England Triumphs Over France in Record-Breaking FIFA World Cup 2026 Bronze Match

In a thrilling encounter, England triumphed over France 6-4 to secure the bronze medal in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Bukayo Saka's hat-trick and Kylian Mbappe's record-breaking goals made this match a historic event. With a stunning first half and a dramatic second half, England's victory marks their best World Cup finish abroad since 1966. Discover how this unforgettable match unfolded and the implications for both teams.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 19, 2026, 06:19 IST

Historic Victory for England in FIFA World Cup 2026

London [UK], July 19: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his pride in the England national football team after they clinched the bronze medal in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The team achieved this remarkable feat by defeating France 6-4 in a thrilling match at Miami Stadium on Saturday (local time).

Starmer took to X to celebrate the victory, stating, “Great result tonight @England. You’ve done us proud.”

This match will be remembered as the highest-scoring third-place playoff in modern World Cup history, with Bukayo Saka's stunning hat-trick overshadowing Kylian Mbappe's two goals, leading the Three Lions to their best World Cup finish abroad since 1966.

England dominated the first half, leaving the French team stunned with a remarkable 4-0 lead by halftime. Declan Rice initiated the scoring just three minutes into the match, followed by Ezri Konsa doubling the lead in the 18th minute. Saka then took the spotlight, scoring twice in quick succession (37', 45+1'), marking the first instance of France conceding four goals in a single World Cup half.

However, the second half saw a significant shift in momentum. In his 187th and final match as France's manager, Didier Deschamps made tactical changes at halftime that ignited a fierce comeback from the French side.

Mbappe spearheaded the charge, scoring in the 48th minute, followed by Bradley Barcola adding another just six minutes later, narrowing the gap to 4-2. Mbappe's second goal in the 66th minute brought France within one goal, putting England on the back foot amid relentless pressure.

With his second goal, Mbappe made history by surpassing Lionel Messi to become the all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, bringing his total to 22 goals, one ahead of Messi's 21. He also emerged as the frontrunner for the Golden Boot with 10 goals in the tournament.

Just when it seemed England might lose their grip on the match, they found a way to respond. A late counter-attack led to an 87th-minute penalty, which Saka confidently converted to complete his hat-trick and extend the lead to 5-3.

The excitement continued deep into stoppage time as Ousmane Dembele scored for France in the 90+6th minute, but Jude Bellingham sealed the deal for England with a goal in the 90+8th minute, finalizing the extraordinary 6-4 victory and concluding their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on a high note.