By Francis Onyach - Reporter
US, July 19,2026 - England ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on a high by defeating France 6-4 in a breathtaking third-place playoff, securing the bronze medal after one of the most entertaining matches in World Cup history.
In a game that swung wildly from start to finish, Bukayo Saka produced the performance of his international career with a stunning hat-trick, while Kylian Mbappé scored twice for France to become the all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, taking his career tally to 22 goals.
The 10-goal spectacle also set a new record for the highest-scoring third-place match in FIFA World Cup history.
Thomas Tuchel's side looked determined to respond positively after their heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Argentina.
England wasted no time taking control as Declan Rice opened the scoring just three minutes into the contest before defender Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage in the 18th minute.
France struggled to cope with England's intensity, and Bukayo Saka soon took centre stage.
The Arsenal winger struck twice before halftime to send England into the break with a commanding 4-0 lead, leaving Didier Deschamps' side facing an almost impossible task.
France emerged after the interval looking like a completely different team.
Captain Kylian Mbappé ignited the comeback with a goal just three minutes into the second half before Bradley Barcola reduced the deficit further, suddenly giving Les Bleus hope.
Mbappé then struck again midway through the half, cutting England's lead to a single goal and completing his brace.
The two goals took the Real Madrid forward to 22 career World Cup goals, moving him past Lionel Messi as the competition's all-time leading scorer. They also moved him to 10 goals at the 2026 tournament, strengthening his position in the Golden Boot race.
With France pressing for an equaliser, England found the moment that finally settled the contest.
Saka calmly converted a late penalty to complete his hat-trick, becoming the first England player to score three goals in a World Cup match since Gary Lineker at the 1986 tournament.
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The goal restored England's two-goal cushion and effectively ended France's hopes of completing a remarkable turnaround.
England were not finished.
Deep into stoppage time, Jude Bellingham produced a brilliant solo effort to score England's sixth goal of the evening.
The strike took Bellingham's tournament tally to seven goals, setting a new record for the most goals scored by an England player in a single FIFA World Cup.
France grabbed one final consolation through Ousmane Dembélé, but it was too little, too late as England held on for a memorable victory.
Although England narrowly missed out on a place in the final following their dramatic semi-final defeat to Argentina, the victory ensured they recorded their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966.
Speaking after the match, manager Thomas Tuchel praised his players for their response to the disappointment of missing the final, highlighting the character shown to finish the tournament with a victory.
The defeat marked the end of Didier Deschamps' 14-year tenure as head coach. Despite the loss, Mbappé's record-breaking performance was one of the few positives on an emotional evening for Les Bleus.
If the third-place playoff is often dismissed as football's least meaningful World Cup fixture, England and France completely changed that perception in Miami.
The match delivered relentless attacking football, dramatic momentum swings and individual brilliance from two of the tournament's biggest stars. Bukayo Saka's hat-trick capped a sensational tournament for the Arsenal winger, while Kylian Mbappé left his own mark on history by becoming the most prolific goalscorer the World Cup has ever seen.
The bronze medal offers a measure of consolation after the heartbreak of the semi-finals for The Three Lions. For France, despite another painful defeat, Mbappé's record-breaking exploits ensured that even in disappointment, history was made. The 6-4 classic will be remembered as one of the greatest third-place matches the World Cup has ever witnessed.