On July 18, the 2026 FIFA World Cup gifted fans one of the most spectacular and unexpected matches of the entire tournament. In the third-place playoff, the England national team defeated France with a score of 6:4, securing bronze medals at the World Championship for the first time in their history.
The match in Miami was supposed to be a consolation final for two teams that had painfully experienced defeats in the semifinals. But instead of cautious football, spectators witnessed a true goal-scoring festival, a record for third-place matches at World Cups.
England stunned France in the first half
The Englishmen started the game as if the main trophy was at stake. Already in the third minute, Declan Rice intercepted an inaccurate pass, advanced to the penalty area, and opened the scoring with a precise shot.
In the 18th minute, Ezri Konsa doubled England's lead, playing effectively after a corner kick. Then came Bukayo Saka's time. The English winger scored twice before halftime, helping his team go into the locker room with an incredible score of 4:0.
It seemed that the fate of the bronze medals had already been decided. However, after the break, France completely changed the nature of the encounter.
French comeback
Immediately after the start of the second half, Kylian Mbappé reduced the deficit. A few minutes later, he assisted Bradley Barcola, and then scored another goal himself.
The score became 4:3, and the match, which had seemed over just recently, turned into a tense battle again. The French attacked almost non-stop, and the English defense had to withstand immense pressure.
Mbappé completed his brace, bringing his tournament goal tally to ten and taking the lead in the race for the Golden Boot. Additionally, the Frenchman reached 22 World Cup goals, surpassing Lionel Messi's record.
Saka's hat-trick decided the outcome of the match
When France was close to equalizing, England was awarded a penalty. In the 87th minute, Saka confidently converted the spot-kick, completing his hat-trick – 5:3.
In stoppage time, Ousmane Dembélé brought French hopes back again, narrowing the gap to one goal. But the last word belonged to the Englishmen. Jude Bellingham finished a swift attack with a beautiful individual run and set the final score – 6:4.
For Bellingham, this goal was his seventh in the 2026 World Cup – a record for an England player in a single World Cup.
Historic Match
The ten goals scored made the match between France and England the highest-scoring third-place playoff in World Cup history. It was also the most high-scoring game of the tournament since 1982, when Hungary thrashed El Salvador 10:1.
England won the bronze final for the first time. Previously, the team had participated in such matches twice but lost to Italy in 1990 and Belgium in 2018. The victory in Miami marked the Englishmen's best result at World Cups outside their home country and their second-best achievement after their 1966 title win.
Didier Deschamps' Last Match
For the French national team, the evening ended with fourth place and a farewell to head coach Didier Deschamps. The match against England was the last for the specialist, who had led the national team for 14 years.
France had a poor first half, but their comeback after the break showed the team's character. Despite scoring four goals and mounting an impressive surge, the French could not overcome such a large deficit.
A Day to Remember
July 18 did not determine the World Champion, but it delivered a tournament match worthy of a final. Saka's hat-trick, Mbappé's brace, France's swift comeback, and Bellingham's decisive goal turned the battle for bronze into a football spectacle.
France – England – 4:6. The Englishmen conclude the 2026 World Cup with bronze medals, and the fans receive a match they will remember for a long time as one of the wildest in the history of world championships.
