- England defeated France 6–4 to secure the 2026 World Cup bronze medal during a thrilling third-place playoff at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
- Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, while goals from Rice, Konsa, and Bellingham helped England clinch a podium finish.
- Kylian Mbappé became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi’s record in just three tournament appearances.
- After trailing 4–0 at halftime, France launched a massive comeback attempt, but England held on to win the high-scoring encounter.
MIAMI: England ended their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on a high note, defeating France 6–4 in a thrilling third-place playoff at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
In one of the tournament's most entertaining matches, England overcame a spirited second-half fightback from France, with Bukayo Saka stealing the spotlight by scoring a hat-trick. Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and Jude Bellingham also found the net as the Three Lions secured the bronze medal after a commanding attacking display.
England wasted little time asserting themselves, taking the lead just three minutes into the match when Rice opened the scoring. Konsa doubled the advantage in the 18th minute with a powerful header before Saka struck twice—first in the 37th minute and again in first-half stoppage time—to give England a comfortable 4–0 lead heading into the break.
France looked out of the contest at halftime but returned with renewed determination after the restart. Captain Kylian Mbappé ignited the comeback by scoring in the 48th minute, and Bradley Barcola added another six minutes later. Mbappé then netted his second goal of the match in the 66th minute, reducing the deficit to just one goal and setting up a tense finale.
With France pressing hard for an equaliser, England earned a crucial penalty in the 87th minute. Saka kept his composure from the spot to complete his hat-trick and restore his side's two-goal advantage.
France refused to give up, and Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back in stoppage time to make it 5–4. However, England had the final say as Jude Bellingham scored moments later to seal a memorable 6–4 victory.
The win ensured England finished third at the 2026 World Cup, ending the tournament on a positive note after falling just short of reaching the final. The performance also highlighted the growing influence of England's younger generation, with Saka, Bellingham, and Rice once again leading the team on the grand stage.
Although France finished the tournament in fourth place, captain Kylian Mbappé achieved a remarkable individual milestone. His two goals took his overall World Cup tally to 22, making him the competition's all-time leading scorer by surpassing Lionel Messi's previous record of 21 goals. Notably, Mbappé reached this landmark in just three World Cup appearances.
The French forward also finishes this edition as his team's top marksman with 10 goals, while Messi, who has scored eight so far, still has the opportunity to add to his tally in the World Cup final.
While England celebrated a deserved victory and a podium finish, France departed with the disappointment of missing out on a medal. Nevertheless, Mbappé's record-breaking performance ensured his name remained firmly in the spotlight as the curtain fell on his side's World Cup campaign.
