England secure World Cup third place in historic 6-4 victory over France
England withstood a second-half comeback to defeat France 6-4 in Miami, securing third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in one of the highest-scoring matches in tournament history.
England secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff held in Miami. The contest, described as one of the highest-scoring games in World Cup history, saw the English side establish a commanding lead before withstanding a significant second-half comeback from their French counterparts.
Thomas Tuchel’s England opened the scoring through a dominant first-half performance, building a 4-0 lead with goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and two from Bukayo Saka. France mounted a spirited response in the second half, reducing the deficit to 4-5 through goals from Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé.
Jude Bellingham scored the decisive goal for England in the 90+8th minute, sealing the result and ending Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as France manager. The match marked the definitive endpoint for Deschamps’ leadership, concluding an era defined by significant international success for the national side and establishing him as the longest-serving manager in the history of Les Bleus.
Individual milestones were also recorded during the high-scoring affair. Kylian Mbappé became the highest-scoring player in World Cup history, while England’s Michael Olise matched Lionel Messi’s all-time assist record. The victory highlights England’s resilience in maintaining their lead despite the French resurgence.
The 2026 World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, 19 July 2026, in New York. Reports indicate that Spain is seeking to add another star to their jersey, while Argentina aims for back-to-back World Cup victories as the tournament approaches its conclusion.
