England secured third place in the 2026 World Cup this Saturday by defeating France with a score of 6-4 in a historic match held at the , featuring 10 goals that rank it among the most prolific matches in World Cup history.
The first half was an English monologue with no possible response. Declan Rice opened the scoring just three minutes in, taking advantage of a quick play that caught the French defense off guard. Ezri Konsa extended the lead in the 18th minute with a shot that left the French goalkeeper with no chances. Then it was Bukayo Saka's turn, who scored a brace in the 37th and 45th minutes, leaving a resounding 4-0 at halftime—a result that seemed to seal the match before the second half began.
France emerged transformed in the second half with four simultaneous changes during the break: Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Lucas Digne, and Dayot Upamecano came on for Cherki, Doué, T. Hernández, and Konaté. The French reaction was immediate and spectacular, turning the match into a thrilling back-and-forth affair.
Kylian Mbappé narrowed the gap in the 48th minute, just two minutes after the restart. Barcola scored to make it 4-2 in the 54th minute, and Mbappé found the net again in the 66th minute to bring it to 4-3, creating a comeback that threatened to completely change the course of the match and kept the fans present in Miami Gardens on the edge of their seats.
When a tie seemed possible, Saka appeared again to seal the deal. The Arsenal winger converted a penalty in the 87th minute, completing his personal hat-trick and putting the French team out of reach for good, ending with a final score of 6-4 that reflects the intensity of a high-voltage European clash.
Saka was the standout player of the match with three goals (37', 45', and 87' from the penalty spot), while Mbappé scored twice for the French team (48' and 66'), and Barcola added a third goal for France in the 54th minute. In terms of statistics, both teams had an equal number of total shots, with 18 each, although England was more accurate with 10 shots on target compared to France's eight. The English also dominated possession with 54% versus France's 46%, and committed fewer fouls: eight compared to 14 by the French.
Both teams arrived at this match after falling in the semifinals. France lost 0-2 to Spain on July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with goals from Fabián Ruiz and Merino. Meanwhile, England fell 1-2 to Argentina on July 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez contributed to the comeback by the Albiceleste.
This result also served as a revenge for the English following Qatar 2022, when France eliminated them in the quarter-finals with a score of 2-1, leaving an open wound in English football. With the 6-4 result this Saturday, England concludes its participation in the 2026 World Cup in third place, while France finishes in fourth. The historic final between Spain and Argentina will take place this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking the first matchup between these two teams in a World Cup final.
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