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England ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup season on a high by beating France 6-4 in a spectacular third-place play-off, with Bukayo Saka scoring a sensational hat-trick to inspire Thomas Tuchel’s side to a bronze medal.
The result of the match is England’s best World Cup performance in 60 years
Played at the Miami Stadium on Saturday evening, the match produced one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament, with England managing to survive a spirited French comeback to secure their best World Cup finish since 2018 and one of the highest-scoring third-place matches in the history of the competition. Project reports
The victory also provided some consolation to England after their heartbreaking 2-1 semi-final defeat to reigning champions Argentina, while France, beaten 2-0 by Spain in the semi-finals, finished the tournament in fourth place.
England take the lead
With little pressure associated with the third-place playoff, both teams approached the game with attacking intent from the opening whistle.
England wasted no time in asserting themselves as Declan Rice opened the scoring before Ezri Konsa doubled their lead with a well-worked finish.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka then took center stage, scoring twice before half-time to give the Three Lions a shock 4-0 lead at half-time.
Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze were instrumental in England’s attacking play, creating opportunities that exposed gaps in the French defense during the opening 45 minutes.
France stages a remarkable comeback
Despite the heavy gap, Didier Deschamps’ men refused to surrender.
Captain Kylian Mbappe sparked the comeback with a clinical finish before Bradley Barcola added another to reduce the deficit. fifa.com
France continued to apply pressure on England, forcing Thomas Tuchel’s side onto the defensive as the game turned into a showdown.
With the shift in momentum, England restored their two-goal lead after Saka calmly converted a penalty to complete his hat-trick following a foul on Djed Spence inside the penalty area.
France hit back once again through Ousmane Dembele, creating a nervy finish before Jude Bellingham settled the game with a brilliant solo effort to make it 6-4.
Saka shines on the big stage
Saka was arguably England’s best player, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup third-place play-off for many years.
The Arsenal striker tormented the French defense with his pace, movement and precision finishing, underlining why he remains one of England’s most important strikers.
His performance earned widespread praise and capped an outstanding individual World Cup season.
Bellingham also impressed with another commanding display in midfield, while Rice controlled the game during England’s dominant first-half performance.
Mbappe reaches another milestone
Even though France finished the tournament without medals, Mbappe once again demonstrated his world-class qualities.
The France captain found the net during the comeback attempt, becoming the first player since 1970 to score 10 goals in a single FIFA World Cup tournament, further cementing his reputation as one of the competition’s greatest players.
His efforts, however, were not enough to prevent England from claiming victory in one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament.
Emotional farewell for Deschamps
The match also marked the final outing for longtime France coach Didier Deschamps, ending a remarkable era that lasted more than a decade.
Under Deschamps, France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, reached the 2022 final and has consistently remained among the world’s elite national teams.
Even though his last match ended in defeat, the former midfielder leaves as one of the most successful managers in the history of French football.
Positive ending for England
For English manager Thomas Tuchel, the victory is a source of encouragement after the disappointment of missing the final.
The German tactician made several changes to his starting line-up following the semi-final defeat to Argentina, and those decisions paid off as England produced arguably the most entertaining attacking performance of the tournament.
Although the Three Lions failed to achieve their ambition of winning the World Cup, third place represents a positive platform as they begin preparations for future international competitions.
For France, attention will now turn to rebuilding under a new manager following the departure of Deschamps, while England can reflect on a season that ended with a deserved place on the World Cup podium following a thrilling 6-4 victory over one of their oldest football rivals.
