England secures third place in World Cup with 6-4 ...

By Nikhil Verma — 18 July 2026 — 4 min read

England defeated France 6-4 in a high-scoring match to claim the bronze medal at the 2026 World Cup. The game, held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, saw a combined total of 10 goals, marking the most in a World Cup game since 1982. The encounter was described as one of the wildest matches in the tournament’s history.

England established a significant lead in the first half, with Declan Rice opening the scoring less than three minutes into the match with a long-range goal. Fifteen minutes later, Ezri Konsa doubled England’s advantage by heading in Rice’s corner. Bukayo Saka then added two more goals before halftime, giving England a 4-0 lead.

Despite the substantial deficit, France mounted a strong comeback in the second half. Didier Deschamps, in his final game after 14 years as coach, made four substitutions at the start of the second half, bringing on players like Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola to bolster the attack. Kylian Mbappe scored a few minutes after the intermission, marking his ninth goal of the tournament and his 21st career World Cup goal, equalling Lionel Messi’s record set this summer. Barcola scored 10 minutes later, reducing England’s lead to 4-2.

Mbappe scored again in the 66th minute, bringing France within one goal and making him the all-time leader in World Cup goals. However, Saka converted a penalty in the 87th minute to restore England’s two-goal advantage. Dembele scored in stoppage time, making the score 5-4 and reigniting France’s hopes.

The match concluded with a goal from substitute Jude Bellingham in the 98th minute, securing a 6-4 victory for England. This result marked England’s best World Cup finish since their win in 1966.

Key Player Performances

Bukayo Saka was a standout performer for England, scoring a hat-trick in the match. His goals included two in the first half, one of which came after a counter-attack, and a penalty kick in the 87th minute after Djed Spence was fouled. Saka’s second goal came less than 10 minutes after his first, firing from the top of the penalty area.

Declan Rice, wearing the captain’s armband, contributed significantly with a long-range goal and an assist for Ezri Konsa’s header. Eberechi Eze also provided an assist for one of Saka’s goals. Jude Bellingham’s late goal sealed the victory for England.

For France, Kylian Mbappe achieved a significant milestone by becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with his two goals in the match. He also took the lead in the Golden Boot race for the tournament. Michael Olise was credited with assists on both of Mbappe’s goals, bringing his total to seven assists in this World Cup, surpassing Pele’s record for most in a single tournament.

Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele also found the net for France, contributing to their second-half resurgence.

Match Dynamics and Substitutions

The game was characterized by an open and attacking style from both teams, particularly in the second half. England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, made a substitution at the start of the second half, bringing on Ollie Watkins for Marcus Rashford. Later in the 79th minute, Tuchel introduced Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson, replacing Eze and Toney.

Didier Deschamps made a quadruple substitution for France at the beginning of the second half, bringing on Dembele, Digne, Barcola, and Upamecano to replace Konate, Doue, Hernandez, and Cherki. These changes significantly impacted France’s offensive capabilities.

Bukayo Saka scores England’s fourth against France in Miami — Bukayo Saka scores England’s fourth against France in an extraordinary playoff in Miami.Photograph: Carlos Barría Credit: theguardian.com

The match was officiated by Jesus Valenzuela, with Jorde Urrego and Tulio Morena as assistant referees. Jalal Jayed served as the fourth official.

Post-Match Reactions

Kylian Mbappe paid tribute to outgoing France coach Didier Deschamps, expressing regret that the team could not provide a better send-off. Mbappe acknowledged Deschamps’ significant contributions to the team over 14 years, stating that his greatness might not always have been appreciated but would be recognized by history.

England’s assistant coach, Anthony Barry, expressed pride in the team’s performance, noting the players’ heartbreak after their semi-final exit. He emphasized that the team’s strong showing was driven by their pride in playing for England.

The third-place match kicked off at 5 p.m. ET.