MIAMI, USA — England produced one of the most entertaining performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating France 6-4 in a breathtaking third-place playoff on Saturday to claim the bronze medal in a match that rewrote the tournament’s record books.
Played before a packed crowd at Miami Stadium, the encounter exploded into life from the opening whistle as England stormed into a commanding 4-0 first-half lead, leaving the French shell-shocked.
Declan Rice opened the scoring before defender Ezri Konsa doubled England’s advantage. Bukayo Saka then took centre stage, scoring twice before halftime to put Thomas Tuchel’s side firmly in control.
France, however, refused to surrender. Didier Deschamps’ men emerged after the break with renewed purpose, launching a spirited comeback spearheaded by captain Kylian Mbappé.
The French superstar scored twice to reduce the deficit and became the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history with 22 career goals, overtaking Lionel Messi in the process.
Despite the French resurgence, England maintained their composure. Saka completed a memorable hat-trick from the penalty spot before substitute Jude Bellingham put the result beyond doubt with England’s sixth goal in stoppage time.
Bellingham’s strike also earned him a place in England’s football history, setting a new record for the most goals scored by an English player in a single World Cup campaign with seven.
The thrilling contest ended 6-4, becoming the highest-scoring third-place playoff in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing the previous record set in 1958 when France defeated West Germany 6-3.
For England, the victory represents their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966 and offers
Thomas Tuchel a strong foundation as he looks toward future international competitions.
For France, the defeat marked the end of an era. While Mbappé’s individual brilliance once again shone through, Les Bleus fell short in what was reportedly Didier Deschamps’ final match as national team coach after a highly successful 14-year reign.
Attention now shifts to Sunday’s World Cup final, where Spain and Argentina will battle for football’s biggest prize in what promises to be a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable 2026 FIFA World Cup.
