Saka hat-trick helps England down France to win World Cup 2026 Bronze Final
England defeated France 6-4 in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff match. The game featured a hat-trick from Bukayo Saka and saw Kylian Mbappe become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
Why it matters
The match represents a historic moment for individual player records and concludes the tournament for two major footballing nations.
Kylian Mbappe scores twice for France to hit World Cup record but England win 6-4 in third-place playoff final.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info England's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their fifth goal to complete a hat-trick with Jude Bellingham and Reece James [Paul Childs/Reuters] By AFP Published On 18 Jul 2026 18 Jul 2026 England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff as Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
Both teams had higher aspirations at the 2026 tournament but suffered painful semifinal exits – France were outplayed by Spain while England suffered a late collapse against Argentina.
Both coaches made multiple changes for Saturday’s match in the oppressive heat of Miami, with a host of stars on the bench at the start.
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