England finished their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on a high by defeating France 6–4 in a thrilling third-place playoff on Saturday, securing the bronze medal in one of the tournament’s highest-scoring matches.
The Three Lions delivered a sensational attacking performance, taking an early four-goal lead before France mounted a spirited comeback in the second half. Despite the French resurgence, England maintained their composure to seal an entertaining victory and finish third in the tournament.
Bukayo Saka was the standout performer, netting a brilliant hat-trick to inspire England’s triumph. Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Jude Bellingham also found the back of the net, showcasing England’s attacking depth on the global stage. France responded through Kylian Mbappé and other attackers, but their late surge was not enough to overturn the deficit.
The victory gives England a podium finish at the FIFA World Cup and provides a positive conclusion to an impressive campaign after falling to Argentina in the semi-finals. The result also highlights the progress made by the squad, ending the tournament with confidence and momentum.
For France, the defeat means a fourth-place finish despite an impressive fightback. The bronze medal clash also marked the end of their World Cup journey, with the team now turning its attention to future international competitions.
With the third-place playoff concluded, football fans around the world now await the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, where Spain and Argentina will battle for the biggest prize in world football.
