England beats France 6-4 in World Cup bronze match, Saka hat-trick
7 verified6 unconfirmed
England defeated France 6-4 in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, including a penalty in the 87th minute, to help secure England’s highest World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966. Jude Bellingham scored in stoppage time, becoming the first England player to score seven goals at a single World Cup. Kylian Mbappe scored twice for France, surpassing Lionel Messi as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 22 career goals. The match was the last in charge for France head coach Didier Deschamps. England led 4-0 at halftime before France mounted a second-half comeback that briefly threatened to erase the deficit.
What’s verified
England won 6-4, securing third place at the 2026 World Cup, their best finish since 1966.
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick (goals in the 37th, 45+2nd, and 87th minute).
Kylian Mbappe scored twice and became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 22 career goals, moving past Lionel Messi’s 21.
Jude Bellingham scored in the 90+8th minute and became the first England player to score seven goals in a single World Cup.
Didier Deschamps’ tenure as France head coach ended with this match.
Thomas Tuchel started Morgan Rogers over Bukayo Saka in the semi-final loss to Argentina, a decision he explained as a “feeling” about Rogers.
Saka told reporters he was fit and “would love to have played more” at the tournament.
Not yet confirmed
One source reported that the attendance was 64,478.
One source noted that Mbappe is the first player since Gerd Muller in 1970 to reach double-digit goals at a single World Cup (10 goals in 2026).
One source included analysis suggesting Tuchel’s omission of Saka in the semi-final was his biggest mistake of the tournament.
One source carried a quote from Mbappe saying “Messi is going to score (on Sunday), that’s for sure” and that he would have preferred to be in the final.
One source described the third-place playoff as having little significance and suggested Mbappe’s record might carry an asterisk because of it.
One source mentioned that Morgan Rogers was the choice over Saka for the semi-final.
Key figures
Bukayo Saka – England winger, scored hat-trick
Thomas Tuchel – England head coach
Kylian Mbappe – France captain, World Cup all-time leading scorer
Didier Deschamps – France head coach (final match)
Jude Bellingham – England midfielder, scored seven goals in tournament
Declan Rice – England midfielder, scored opener
Ezri Konsa – England defender, scored header
Morgan Rogers – England forward started in semi-final
Lionel Messi – Argentina forward, previous record holder
Bradley Barcola – France substitute, scored
Michael Olise – France midfielder, missed chances
Djed Spence – England defender, won late penalty
Malo Gusto – France defender, conceded penalty
Ousmane Dembele – France substitute, scored in stoppage time
Dean Henderson – England goalkeeper
Sources: Sky Sports, dw.com, CBS Sports
