England secured third place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a high-scoring 6-4 victory over France at Miami Stadium. The match saw a dominant first-half performance from England, who entered the break with a 4-0 lead, before a second-half surge from France narrowed the gap in a 10-goal thriller.
England’s Dominant First Half
England established control early, with Declan Rice opening the scoring in the 3rd minute via a long-range strike. The momentum continued in the 18th minute when Ezri Konsa headed in a corner kick delivered by Rice. Bukayo Saka added a third goal in the 37th minute following a scramble in the penalty area, and he secured his brace in stoppage time to give England a 4-0 lead at halftime.
Did you know?
The 2026 third-place match produced a total of 10 goals, marking one of the highest-scoring encounters in recent tournament history.
France’s Second-Half Rally
France responded aggressively after the interval. Kylian Mbappé scored in the 48th minute, followed by Bradley Barcola in the 54th, reducing the deficit to 4-2. Mbappé added his second goal of the match in the 66th minute to bring France within one goal at 4-3.
The match remained contested until the final minutes. England’s Saka converted a penalty in the 87th minute after a foul on Spence, restoring a two-goal cushion. Ousmane Dembélé scored for France in the 90+6th minute to make it 5-4, but Jude Bellingham sealed the 6-4 victory for England with a late solo effort in the 90+8th minute.
Tactical Breakdown of the Starting Lineups
The match featured high-intensity lineups from both nations. France utilized a 4-2-3-1 setup led by Mbappé, while England fielded a lineup featuring Henderson in goal and Toney in the attack.
Match Statistics
| Team | First Half Score | Final Score |
|---|---|---|
| England | 4 | 6 |
| France | 0 | 4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 World Cup third-place match?
England defeated France 6-4 to finish in third place.
How many goals were scored in the match?
A total of 10 goals were scored during the 90 minutes of play.
Who scored for England in the final minutes?
Bukayo Saka scored a penalty in the 87th minute, and Jude Bellingham scored the final goal in the 90+8th minute.
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