England secure third place at World Cup 2026 with late surge against France
The Three Lions withstood a dramatic French comeback to claim bronze, while Kylian Mbappé finishes as tournament’s top scorer ahead of final in New Jersey.
England have secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff match held in Miami on Saturday, 18 July 2026. The result concludes the tournament for both semi-final losers, with Jude Bellingham scoring the decisive goal in the 90+8th minute to seal the win after a period of significant French pressure.
The match began with England establishing early control, taking a commanding 4-0 lead through goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and two from Bukayo Saka. This early dominance appeared to settle the contest, but France mounted a substantial second-half comeback. Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Bradley Barcola added one, reducing the deficit to 4-3 and shifting the momentum of the fixture.
Saka restored England’s two-goal advantage with a penalty, making the score 5-3 and seemingly ending France’s hopes of a draw or victory. However, Ousmane Dembélé scored for the French side to bring the score to 5-4, setting up a tense conclusion. Bellingham’s late individual effort and precise finish into the bottom right corner secured the 6-4 victory for England.
The match marked the final game for Didier Deschamps as manager of the French national team. While Mbappé continued his pursuit of the tournament’s leading scorer title with his brace, it proved insufficient against England’s attacking output. Mbappé finished the competition with eight goals.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted across North America, now heads to its conclusion. The final is scheduled to take place in New Jersey between Argentina and Spain. France had previously defeated Spain 2-0 in the semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on 14 July 2026, before their exit in this playoff match.
