England secure third place at 2026 World Cup with victory over France

England have secured third place at the 2026 World Cup with a 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff in Miami, marking the nation’s best finish at a men’s tournament since their 1966 triumph. The result concludes 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 sealed a historic bronze medal.

Stand-in captain Declan Rice described the squad as the best England group in a long time, asserting that major tournament success is close. Rice, who captained the side in Miami, stated that while the team is gutted by the semi-final defeat to Argentina, the achievement of reaching the final four is significant. He emphasised that the group is tired of merely being proud of quarter-final and semi-final exits, insisting that the margin for error in high-level football is small and that the team is now positioned to challenge for the title.

Manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the pain of the semi-final exit but expressed confidence in closing the gap to top nations. He insisted that he has not lost the trust of the players despite the tactical criticism following the collapse against Argentina. Tuchel described the disappointment as a scar that will remain, noting that the team set the highest dream of winning the World Cup and that the pain of missing out is a natural consequence of such ambition. He remains focused on bridging the gap, pointing out that France was a champion eight years ago and a finalist four years prior, suggesting that the distance between England and the elite is surmountable.

The match itself was a high-scoring thriller, with England establishing a 4-0 lead through goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and a Bukayo Saka brace. France mounted a comeback with goals from Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé, before Jude Bellingham scored the winning goal in the 90+8th minute. The victory marked Didier Deschamps’ final game as France manager and Kylian Mbappé’s final World Cup appearance.

Assistant manager Anthony Barry was visibly emotional during a half-time interview, describing the players as having broken hearts but praising their pride and team spirit. Harry Kane, who scored six goals during the tournament, described the squad as one of the best he has been part of and praised Tuchel’s handling of his first major tournament. Bukayo Saka, who was an unused substitute in the semi-final, scored a hat-trick against France and stated he is fully fit, dismissing any lingering injury concerns. Former England players Danny Murphy, Stephen Warnock, and Martin Keown provided post-match analysis, with Murphy suggesting Tuchel should not keep his job due to tactical failures against Argentina. The World Cup final is scheduled for 19 July 2026 in New Jersey.