England claimed the FIFA World Cup 2026 bronze medal after an entertaining 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff
England secured third place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after defeating France 6-4 in a thrilling playoff match that produced 10 goals, making it one of the highest-scoring games of the tournament.
The third-place match, played on July 18, 2026, was full of excitement from the opening whistle. England made a dream start when Declan Rice scored in the third minute to give his side an early lead.
England continued to dominate the first half. Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage in the 18th minute before Bukayo Saka scored twice, in the 37th minute and first-half stoppage time (45+1), sending England into the break with a commanding 4-0 lead.
France responded strongly after halftime. Kylian Mbappé pulled one back in the 48th minute, and Bradley Barcola added another six minutes later. Mbappé then scored his second goal of the match in the 66th minute, reducing the gap to just one goal and giving France hope of a remarkable comeback.
However, England stayed composed. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute to restore England's two-goal advantage. In stoppage time, Ousmane Dembélé scored for France in the 90th+6 minute, but Jude Bellingham quickly replied in the 90th+8 minute to seal a memorable 6-4 victory for the Three Lions.
Bukayo Saka was the standout performer, scoring three goals and playing a key role in England's attack. Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and Jude Bellingham also found the net, while France's goals came from Mbappé (two), Barcola, and Dembélé.
The victory earned England the bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while France finished the tournament in fourth place. The match will be remembered for its attacking football, dramatic momentum shifts, and remarkable total of 10 goals in regular time. It was one of the most entertaining games of the competition and a fitting end to both teams' World Cup campaigns.
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