MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA July 18, 2026 – England claimed third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in one of the most entertaining third-place playoff matches in tournament history.
Bukayo Saka scored a sensational hat-trick, while Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and a late Jude Bellingham strike completed the scoring for the Three Lions. Kylian Mbappé netted twice for France in a remarkable second-half comeback, with Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also on target.
The match at Hard Rock Stadium produced ten goals and swung dramatically from a first-half rout to a tense, end-to-end second half.
England exploded out of the blocks. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a stylish strike from outside the box — England’s second-fastest World Cup goal in history.
Ezri Konsa doubled the lead in the 18th minute, heading home from a set-piece.
Bukayo Saka then took centre stage. He made it 3-0 in the 37th minute after a clever exchange with Marcus Rashford, before adding a fourth just before half-time in the 45+1st minute, curling a superb finish into the bottom corner.
England went into the break 4-0 up, leaving France shell-shocked and facing the prospect of their heaviest World Cup defeat.
France emerged transformed after the interval. Manager Didier Deschamps made four changes at half-time, and the impact was immediate.
Kylian Mbappé pulled one back in the 48th minute, finishing calmly after a through ball from Michael Olise.
Bradley Barcola made it 4-2 in the 54th minute, and Mbappé struck again in the 66th minute to bring France within one goal at 4-3.
The comeback looked on when France created several dangerous chances, but England held firm.
England regained control in the closing stages. In the 87th minute, Saka calmly converted a penalty after Malo Gusto fouled Djed Spence in the box, completing his hat-trick and restoring a two-goal cushion at 5-3.
France refused to give up. Ousmane Dembélé reduced the deficit to 5-4 in the 90+6th minute.
However, Jude Bellingham had the final word. In the 90+8th minute, the England midfielder produced a brilliant individual run before firing into the bottom corner to seal a famous 6-4 victory.
Standout Performances and Records
- Bukayo Saka was named Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match after his hat-trick. He finished as one of England’s standout performers throughout the tournament.
- Kylian Mbappé scored twice to take his tally to 10 goals in the 2026 World Cup.
- Michael Olise provided key assists for France and finished with seven assists — a record for a single World Cup (since 1966).
- The 10 goals made this the highest-scoring third-place playoff in World Cup history.
France coach Didier Deschamps, in his final match in charge after 14 years, said:
“It’s a loss. We were down 4-0; we played a disgraceful first half. We did show some fight… We had two chances to tie it up at 4-4… It’s my fault; I must not have done what was needed in the first half.”
France captain Kylian Mbappé added:
“There were two very different halves… In the second half, we went back to being top-level players… We didn’t win, and that’s a shame for the coach.”
England’s victory secured their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966.
The result capped a memorable night in Miami and provided a fittingly chaotic end to the third-place playoff before Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina.
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