England claimed third place at the 2026 World Cup with a stunning 6-4 victory over France on Saturday, 18 July 2026 (10:00 PM WAT), at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, Declan Rice captained from midfield and scored the opening goal inside three minutes, and Jude Bellingham completed the scoring with a brilliant individual effort in the 98th minute. England led 4-0 at half time. France pulled it back to 5-4 before England held on. It was extraordinary, chaotic, and entirely entertaining.
The records fell throughout. England’s 6-4 victory is the highest-scoring World Cup third-place match in history, surpassing France 6-3 West Germany from 1958. It is the sixth game in World Cup history to produce 10 or more goals.
Kylian Mbappé, despite finishing on the losing side, broke Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring record with his 21st and 22nd goals, moving to 22 in total. Mbappé’s 10 goals at this single tournament are also the most by any player since Gerd Müller in 1970. The evening that nobody expected to watch delivered more history than any neutral had the right to demand.
Didier Deschamps managed his 187th and final match as France head coach, departing a role he has held since 2012. Michael Olise’s seven assists at this tournament broke Pelé’s record for most assists at a single World Cup, which had stood since 1970.
Bellingham finished with seven World Cup goals in this tournament alone, the most of any England player at a single edition. Meanwhile, England secured their best-ever men’s World Cup result on foreign soil and their finest overall finish since winning the trophy in 1966.
Table of Contents
England’s First Half: Four Goals in 45 Minutes
France set up with a high defensive line that offered England room to attack from virtually the opening minute. Rice capitalised in the third minute, intercepting a loose Désiré Doué pass on the halfway line, driving forwards, and firing past Mike Maignan from the edge of the box. Rice then assisted the second, with his near-post corner flicked home by Ezri Konsa’s header in the 18th minute.
Saka took over from there. Marcus Rashford set him up in the 37th minute after a sharp breakaway and Saka followed up past Maignan after the initial effort was saved. Eberechi Eze then played a precise through ball in first-half stoppage time and Saka converted with an angled left-foot finish. Half time read 4-0 to England.
First-half statistics from Sofascore confirmed England’s dominance in that period. England had 55 per cent possession, out-shot France 11 to 5, created five big chances to France’s one, and completed 67 per cent of dribbles compared to France’s 38 per cent. France had not trailed by four goals at half time in any match since April 1930.
Also Read: Argentina Beat England 2-1: Messi Assists Spark World Cup Final
France Fight Back: Mbappé Makes History
Deschamps made four substitutions at the break, introducing Upamecano, Digne, Dembélé, and Barcola. The changes transformed France entirely. Mbappé struck in the 48th minute from an Olise assist, Barcola made it 4-2 six minutes later, and Mbappé completed his brace in the 66th minute, again assisted by Olise. At 4-3, England were nervous. At that point, Mbappé’s second goal took him past Messi’s all-time record. He scored 10 goals at this single World Cup, the Golden Boot lead firmly his.
Second-half statistics confirm how completely France controlled that period. According to Sofascore, France generated 2.37 xG after the break to England’s 1.49, landed 7 of their 14 shots on target, and won 7 of 11 aerial duels. Dean Henderson made several important saves, finishing with goals prevented of +0.16.
Saka, Bellingham, and the Final Scoreline
Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after Djed Spence was fouled by Malo Gusto. Dembélé replied in the sixth minute of added time to cut it to 5-4, but Bellingham settled it for good in the 98th minute, driving from the halfway line, beating Maxence Lacroix, and finishing coolly into the corner.
Saka finished with a Sofascore rating of 9.5, three goals, and three key passes. Rice surpassed that with a 9.6 rating along with a goal, an assist, 87 accurate passes, and seven tackles. Mbappé, despite losing, earned an almost perfect Sofascore rating of 9.9, scoring twice, assisting once, and posting 1.4 xG and 237 metres of ball-carrying across the match.
England’s Best Night in 60 Years
Tuchel spoke to the press after the match and acknowledged the complexity of the night. “It’s the first medal since 1966 and on foreign soil,” he said, per The Athletic. “The best thing you can do is react on the pitch. Talking doesn’t get you wins.” His semi-final decisions against Argentina had drawn heavy criticism. England’s response here at least gave him something tangible to build on.
Deschamps, meanwhile, closed his tenure with quiet dignity. “On a personal level, it has been a truly wonderful journey,” he told FIFA after the game. “I had a blast doing it.”
England return home with third place and a record goalscorer in Bellingham. Spain vs Argentina follows on Sunday evening in New Jersey to decide the gold.
Also Read: How Spain and Argentina Will Approach the 2026 World Cup Final
