England defeated France 6-4 in a record-breaking third-place match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday at Miami Stadium, delivering the highest-scoring game in the history of the tournament's consolation final. The match, played at Hard Rock Stadium, featured 10 goals, surpassing the previous record of six set in the 1958 third-place match between France and West Germany.
England took a commanding 4-0 lead into halftime after a dominant first-half performance. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute, and Ezri Konsa added a goal off a corner in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then scored twice, including a goal in the 37th minute that gave England a three-goal cushion, and added another before the break to make it 4-0. The first half was one of the most lopsided of the tournament, with England controlling possession and creating numerous chances despite leaving star players Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham on the bench.
France responded strongly in the second half. Kylian Mbappe scored in the 48th minute to put France on the board and moved ahead of Argentina's Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. Bradley Barcola added a goal minutes later to cut the deficit to 4-2. Mbappe then scored again in the 66th minute, making it 4-3 and extending his lead in the Golden Boot standings while also taking over the top spot on the all-time World Cup goals list.
England regained control after being awarded a penalty kick. Saka converted the spot kick to complete his hat trick and give England a 5-3 lead. Jude Bellingham, who entered the match in the second half, added a sixth goal for England, his seventh of the tournament, to seal the victory. France scored a late goal to make the final score 6-4, but the comeback fell short.
The match was an instant classic, with both teams playing with intensity despite the disappointment of losing in the semifinals. France had lost to Spain, while England fell to defending champion Argentina. The third-place match is often seen as a consolation, but Saturday's game proved to be a thrilling contest that showcased the offensive firepower of both sides.
For England, the victory marked their best finish in a World Cup since winning the tournament in 1966. The team had not reached the third-place match since 1990, when they lost to Italy. The win also provided a measure of redemption after a heartbreaking semifinal loss to Argentina, where England had high hopes of reaching the final.
France, meanwhile, entered the tournament as one of the favorites but fell short in the semifinals. The team will look to regroup after a disappointing end to their campaign, though Mbappe's individual performance in the third-place match was a bright spot. He finished the tournament as the leading scorer and now holds the record for most World Cup goals in history.
The match also highlighted the depth of England's squad, as players like Saka, Rice, and Konsa stepped up in the absence of Kane and Bellingham. Saka, who did not play a single minute in the semifinal loss to Argentina, delivered a hat trick that will be remembered as one of the best performances in a third-place match.
The 2026 World Cup will conclude on Sunday with the final between Spain and Argentina at New York-New Jersey Stadium, scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET. The match will determine the champion of a tournament that has already provided plenty of drama and memorable moments.