England Edge France in Thrilling World Cup 2026 Third-Place Showdown at Miami Stadium

MIAMI, FL — In a breathtaking third-place play-off at Miami Stadium, England defeated France 6-4 in one of the most entertaining matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, delivering a dramatic finale to the tournament's bronze medal contest.

France struck first and fast, with Declan Rice opening the scoring for England in just the 3rd minute — only to be answered by a relentless French attack. Kylian Mbappé, ever the showman, netted a brace in the 48th and 66th minutes, while Bradley Barcola added a third in the 54th minute to keep France firmly in contention. Ousmane Dembélé capped France's tally with a stoppage-time goal in the 90+6th minute.

But it was England who ultimately prevailed, with Bukayo Saka delivering a standout individual performance — scoring three goals, including a penalty in the 87th minute. Ezri Konsa added to the tally in the 18th minute, and Jude Bellingham sealed the victory with a dramatic 90+8th-minute strike to send the English faithful into raptures.

The sun-soaked atmosphere at Miami Stadium, packed with fans from across the globe, provided the perfect backdrop for a match that had everything — early drama, lead changes, and a last-gasp winner. England's third-place finish marks their best World Cup result in decades, while France will reflect on what might have been after falling just short of the final.

The result gives England bronze at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, a tournament co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with South Florida proving to be one of its most electric venues.