Fifa 2026: England, having defeated France, will be third.

England secured a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the third-place match of the FIFA World Cup, held on July 18, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, USA. This triumph marked England's best tournament finish since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966, surpassing their previous attempts to reach the semi-finals in 1990 and 2018.

This match made history as the highest-scoring third-place playoff in World Cup history, with a total of 10 goals, as France's strong comeback in the second half added intense competitiveness to the game.

Despite England coach Thomas Tuchel resting several key players like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Jordan Pickford after their semi-final defeat to Argentina, England completely dominated the first half of the match. Declan Rice scored England's first goal in the third minute, followed by Ezri Konsa heading in a corner kick in the 18th minute for the second goal. Before the end of the first half, Bukayo Saka scored two more goals in the 37th minute and during injury time, bringing England to a 4-0 lead at halftime.

This was Didier Deschamps' final match as France's coach, and after a somewhat sluggish first half, the French team made several substitutions in the second half and adopted a very strong attacking style of play. Kylian Mbappé scored two goals, while Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, and Dayot Upamecano also found the net, rapidly narrowing the score difference in the second half. However, Bukayo Saka completed his hat-trick by successfully converting a penalty in the 87th minute, and substitute Jude Bellingham's goal in the 98th minute of injury time confirmed England's victory.

In this World Cup, held for the first time in an expanded format with 48 teams co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, England competed in Group L. They defeated Croatia 4-2 and Panama 2-0, and drew goalless with Ghana, topping their group. Subsequently, they defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32, Mexico 3-2 in the Round of 16, and Norway in the quarter-finals, qualifying for the semi-finals. Their defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals led them to play in this third-place match.

In this match, Bukayo Saka delivered a remarkable hat-trick, while Kylian Mbappé, who scored two goals for France, temporarily surpassed Lionel Messi's World Cup goal record and took the lead in the race for the 2026 Golden Boot award. This victory clearly reflects the depth of England's squad and their resilience under coach Tuchel, and as their highest finish since 1966, it boosts the nation's sporting pride. However, it is anticipated that critics will focus on the weaknesses in their defensive line in high-stakes matches in the future.

For the French team, this tournament finish was disappointing, and it also marked the farewell of coach Didier Deschamps. While their performance in the second half was commendable, the passivity observed in the first half indicates a lack of mental stimulation that teams often face in third-place matches. The high number of goals throughout the tournament captivated spectators, and the final match between Argentina and Spain was scheduled for July 19, 2026. With this success, the England team has paved the way for their fans to look forward to future tournaments with renewed hope.