England secured a 6-4 victory over France in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff on July 18, 2026, in Miami. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, and Jude Bellingham added a stoppage-time goal to seal the win, marking England's best World Cup finish in 60 years.
First-Half Dominance
England raced to a 4-0 lead by halftime. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute, Ezri Konsa added a second in the 19th minute, and Saka struck twice—first in the 37th minute and again in first-half stoppage time (45+1). France struggled to contain England's attack, with Michael Olise setting up several chances.
France's Second-Half Comeback
France fought back after the break. Kylian Mbappe scored in the 48th minute, his 13th World Cup goal making him the all-time leading scorer in the tournament's history. Bradley Barcola pulled one back in the 54th minute, and Mbappe struck again in the 67th minute to make it 4-3. Ousmane Dembele equalized in the 90+6th minute, setting up a dramatic finish.
Late Drama and Records
Bukayo Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 86th minute after Djed Spence was fouled by Malo Gusto. Jude Bellingham then scored in the 90+8th minute, dribbling past several defenders to make it 6-4. The match set records for the highest-scoring World Cup game since 1982, with Mbappe becoming the all-time top scorer and Olise equaling Pele's assist record with seven assists.
England manager Thomas Tuchel praised his team's mentality: "We had a brilliant first half and then a turbulent second half... The mentality that we showed is absolutely brilliant." Saka added: "It was a crazy, crazy game. We're happy with the final result."
Legacy and Aftermath
The victory gave England bronze, their best World Cup finish since 1966. France coach Didier Deschamps departed after a legendary tenure. The match was widely hailed as one of the most entertaining in World Cup history.
