England claim World Cup bronze with 6-4 win over France as Saka hits hat-trick
England beat France 6-4 to claim World Cup bronze in Miami, their best finish since 1966. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, while France's Kylian Mbappe reached ten goals to lead the Golden Boot race in Didier Deschamps' final match in charge.
England claimed third place at the World Cup by beating France 6-4 in Miami on Saturday, 18 July 2026, securing their best finish at the tournament since they won it in 1966.
The match produced ten goals in total. Bukayo Saka was named man of the match after scoring a hat-trick, which he completed from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.
England, who made several changes and left Harry Kane out of the starting line-up, tore into France from the outset and led 4-0 at half-time.
Declan Rice, wearing the captain's armband, opened the scoring inside the opening minutes with a strike from outside the box. Ezri Konsa headed the second from a Rice corner.
Saka then scored twice inside the first half, the first set up by Marcus Rashford, to hand England a commanding four-goal advantage at the break.
France, determined not to end the tournament without a response, reorganised at half-time. Didier Deschamps brought on fresh personnel, and the shift changed the shape of the contest.
Kylian Mbappe pulled one back nine minutes into the second half, then scored again in the 67th minute to bring France within a goal at 4-3. Bradley Barcola also found the net during the fightback.
Mbappe's second goal took his tally to ten for the tournament, moving him clear of Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Messi is preparing to play in Sunday's final against Spain.
With France threatening an extraordinary comeback, England won a penalty late in normal time after Djed Spence was brought down in the box. Saka stepped up and converted to complete his hat-trick and restore England's two-goal cushion.
Ousmane Dembele scored for France deep in stoppage time, but the goal proved immaterial when substitute Jude Bellingham danced through the France defence to score the tenth and final goal of the match.
The victory offered England a measure of consolation after their semi-final exit earlier in the week. The team had lost to Argentina in the last four.
For France, the defeat marked the end of an era. The match was Deschamps' final game after fourteen years in charge, a tenure that included two World Cup finals and one title.
Argentina and Spain will contest the World Cup final on Sunday, where Messi will also compete for the Golden Boot.
