England clinched the bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by triumphing over France in a thrilling third-place match that concluded with a score of 6-4.
The exhilarating game, hosted at Miami Stadium, showcased ten goals and numerous dramatic shifts in momentum, making it one of the most captivating matches of the tournament.
England came out strong right from the start, with Declan Rice netting the first goal just three minutes into the game. Ezri Konsa then extended their lead in the 18th minute with a powerful header from a corner kick.
In the 37th minute, Bukayo Saka scored again, pushing England’s lead to a comfortable 3-0. He followed up with another goal just before halftime, bringing the score to 4-0.
After the break, France quickly struck back, with Kylian Mbappé finding scoring in the 48th minute to reduce the deficit.
In the 54th minute of the game, Bradley Barcola scored for France, making the score closer at 4-2. Then, in the 66th minute, Kylian Mbappé scored again, bringing the score to 4-3 and giving France a chance to come back.
However, England came back strong when Bukayo Saka scored a penalty kick in the 87th minute, completing his hat-trick and putting them back in the lead by two goals. France wasn’t done yet, as Ousmane Dembélé scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time, making it 5-4.
But Jude Bellingham secured the win for England when he scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time, ending the game with a final score of 6-4. This win was England’s best performance in the World Cup since they last won it in 1966.
The match was exciting, with many changes in the lead and thrilling moments. It was especially important for England since they had lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-finals. France also faced disappointment earlier, losing 2-0 to Spain before this third-place match.
England’s offense was amazing, with Saka’s hat-trick being a major highlight. Declan Rice also played a key role by scoring early in the game and assisting in another goal. On France’s side, Mbappé was a star, scoring twice and helping to create an exciting second-half comeback.
In the end, England stayed strong despite the pressure and scored two late goals to win. This victory not only secured them a spot on the podium but also gave a memorable ending to their World Cup journey in North America.
For France, though, the loss was a disappointing end to a tournament that also marked the end of Didier Deschamps’ time as coach. The final score of 6-4 made sure this match would be remembered as one of the highest-scoring games in World Cup history.
