England vs. France: Third-Place Match Recap
It’s a game neither team intended to play, yet the third-place match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup featured potential for both England and France.
After losing in the semifinals—France to Spain and England to Argentina—both teams faced off at Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock Stadium. France, a favorite, felt the sting of their narrow semifinal defeat and hoped to recover some pride. The match also presented Kylian Mbappé an opportunity to leap ahead of Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
Despite their earlier setbacks, both teams hoped for a strong performance. England, surprisingly, had enough firepower to get off to a quick start.
Just three minutes into the game, Declan Rice found the net, giving England an early lead. They almost doubled their advantage ten minutes later, but that goal was ruled offside. However, England’s attacking momentum didn’t falter; Ezri Konsa scored from a corner kick in the 18th minute, putting them ahead 2-0.
But wait, why stop there? Bukayo Saka added another goal in the 37th minute. It wasn’t the expected opener, yet it set the tone moving forward.
At halftime, England was up 4-0—a significant margin that caught many by surprise, especially with big players like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham still on the bench.
Could it get worse for France? Fortunately, they found a spark in the second half. Mbappé re-entered the match in the 48th minute, tying Messi with 21 World Cup goals and surpassing him in the Golden Boot race.
A few minutes later, Bradley Barcola added a goal, making it 4-2. The narrative shifted dramatically—what began as England’s dominance transformed into a resurgence for France. Mbappé, ever the star, made it 4-3 in the 66th minute, elevating his standing in World Cup history.
What a match it turned out to be! Who really cares about third place, right?
In the final stretch, England was awarded a penalty, which Saka converted to complete his hat trick—a remarkable comeback for someone who hadn’t stepped on the field during the semifinal against Argentina.
Yet, France responded with a stunning strike from Jude Bellingham, marking his seventh goal of the tournament. It was a breathtaking sequence of play.
This match witnessed the highest score ever recorded in a World Cup third-place encounter, surpassing the 1958 clash between France and West Germany. Although England fell short of the ultimate title once again, it was their best performance since they last won the World Cup in 1966.
With only one match left for the trophy, Spain and Argentina are set to clash in the final. That game is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at New York-New Jersey Stadium, tipping off at 3 PM ET.
