-final win over Croatia last year. Jules Kounde has a similar story. The defender missed in the win over Croatia, but had previously scored against Portugal at Euro 2024. They’ll both no double step up in the shootout should it come to it.
Predicted France penalty order
- Kylian Mbappe
- Aurelien Tchouameni
- Jules Kounde
- Desire Doue
- Ousmane Dembele
Who will take England’s penalties?
England do have a few decent penalty takers in their squad. Harry Kane will lead any possible penalty shootout should be finish the game. He has scored in both of his shootouts for England, at the 2018 World Cup and in Euro 2024. Kane has also scored in three penalty shootouts at club level. Let’s not forget his 109 penalties scored in game, too, including two already at the World Cup this summer.
Jude Bellingham has also scored in his only penalty shootout for England, coolly beating Yann Sommer in the quarter-final win over Switzerland at Euro 2024. He has also scored in both of his shootouts at club level, for Real Madrid in the Champions League. Overall, Bellingham doesn’t have much experience from penalties in-game, though he has still scored four of his five.
Then there’s the likes of Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, both of whom missed in the Euro 2020 final but will not shy away from the responsibility. The latter has scored in shootouts for England since.
Predicted England penalty order
- Harry Kane
- Jude Bellingham
- Bukayo Saka
- Marcus Rashford
- Ivan Toney
Who will win if France vs England goes to penalties?
Despite their two recent World Cup shootout defeats, France will be the more confident of the two nations should this one goal all the way. Since their 2022 World Cup Final loss to Argentina, France have won two penalty shootouts at Euro 2026 and the Uefa Nations League.
England, meanwhile, will have historic fear despite their success in 2018. Since then, they have lost the Euro 2020 Final on penalties — while beating Switzerland two years ago.
This may be one for France to take, depending on who ends the game.
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