The NFL has been suggested that the league should stage a World Cup-style third-place game, following England's win over France in the 2026 World Cup. However, this would be a meaningless game, as meaningless as the Pro Bowl. Without financial incentives, players would have no reason to play another game for anything other than a Super Bowl ring. The NFL used to stage such a game before the AFL-NFL merger, and it will never return. The Playoff Bowl was introduced as a way to have another game featuring NFL players at a time when the AFL was becoming a threat. However the NFL Players Association would not agree to such a deal unless significant concessions were made.