World Cup Bronze
England Dominates France 6-4 for World Cup Bronze; Saka Bags Hat-Trick
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Key Points
1
Bukayo Saka completed a hat-trick with an 87th-minute penalty, his second career hat-trick for England.
2
Didier Deschamps made four halftime changes, bringing on Dembele, Upamecano, Digne and Barcola; Mbappé scored his ninth goal of the tournament to move clear of Messi in the Golden Boot standings.
3
France’s late comeback included Barcola’s goal and Dembele’s strike early in the second half as they attempted to turn the game around.
4
Michael Olise set a World Cup assists record with seven, surpassing Pele’s six in 1970.
5
Didier Deschamps bowed out as France coach after 14 years, with this bronze-match as his final game in charge.
England beat France 6-4 in the World Cup bronze-medal match on July 18, 2026, in one of the most chaotic games in tournament history. The 10-goal thriller at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami was the highest-scoring World Cup match since Hungary beat El Salvador 10-1 in 1982, and the most goals ever in a third-place game, according to OC Register.
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick and Jude Bellingham added a late sixth as England claimed their first World Cup podium finish since 1966. France briefly made it 5-4 deep in stoppage time, but Bellingham had the final word, according to Daily Breeze.
Saka's Hat-Trick Puts England in Full Control
England were ruthless in the first half. Declan Rice curled in a long-range strike in the 3rd minute. Ezri Konsa headed home a corner in the 18th. Saka then struck twice before halftime — a 37th-minute volley and a 45th-minute finish — to put England 4-0 up at the break, according to Press Enterprise.
Saka sealed his hat-trick with a penalty in the 87th minute. It was his second career hat-trick for England. He was named Player of the Match. England manager Thomas Tuchel said it was "the best World Cup on foreign soil" for the country and hoped the players could "be proud of that in some time."
France's Second-Half Comeback Falls Just Short
Didier Deschamps made four halftime changes. He brought on Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé. France came out of the break with intensity. Kylian Mbappé scored in the 48th minute, Barcola added a second in the 54th, and Mbappé struck again in the 66th to pull it back to 4-3, according to SB Sun.
Dembélé scored in the 90th+6 minute to make it 5-4, and for a brief moment France looked capable of forcing extra time. But Bellingham dribbled past several defenders and slotted home in the 90th+8 minute to end the match at 6-4. France's late pressure came too late against a dominant England side.
Mbappé Breaks World Cup Scoring Record, Olise Sets Assists Mark
Mbappé's two goals gave him 10 for the tournament and 22 career World Cup goals. That total surpasses Lionel Messi's previous all-time record. At just 27 years old, Mbappé now holds the record as the highest-scoring player in World Cup history, according to Daily News.
Michael Olise also made history. His two assists for Mbappé gave him 7 assists for the tournament. That broke Pelé's 56-year-old record of 6 assists set in 1970. Olise was France's brightest player even in defeat, creating chances throughout the second half.
Deschamps Says Farewell After 14 Years in Charge
The bronze match was Didier Deschamps' final game as France coach. He managed the national team for 14 years and 185 matches. He won the World Cup as both a player in 1998 and a manager in 2018. French fans held banners reading "Merci Didier" inside the stadium as he walked off the pitch for the last time.
Deschamps said it was "the best thing that ever happened to me." Reports indicate France have reached a verbal agreement with Zinedine Zidane to take over as the next head coach, with a formal signing expected this month. England, meanwhile, earned £21.5 million in prize money for finishing third — their best World Cup result in 60 years, according to Press Enterprise.
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