England vs France 2026 World Cup Third Place: England Win 6–4
RESULT (18 Jul): England 6–4 France (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami). Rice screamer 3'; Saka hat-trick before HT; France fought back to 4-4; England sealed two more = 6-4. 10 combined goals, most in a World Cup match since 1982. England finish 3rd; France 4th. Mbappé ends on 8 goals; Kane 6. Sources: ESPN, FIFA, Fox Sports.
The context
RESULT, July 18, 2026: England beat France 6–4 in one of the most extraordinary World Cup matches ever played. Declan Rice opened with a long-range screamer in the 3rd minute; Bukayo Saka completed a hat-trick before half-time to put England 4-0 up. France mounted a stunning second-half comeback to 4-4, then England sealed two more late goals to win 6-4. Kylian Mbappé scored twice for France, ending the tournament on 8 goals (he scored 2 more in the third-place match to reach 10 overall and win the Golden Boot). The 10 combined goals are the most in a World Cup match since France beat Yugoslavia 6-4 in 1982. England finish third; France fourth. Sources: ESPN, FIFA, Fox Sports.
The 2026 World Cup’s consolation match brought a heavyweight pairing to Miami: England vs France in the third-place playoff on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium, kick-off 5pm Eastern Time (10pm BST). Neither side wanted to be here, but a bronze medal, prize money and a measure of pride are on offer the day before Argentina and Spain contest the final.
Both arrived after painful semi-finals. England led Argentina through Anthony Gordon and were 35 minutes from a first final since 1966 before Lionel Messi set up two late goals in a 2-1 defeat. France were outplayed by Spain in a 2-0 loss in Dallas, Kylian Mbappé kept quiet by Pedro Porro. For Gareth Southgate’s England and France there is now a short turnaround and a familiar opponent.
Because this is a rematch with history. The last World Cup meeting between the two was the 2022 quarter-final, which France won 2-1, Harry Kane converting one penalty and then missing a second that would have taken the tie to extra time. Across World Cups England lead the head-to-head 2-1 (1966 and 1982 group wins against France’s 2022 victory), but this is the first time the neighbours have met with third place at stake. Expect rotation from both benches, and a chance for fringe players and returning names to make a case.
Watching is straightforward: Fox or FS1 and Telemundo in the United States, BBC or ITV in the UK, TF1 or M6 in France, and ARD or ZDF in Germany, each with streaming. England won their first World Cup medal since 1966. The final followed the next day, July 19 at MetLife Stadium, with Spain beating Argentina 1-0 AET. Sources: FIFA, ESPN, BBC Sport, Fox Sports.