England secure third place at 2026 World Cup after surviving French comeback
Kylian Mbappe breaks all-time scoring record as England withstand late pressure to claim bronze medal.
England have secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 6-4 victory over France in Miami, a result that marks their highest tournament finish since winning the title in 1966. The match, played under oppressive heat, concluded the campaign for both semi-final losers, with England capitalising on a dominant first-half display to establish an insurmountable lead before a late French resurgence.
The Three Lions raced out to a 4-0 lead through goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and two from Bukayo Saka in the opening half. However, the contest turned into a high-scoring thriller as France mounted a comeback with goals from Kylian Mbappe, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé. The result surpassed England’s fourth-place finish in 2018 and stands as the highest-scoring World Cup game since Hungary’s 10-1 victory over El Salvador in 1982.
Mbappe’s brace pushed him to 21 World Cup career goals, surpassing Lionel Messi for the most in tournament history. He also became the first player to score double-digit goals at the World Cup since German legend Gerd Muller in 1970. The match marked the final appearance for both Mbappe and France manager Didier Deschamps in the competition.
England’s back line was under significant pressure during the second half, with Michael Olise missing a significant chance to level the score. Unlike the semi-final loss to Argentina, where defensive substitutions were heavily criticised, England coach Thomas Tuchel did not make extensive changes during the crisis. Djed Spence won a crucial penalty in stoppage time, which Saka converted to complete his hat-trick and restore England’s two-goal advantage.
Jude Bellingham sealed the victory with a solo goal in the 90+8th minute, slamming the door shut on the French comeback. The result ensures England avoid another shocking collapse, having previously blown a 1-0 lead in the 85th minute against Argentina. The 2026 World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, 19 July 2026, in New York/New Jersey.
