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It’s the game no one ever wants to play in, but there was still a lot at stake for both England and France in the battle for third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday.
Both teams hit the pitch at Miami Stadium (also known as Hard Rock Stadium) after some tough semi-final losses: France to Spain and England to reigning champions Argentina.
France were looking for redemption after coming up short in a tournament where they were widely considered to be the favourites. In addition, this match provided an opportunity for French star Kylian Mbappe to overtake Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
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England’s Bukayo Saka scores during the FIFA World Cup 2026 bronze medal match. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
However, they were up against an England side that had played well throughout the tournament and were 2-1 against them in World Cup matches. Their two most offensively potent players in this tournament, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, both started the game on the bench.
Well, in the beginning, it turns out that England had enough offensive firepower to get things going.
In just the 3rd minute, Declan Rice hit paydirt to open the scoring.
Only about ten minutes later, England netted another; however, it was deemed to have been offside.
But even with the big guns on the bench, England were easily the more offensively productive side early on, with Ezri Konsa adding another from 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 planned it, but it still counts.
And while you’re at it, Mr. Saka, just add another one for good measure.
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England took a 4-0 lead into half-time after one of the most lopsided 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 bounced back from a nightmare first half and star Kylian Mbappe scored a pair to take the lead in the Golden Boot race and make history. (Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
Fortunately for France, they did exactly what they had to and came out firing in the second half. Mbappe got them on the board in the 48th minute to move ahead of Messi in the Golden Boot race and even with him on career World Cup goals at 21.
Then, just minutes later, Frenchman Bradley Barcola added another to make it a 4-2 game.
So while the first half was all England, the second was all about France and in the 66th minute Mbappe made it 4-3 as he extended his Golden Boot lead and took over first place on the World Cup goalscoring charts.
What. A. Match.
Who cares about third place, right?
England’s Jude Bellingham and Reece James celebrate Bukayo Saka’s (centre) third goal in the bronze final in Miami. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
But after having several opportunities to equalise, England were awarded a penalty and it went to Bukayo Saka, who buried it for the hat-trick and to give England some breathing room late in the game.
It’s hard to believe he didn’t play a single minute in the semi-final loss to Argentina, right?
And that respite was important, because France would not go quietly.
But England hit back immediately with a beauty from Jude Bellingham, his seventh of the tournament, and that was all she wrote.
Incredible.
It was the third most goals scored in a World Cup match ever, topping it in 1958 between France and West Germany.
With that victory, England may have come up short when it comes to bringing home a World Cup title, but it was their best finish in a World Cup since they won it in 1966.
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It was an incredible fight and now there is only one left and that is the World Cup title.
Spain and Argentina meet on Sunday afternoon at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, with the match scheduled to kick off at 3pm ET.
