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England have secured bronze at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a high-octane 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff on Sunday, delivering a goal-filled spectacle worthy of the tournament’s knockout stages. The English men dominated most of the time and netted four goals within the first half.
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Bukayo Saka stole the show with a memorable hat-trick, including a decisive late penalty that helped seal the win for the Three Lions. The Arsenal forward’s clinical finishing and composure under pressure highlighted England’s attacking prowess in what became one of the highest-scoring matches of the competition.
England claims third place in thrilling 2026 World Cup playoff vs France
Despite the defeat, France’s Kylian Mbappe etched his name into football immortality by becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals. The French captain’s remarkable tally across the tournament added a historic silver lining to a disappointing fourth-place finish for the defending champions.
Michael Olise also enjoyed a breakout campaign, setting a new single-tournament record with seven assists. The midfielder’s creative brilliance was on full display throughout the competition and played a key role in England’s attacking transitions.
The match provided a fittingly entertaining conclusion for two European powerhouses who fell just short of the final. For England, the result marks a respectable end to a strong World Cup run, while France will look to regroup after coming agonisingly close to further glory. Meanwhile, it was also the last game for Didier Deschamps as the head coach of the French side before Zinedine Zidane takes over.
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