England Beat France in Spectacular 6-4 Thriller for Third Place

"A fearless attacking display turned the playoff into an unforgettable football spectacle"

England claimed third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in a record-breaking playoff match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on 18 July.

England dominated the first half, racing into a 4-0 lead through goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and two strikes from Bukayo Saka. France responded strongly after the break as Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Bradley Barcola added another to cut the deficit to just one goal.

With the pressure mounting, Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before Jude Bellingham scored in stoppage time to restore England's advantage. Ousmane Dembélé grabbed a late goal for France, but it was not enough to prevent England from sealing a memorable 6-4 victory.

The result secured England the bronze medal and made the match the highest-scoring third-place playoff in FIFA World Cup history. Saka's hat-trick proved decisive, while Mbappé continued his outstanding tournament with another two goals in a thrilling encounter.