- England defeated France 6-4 in the 2026 World Cup Bronze Final on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
- Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, including a penalty in the 87th minute, becoming only the fourth Englishman to achieve this at a World Cup.
- England led 4-0 at half-time through goals by Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and Bukayo Saka (two).
- Late drama saw Ousmane Dembele score in the 96th minute and Jude Bellingham net the 10th goal of the game, setting a record for most World Cup goals by an England player (seven).
England's thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the bronze medal match at the 2026 World Cup marked their best finish since 1966.
The match began with Declan Rice scoring in the third minute, followed by Ezri Konsa's header and Bukayo Saka's two goals, leading to a stunning 4-0 halftime lead.4
France, however, mounted a comeback in the second half, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice, becoming the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals.
Despite the pressure, Saka completed his hat-trick with a penalty in the 87th minute, making him only the fourth Englishman to achieve this feat in World Cup history.23
Jude Bellingham sealed the victory with a late goal, ensuring England's bronze medal and a total of 10 goals scored in the match, the most in a World Cup game since 1982.56
Saka reflected on the tournament, stating, “In the end, we fell short against Argentina and yeah, it hurts a lot to all of us,” but emphasized the importance of finishing strong.
England's performance, while celebrated, also highlighted the frustration of their earlier semi-final loss to Argentina, where Saka was an unused substitute.
The match showcased England's potential under manager Thomas Tuchel, as they look forward to future competitions.
“Kylian Mbappe scored twice for France, becoming the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals. The 10 combined goals set a record for the most in a World Cup match since 1982, and England's bronze medal is their best finish since 1966.”
