England claimed third place at the 2026 World Cup with a 6-4 win over France at Hard Rock Stadium, completing a high-scoring consolation match that delivered constant lead changes and attacking surges. Bukayo Saka produced a hat-trick, Kylian Mbappe responded with a brace for France, and both teams pushed the tempo in a game that never settled into a cautious rhythm.
The decisive moment arrived late on when Jude Bellingham scored with a solo world-class strike, stretching England's advantage and effectively closing the door on a French comeback. His goal capped an open contest in which defensive structures were repeatedly broken by quick combinations and individual talent, turning the third-place fixture into an unexpected showcase for attacking football.
The combined tally of ten goals set a new all-time record for the highest-scoring World Cup third-place match, underlining the unique nature of this bronze-medal clash. For England, this finish marks their best World Cup result since lifting the trophy in 1966, reinforcing the sense of progress for the current generation. For France, the game also carried symbolic weight, serving as the final match of Didier Deschamps' tenure as head coach and closing a significant chapter for the team.
