England and France turned the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff into an unforgettable goal-fest, producing a 10-goal thriller in Miami on Saturday. England survived a dramatic France comeback to claim a 6-4 victory, securing their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966. What was expected to be a low-intensity consolation match instead became one of the tournament’s most entertaining encounters.
England raced into a commanding 4-0 lead with Bukayo Saka scoring twice alongside goals from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa, but France responded with a fierce second-half fightback led by Kylian Mbappe. The French star scored twice to become the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history, while Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot late in the game to restore England’s cushion. Both teams continued attacking until the final whistle, with England ultimately holding on for a historic victory.
Bukayo Saka Hat-Trick Inspires England to 6-4 Win Over France in World Cup Third-Place Thriller
Bukayo Saka produced a World Cup moment to remember as England defeated France 6-4 in a thrilling third-place playoff at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Arsenal star scored a hat-trick to lead Thomas Tuchel’s side to the bronze medal and secure England’s best tournament finish since their 1966 triumph.
England looked unstoppable in the opening half, racing into a 4-0 lead after goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and two brilliant finishes from Saka. The forward opened his account in the 37th minute after Marcus Rashford’s clever pass sent him through, before adding another in stoppage time after combining with Eberechi Eze to give the Three Lions a huge advantage at the break.
France responded with a stunning second-half comeback as Kylian Mbappe scored twice to become the highest-scoring player in World Cup history, while Bradley Barcola added another to make it 4-3. However, Saka stepped up when England needed him most, calmly converting a late penalty to complete his hat-trick before Jude Bellingham added a sixth in stoppage time. The treble placed Saka among England’s elite World Cup goalscorers, joining Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker and Harry Kane as the only Three Lions players to achieve the feat.
Jude Bellingham Makes England History With Record-Breaking World Cup Goal
Jude Bellingham made history during England’s dramatic 6-4 win over France in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff, becoming the first English player to score seven goals in a single World Cup campaign. The Real Madrid midfielder entered the game tied with England legends Gary Lineker, who scored six goals at Mexico 1986, and Harry Kane, who reached the same mark in 2018 and the 2026 tournament.
Coming off the bench in the 79th minute, Bellingham delivered a memorable final touch by scoring with the last kick of the match. Starting the move from near the halfway line, he drove forward, beat a defender and calmly finished into the bottom corner to complete England’s emphatic victory. His performance drew praise from former England midfielder Danny Murphy, who said, “He has such confidence in his own ability. The patience, the skill, the shot. What a goal from England’s best player.”
Earlier in the match, Bellingham showed his team-first mentality by handing the penalty opportunity to Bukayo Saka instead of taking it himself. Saka went on to complete his hat-trick, later revealing, “No, Jude [Bellingham] was never taking it. He was the first one to say go and get your hat-trick, so none of them came to distract me. I was always going to take it.”
Why Harry Kane Missed England’s World Cup Third-Place Playoff Clash Against France
England captain Harry Kane was left out of the starting XI for the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff against France at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The striker, who had contributed six goals and one assist during the tournament, began the match on the bench as Thomas Tuchel made several changes following England’s semifinal defeat to Argentina.
Kane was not sidelined due to injury or suspension, with Tuchel simply opting to rotate his squad and give opportunities to players with fewer minutes during the World Cup. Ivan Toney replaced Kane as England’s starting striker, making his first start of the tournament, while Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka joined him in a reshuffled attacking lineup. Kane remained available as an option from the bench if England needed him later in the game.
