England secured the bronze medals at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after defeating France 6-4 in one of the most extraordinary third-place play-off matches the tournament has ever witnessed.

The remarkable encounter will be remembered for several reasons. First, the astonishing tally of 10 goals made it one of the highest-scoring matches in World Cup history. Second, Kylian Mbappe struck twice to take his overall World Cup tally to 22 goals, becoming the competition's all-time leading scorer. Finally, the match marked the end of an era, as it was Didier Deschamps' final game in charge of France after 14 years at the helm.

From the opening whistle, it was evident that neither side approached the contest with the intensity typically associated with knockout football. Instead, the game quickly evolved into an open, attack-minded spectacle, producing chance after chance. England were the first to seize control, putting on an attacking masterclass before the interval and racing into a stunning 4-0 lead inside the opening 45 minutes.

The halftime score also matched one of the darkest moments in France's football history. Trailing 0-4 at the break equalled the nation's worst halftime deficit at international level, a record dating back to 1936.

However, it would have been unlike Les Bleus to allow Didier Deschamps to bow out without a fight. The French manager made four substitutions during the interval, introducing Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele, and the changes transformed the contest almost instantly.

France suddenly looked revitalised, forcing England onto the back foot as the deficit was slashed to 4-3. Momentum had completely shifted, and a dramatic comeback appeared increasingly likely. Michael Olise came agonisingly close to completing a hat-trick of his own but failed to convert several outstanding opportunities that could have turned the game on its head.

There would still be a hat-trick before the final whistle. In the 87th minute, Malo Gusto brought down Eberechi Eze inside the penalty area, allowing Bukayo Saka to calmly convert from the spot and complete his three-goal performance. Even then, the drama was far from over. Ousmane Dembele pulled another goal back to reignite French hopes, but in stoppage time Jude Bellingham capped a sensational counter-attack with a superb solo finish to seal an unforgettable 6-4 victory for England.

The result secured England's first-ever third-place finish at a FIFA World Cup, adding another milestone to the nation's football history. Meanwhile, despite France's defeat, Kylian Mbappe left the pitch with another major achievement, moving to the top of the World Cup's all-time scoring charts. He also strengthened his position in the race for the tournament's Golden Boot, leaving Lionel Messi needing two goals in the final to overtake him.

World Cup 2026

France - England 4:6 (0:4)
Goals: Rice, 3 (0:1); Konsa, 18 (0:2); Saka B., 37 (0:3); Saka B., 45 (0:4); Mbappé, 48 (1:4); Barcola B., 54 (2:4); Mbappé, 66 (3:4); Saka B., 87 (penalty) (3:5); Dembele O., 96 (4:5); Bellingham, 98 (4:6)

France: Maignan; Gusto (Kounde, 91); Lacroix M.; Theo Hernández (Digne, 446); Konate (Upamecano, 46); Olise; Rabiot; Zaire-Emery; Doue D. (Dembele O., 46); Cherki (Barcola B., 46); Mbappé
Substitution: Upamecano (from 46); Barcola B. (from 46); Dembele O. (from 46); Kounde (from 91); Digne (from 446)
Bench: Samba B.; Risser; Saliba; Lucas Hernandez; Tchouaméni; Koné M.; Kante N.; Akliouche; Thuram M.; Mateta

England: Henderson D.; Konsa; Guehi (Chalobah, 93); Spence D.; Quansah (James R., 83); Rice; Saka B.; Eze (Bellingham, 79); Rashford (Watkins, 46); Rogers M.; Toney I. (Anderson E., 79)
Substitution: Watkins (from 46); Anderson E. (from 79); Bellingham (from 79); James R. (from 83); Chalobah (from 93)
Bench: Pickford; Trafford; Burn; Stones; Henderson; Madueke; O'Reilly; Kane; Gordon A.