England beats France in instant World Cup classic to take third place

It’s the game no one wants to play in, but there was still a lot at stake for both England and France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place match on Saturday.

Both teams took the field at Miami Stadium (also known as Hard Rock Stadium) after some tough losses in the semifinals: France against Spain and England against the current champions, Argentina.

France were looking for redemption after falling short in a tournament where they were widely considered favourites. Furthermore, this match presented an opportunity for French star Kylian Mbappé to overtake Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

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However, they faced an England team that had played well throughout the tournament and beat them 2-1 in World Cup matches. Their two most offensively powerful players in this tournament, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, started the game on the bench.

Well, at first it turns out that England had enough offensive firepower to begin with.

Only in the 3rd minute did Declan Rice open the scoring.

Just about ten minutes later, England put another goal in the back of the net; however, it was considered offside.

But even with the big guns sitting on the bench, England were easily the more productive team offensively early on, with Ezri Konsa adding another following a corner in the 18th minute.

But why not make it three?

In the 37th minute, Bukayo Saka scored a goal that certainly wasn’t how the Three Lions would have designed it, but it counts nonetheless.

And while you’re at it, Mr. Saka, add another one for good measure.

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England took a 4-0 lead into half-time after one of the most one-sided first halves of the tournament, and few expected France to be on the receiving end, especially with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham still on the bench.

And honestly, it could have been worse.

France recovered from a nightmare first half and star Kylian Mbappé scored a pair to take the lead in the Golden Boot race and make history. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

Fortunately for France, they did exactly what they needed to and came out firing in the second half. Mbappé scored them in the 48th minute and put himself ahead of Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, and even with him in goals in the World Cup with 21.

Then, a few minutes later, Frenchman Bradley Barcola added another to make the game 4-2.

So while the first half was all England, the second was all France, and in the 66th minute, Mbappé made it 4-3, while extending his Golden Boot lead and taking first place on the all-time World Cup goals list.

That. A. Match.

Who cares about third place, right?

England’s Jude Bellingham and Reece James celebrate Bukayo Saka’s (centre) third goal of the bronze final match in Miami. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

But after having several opportunities to tie the score, England were awarded a penalty kick, and that one went to Bukayo Saka, who scored it to score a hat-trick and give England some breathing room late in the match.

It’s hard to believe that he didn’t play a single minute in the semi-final against Argentina, right?

And that respite was important, because France was not going to remain calm.

But England responded immediately with a beauty from Jude Bellingham, his seventh of the tournament, and that was all he wrote.

Incredible.

That was the most goals scored in a World Cup third-place match, surpassing the 1958 match between France and West Germany.

With that victory, England may have fallen short of bringing home a World Cup title, but that was their best result in a World Cup since winning it in 1966.

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It was an incredible match and now there is only one left and it is for the World Cup title.

Spain and Argentina will meet on Sunday afternoon at New York-New Jersey Stadium, with the match kicking off at 3 pm ET.