England defeats France 6-4 in 2026 World Cup third-place thriller
England secured third place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, defeating France 6-4 in a high-scoring encounter at Miami Stadium. The match, which featured 10 goals, stands as the highest-scoring World Cup game since 1982, when Hungary defeated El Salvador 10-1. The victory marks England’s best performance in the tournament since 1966. For France, the match served as the final game for long-serving head coach Didier Deschamps, whose tenure spanning more than a decade concluded with the defeat.
A dominant first half for England
England entered the match following a 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina, while France sought to rebound from a 2-0 defeat to Spain. Despite reports suggesting both teams viewed the third-place play-off as a marginal encounter, both sides made seven changes to their starting lineups and approached the game with significant attacking intent. England’s captain for the match, Declan Rice, opened the scoring in the third minute after winning the ball at the halfway line and driving forward to score. Ezri Konsa doubled the lead in the 18th minute, heading in a corner kick from Rice. Bukayo Saka further extended the lead with two goals before halftime, assisted by Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze, respectively. By the interval, England held a commanding 4-0 advantage.
For more on this story, see England and Argentina Face Off in 2026 FIFA World Cup Semifinal.
France’s spirited comeback attempt
Following the halftime break, France coach Didier Deschamps implemented four substitutions, which immediately impacted the momentum of the game. France captain Kylian Mbappé scored shortly after the restart, and Bradley Barcola added a second for France in the 55th minute to bring the score to 4-2. Mbappé, who combined with Michael Olise to score his second goal of the match, brought France within one goal at 4-3. This effort marked Mbappé’s 10th goal of the 2026 tournament and his 22nd career World Cup goal, establishing him as the top scorer in World Cup history. Despite the pressure, England restored a two-goal cushion in the 88th minute. After Malo Gusto fouled Djed Spence in the penalty area, Bukayo Saka converted the spot-kick to complete his hat-trick and earn player of the match honors. In stoppage time, the teams traded final goals. Ousmane Dembélé scored for France following a turnover by Declan Rice, but Jude Bellingham secured the 6-4 victory for England with a solo effort.
This follows our earlier report, 2026 World Cup Semifinals Set With France, Spain, England and Argentina.
Reflections on the tournament
England manager Thomas Tuchel described the match as a brilliant first half
followed by a turbulent second half.
Tuchel noted that his team felt drained from the tournament but praised their resilience in creating a special performance to end their campaign. For France, the loss marked the end of an era under Deschamps, who previously led the team to a 2018 World Cup title and a 2022 final appearance. While France finished fourth, Mbappé’s performance throughout the tournament solidified his status as a leading performer in the competition. England’s victory provided the team with a podium finish, which Saka described as a strong conclusion to their efforts.
Read also: England and Argentina Set for World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Clash.
Key match statistics
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Final Score | England 6, France 4 |
| England Goalscorers | Bukayo Saka (3), Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, Jude Bellingham |
| France Goalscorers | Kylian Mbappé (2), Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé |
| Venue | Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. |
| Date | July 18, 2026 |
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