Bukayo Saka scored a magnificent hat-trick, Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa struck during a dominant first half, and Jude Bellingham completed the victory with England’s sixth goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
England led 4-0 at half-time before Kylian Mbappé inspired a dramatic French comeback. Mbappé scored twice, while Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also found the net for France.
However, Saka’s late penalty and Bellingham’s stoppage-time finish finally secured the bronze medal for Thomas Tuchel’s team.
The result gave England their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966. It was also the highest-scoring third-place match in World Cup history and the highest-scoring game at the tournament since Hungary defeated El Salvador 10-1 in 1982.
England 6-4 France: Quick Match Facts
| Match information | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
| Stage | Third-place play-off |
| Result | France 4-6 England |
| Half-time score | France 0-4 England |
| Date | 18 July 2026 |
| Stadium | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
| England scorers | Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, Bukayo Saka ×3, Jude Bellingham |
| France scorers | Kylian Mbappé ×2, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé |
| Player of the match | Bukayo Saka |
| England manager | Thomas Tuchel |
| France manager | Didier Deschamps |
| Total goals | 10 |
England had previously lost World Cup third-place matches against Italy in 1990 and Belgium in 2018. The victory over France therefore gave the Three Lions their first bronze medal and their first World Cup medal since 1966.
Every Goal in France 4-6 England
| Minute | Scorer | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3′ | Declan Rice | France 0-1 England |
| 19′ | Ezri Konsa | France 0-2 England |
| 37′ | Bukayo Saka | France 0-3 England |
| 45+1′ | Bukayo Saka | France 0-4 England |
| 48′ | Kylian Mbappé | France 1-4 England |
| 54′ | Bradley Barcola | France 2-4 England |
| 67′ | Kylian Mbappé | France 3-4 England |
| 86′ | Bukayo Saka, penalty | France 3-5 England |
| 90+6′ | Ousmane Dembélé | France 4-5 England |
| 90+8′ | Jude Bellingham | France 4-6 England |
The match appeared to be over when England went into the break with a four-goal lead.
France then scored three times in the opening 22 minutes of the second half and reduced the score to 4-3. Saka restored England’s two-goal advantage from the penalty spot before Dembélé and Bellingham exchanged goals during a chaotic finish.
Declan Rice Gives England a Dream Start
England showed no signs of being affected by their painful semi-final defeat against Argentina.
Thomas Tuchel’s team began with aggression, energy and attacking intent. Declan Rice gave England the perfect start by opening the scoring after only three minutes.
Rice’s early goal immediately changed the mood of the match.
Instead of playing like a team disappointed to have missed the final, England pressed France high up the pitch and attacked whenever possession changed hands.
Rice provided leadership in midfield and helped England control the opening period. His performance demonstrated why he has become one of the most important players in the England team.
The Arsenal midfielder combined defensive discipline with the courage to move forward and support England’s attacks.
Ezri Konsa Doubles England’s Lead
England made it 2-0 in the 19th minute through defender Ezri Konsa.
France struggled to deal with England’s intensity, movement and speed. Konsa’s goal gave the Three Lions complete control and increased the pressure on a French side that had also suffered a painful semi-final defeat.
England had scored twice before the match was 20 minutes old.
France still possessed some of the world’s most dangerous attacking players, including Mbappé, Dembélé and Michael Olise, but England’s first-half performance prevented them from taking control.
At 2-0, England continued to attack instead of protecting their lead.
That decision produced two more goals before half-time.
Bukayo Saka Scores Twice Before Half-Time
Bukayo Saka became the central figure in England’s historic victory.
The Arsenal star scored England’s third goal in the 37th minute and struck again during first-half stoppage time.
His second goal gave England an incredible 4-0 advantage at the interval.
Saka’s movement repeatedly caused problems for the French defence. He attacked space intelligently, combined well with his teammates and showed outstanding composure when opportunities arrived.
His first-half double put him in position to complete one of the most memorable individual performances by an England player at a World Cup.
England’s four-goal first half was especially impressive because it came against a France team that had entered the tournament as one of the leading favourites.
By half-time, the bronze medal appeared to belong to England.
France had other ideas.
Mbappé Starts an Incredible French Comeback
Didier Deschamps made major changes during the interval, and France returned for the second half with far greater intensity.
Kylian Mbappé scored France’s first goal in the 48th minute.
Only six minutes later, Bradley Barcola made it 4-2.
Suddenly, England’s comfortable lead no longer looked secure.
France began to attack with greater speed and confidence. England struggled to maintain possession, while the French forwards repeatedly found space around the penalty area.
Mbappé struck again in the 67th minute to reduce the score to 4-3.
A match England had completely controlled was transformed into a tense battle.
France had scored three goals in only 19 minutes and appeared capable of completing one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history.
Kylian Mbappé Breaks the World Cup Goals Record
Mbappé’s two goals carried enormous historical significance.
The France captain moved to 22 career World Cup goals, taking him ahead of Lionel Messi’s total of 21 before Argentina’s final against Spain.
Mbappé also reached ten goals at the 2026 tournament and moved two goals ahead of Messi in the Golden Boot race before the final.
Kylian Mbappé’s World Cup Goals by Tournament
| World Cup | Goals |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2026 | 10 |
| Total | 22 |
Mbappé’s record was a remarkable personal achievement, but the French captain was unable to celebrate a victory.
After the game, he made it clear that he would have preferred to be playing in the World Cup final rather than breaking an individual record in the third-place match.
Read Finter’s complete guide to the French superstar:
Kylian Mbappé – History, Statistics, Goals, Dribbling, Speed, Training and Records
Saka Completes His Historic Hat-Trick
England needed another goal to stop France’s momentum.
It arrived through Saka.
The winger completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 86th minute, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and giving England a 5-3 lead.
It was Saka’s second hat-trick for England and placed him in an exclusive group of Three Lions legends.
England Players to Score a World Cup Hat-Trick
| Player | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| Geoff Hurst | West Germany | 1966 |
| Gary Lineker | Poland | 1986 |
| Harry Kane | Panama | 2018 |
| Bukayo Saka | France | 2026 |
Saka became only the fourth England men’s player to score a World Cup hat-trick.
He was also the first England player to score three times in a World Cup knockout match since Geoff Hurst’s famous hat-trick in the 1966 final.
Saka’s three goals showed different parts of his attacking game.
He timed his runs perfectly, remained calm in front of goal and accepted responsibility for a high-pressure penalty when France were threatening to complete their comeback.
The performance was another reminder that Saka is not simply a talented winger. He is one of England’s most reliable match-winners.
Dembélé Scores – But Bellingham Has the Final Word
Even at 5-3, the match was not finished.
Ousmane Dembélé scored for France in the sixth minute of stoppage time, making it 5-4 and creating one final moment of uncertainty for England.
France pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
Jude Bellingham then ended the drama.
The Real Madrid midfielder scored England’s sixth goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time, securing a 6-4 victory and producing one of the wildest final scorelines in World Cup history.
Bellingham’s goal was his seventh of the tournament.
That total set a new record for the most goals scored by an England player at a single World Cup.
Most Goals by an England Player at One World Cup
| Player | Tournament | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Jude Bellingham | 2026 | 7 |
| Harry Kane | 2018 | 6 |
| Harry Kane | 2026 | 6 |
| Gary Lineker | 1986 | 6 |
Bellingham’s achievement was particularly impressive because he is not a traditional centre-forward.
He contributed goals from midfield throughout the tournament and became one of the most important attacking players in England’s team.
Read more:
Jude Bellingham – The Ultimate Guide to England’s Midfield Superstar
Records Broken in England’s 6-4 Victory
The match produced several historic records and milestones.
Highest-Scoring Third-Place Match in World Cup History
The ten combined goals were the most ever scored in a FIFA World Cup third-place match.
England and France broke the previous record of nine goals from France’s 6-3 victory over West Germany in 1958.
Highest-Scoring World Cup Match Since 1982
It was the first World Cup match to produce ten or more goals since Hungary defeated El Salvador 10-1 at the 1982 tournament.
England’s Best Finish Since 1966
England won the World Cup in 1966.
Before 2026, their next-best finishes had been fourth place in 1990 and 2018.
The bronze medal in 2026 therefore became England’s second-best finish in men’s World Cup history.
England’s First Bronze Medal
England had never previously won a World Cup third-place play-off.
They lost 2-1 to Italy in 1990 and 2-0 to Belgium in 2018.
Saka Joins England’s World Cup Hat-Trick Club
Saka became the fourth England player to score a hat-trick at a men’s World Cup.
Bellingham Sets a New England Record
Bellingham’s seven goals were the most scored by an England player during a single World Cup tournament.
Mbappé Reaches 22 World Cup Goals
Mbappé moved ahead of Messi at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring list before the Argentina-Spain final.
England Score Four Goals in the First Half
England’s four-goal opening half against one of the strongest teams in international football was among their most dominant performances at a major tournament.
Why England Won the Match
A 6-4 result suggests complete chaos, but England’s victory was built on several clear strengths.
1. Ruthless First-Half Finishing
England converted their early opportunities and punished France for defensive errors.
Scoring four times before half-time gave Tuchel’s team a decisive advantage.
2. Saka’s Movement
Saka constantly found space around the French defence.
His timing, speed and finishing made him England’s most dangerous attacking player.
3. Midfield Leadership
Rice gave England control and aggression during the opening stages.
Bellingham then entered the match and produced the final goal.
4. Goals From Different Positions
England’s six goals came from a defender, a central midfielder, a winger and an attacking midfielder.
That variety made England difficult to defend against.
5. Mental Strength
France reduced the deficit from 4-0 to 4-3 and threatened to complete a sensational comeback.
England could easily have collapsed, but Saka and Bellingham responded with decisive goals.
What England Must Improve
The bronze medal was deserved, but the second half also exposed problems Thomas Tuchel must address.
Defensive Control
A team leading 4-0 should not allow the opponent to move within one goal.
England became too open and allowed France to attack through central areas.
Managing Momentum
After Mbappé scored France’s first goal, England struggled to slow the game down.
Keeping possession and controlling the tempo will be essential in future knockout matches.
Protecting Leads
England also surrendered a lead in their 2-1 semi-final defeat against Argentina.
The France match again showed that England must become better at controlling games when ahead.
Physical Fatigue
Tuchel explained after the match that England’s players were physically and mentally exhausted after a demanding tournament involving travel, heat and difficult knockout games.
Despite that fatigue, he praised the players’ mentality and their ability to survive France’s comeback.
Was England’s World Cup 2026 a Success?
England travelled to the tournament with the ambition of becoming world champions.
For that reason, third place cannot completely remove the disappointment of losing to Argentina in the semi-final.
However, the tournament still contained significant positives.
England finished third for the first time, won a World Cup medal for the first time since 1966 and scored 20 goals during an entertaining campaign.
Bellingham set a national scoring record, Saka joined England’s World Cup hat-trick legends and several members of the squad gained important knockout-stage experience.
England also showed that they could defeat another major football nation under intense pressure.
The challenge is now to turn promising performances and deep tournament runs into a trophy.
Thomas Tuchel described the bronze-medal victory as a step towards closing the gap between England and the world’s strongest teams.
England’s Biggest Stars at World Cup 2026
Jude Bellingham
Bellingham scored seven goals and broke England’s record for the most goals by one player at a single World Cup.
His combination of technique, movement, physical strength and mentality made him one of England’s most important performers.
Harry Kane
Kane scored six goals during the tournament, matching his total from the 2018 World Cup.
Although he did not start the third-place match, England’s captain remained a central figure throughout the campaign.
Bukayo Saka
Saka produced one of the performances of the tournament by scoring three times against France.
His hat-trick ensured England finished the World Cup with a medal.
Declan Rice
Rice provided leadership, energy and tactical discipline.
His early goal against France gave England the perfect start.
Ezri Konsa
Konsa contributed defensively and scored England’s second goal in the bronze-medal match.
Dean Henderson
Henderson faced intense pressure during France’s second-half comeback and made several important saves.
England’s World Cup 2026 Legacy
England will leave the 2026 World Cup with mixed emotions.
They came close to reaching the final but were unable to defeat Argentina in the semi-final.
Their response against France showed character.
Instead of allowing the disappointment to define their tournament, England produced a spectacular attacking display and secured a historic bronze medal.
The team’s attacking talent is unquestionable.
Saka, Bellingham, Kane, Rice and the next generation of England players give Tuchel a squad capable of competing for major honours.
The next step is learning how to control the biggest matches from beginning to end.
England have now reached the final stages of several major tournaments.
Third place at the 2026 World Cup represents progress, but expectations will remain high.
Watch England vs France Highlights
▶️ England 6-4 France World Cup 2026 highlights
▶️ Bukayo Saka hat-trick against France
▶️ Jude Bellingham goal against France
▶️ Kylian Mbappé goals against England
▶️ England World Cup 2026 best goals
Frequently Asked Questions
Who finished third at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
England finished third after defeating France 6-4 in the bronze-medal match on 18 July 2026.
What was the England vs France score?
England beat France 6-4 after leading 4-0 at half-time.
Who scored for England against France?
Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham scored for England. Saka scored three goals.
Who scored France’s goals?
Kylian Mbappé scored twice. Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé scored France’s other goals.
Did Bukayo Saka score a hat-trick?
Yes. Saka scored twice in the first half and completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot late in the match.
How many England players have scored a World Cup hat-trick?
Four England men’s players have scored a World Cup hat-trick: Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
How many goals did Jude Bellingham score at World Cup 2026?
Bellingham scored seven goals, setting a new England record for the most goals by one player at a single World Cup.
How many goals did Kylian Mbappé score at World Cup 2026?
Mbappé reached ten goals at the tournament after scoring twice against England.
How many career World Cup goals does Mbappé have?
Mbappé reached 22 career World Cup goals during the third-place match.
Was England 6-4 France the highest-scoring third-place match?
Yes. The ten goals set a new record for the highest-scoring third-place match in World Cup history.
What is England’s best World Cup result?
England’s best result remains winning the World Cup in 1966. Third place in 2026 is their second-best finish.
Had England previously won a World Cup bronze medal?
No. England lost their previous third-place matches in 1990 and 2018.
Read More on Finter
England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – Is Football Finally Coming Home?
World Cup 2026 Clubs and Players With the Most Goals and Assists
Jude Bellingham – The Ultimate Guide to England’s Midfield Superstar
Kylian Mbappé – History, Goals, Skills, Speed and Records
World Cup 2026 Top Scorers, Assists, Clean Sheets and Records
The 25 Biggest Breakout Stars of World Cup 2026
Visit Finter’s English Football Front Page
Conclusion: Bronze Is Coming Home
England did not win the 2026 World Cup, but they ended the tournament with a match that will be remembered for generations.
Ten goals.
A Bukayo Saka hat-trick.
A new England scoring record for Jude Bellingham.
Two historic goals for Kylian Mbappé.
A four-goal French comeback attempt.
And England’s first World Cup medal in 60 years.
The defensive problems will give Thomas Tuchel plenty to analyse, but England’s attacking quality and mental strength were impossible to ignore.
Third place was not the prize England originally wanted.
However, the 6-4 victory over France gave the Three Lions a historic bronze medal, their best finish since 1966 and further belief that this generation can eventually end England’s long wait for another major trophy.
Bronze is coming home.