The game between the two losing semi-finalists remains a controversial fixture on the World Cup calendar - but FIFA are committed to keeping it in place - and England and France are the latest reluctant participants.
Thomas Tuchel has already labelled the game as 'the one no-one wants to play in' and he's expected to make sweeping changes from the 2-1 semi loss to holders Argentina.
Didier Deschamps will also rotate his France team, following their loss to Spain, but several players from both sides still have individual honours to fight for, with the 2026 Golden Boot race ongoing.
Ahead of the playoff and the final, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are tied on eight goals each, but Argentina's captain leads the way based on four assists compared to Mbappe's three.
England pair Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are both on six goals - with one assist each - and assists will be the tiebreaker if players are level on goals scored.
Goals in the third-place match count toward overall totals and seven previous Golden Boot winners have scored goals in the playoff clash. Four of those seven required the goals netted in the playoff to win the award.
Germany's Thomas Muller (2010), Croatia's Davor Suker (1998), Italy's Salvatore Schillaci (1990) and Leonidas of Brazil (1938) all benefitted from the extra game with goals in those matches clinching the Golden Boot.