Saka's hattrick helps England win first World Cup medal since 1966
England secured the bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 6-4 victory over France. The match was notable for its high scoring and for being the final game for French coach Didier Deschamps.
Why it matters
This result marks England's best World Cup finish since 1966 and serves as a high-profile conclusion to the tournament for both teams.
Bukayo Saka scored a hattrick as England defeated France 6-4 in a breathtaking, chaotic encounter at the Miami Stadium on Saturday to claim the bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a fixture traditionally regarded as a dead rubber, both teams abandoned defensive caution to produce one of the highest-scoring matches in World Cup history.
The bronze medal is England’s second-highest finish at the World Cup since winning the trophy on home soil in 1966.
Thomas Tuchel’s England caught France completely flat-footed in the first half of the match that was Didier Deschamps’ last match as Les Bleus head coach.
It took just two minutes for Declan Rice to open the floodgates, turning home a loose ball from close range. France’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed again in the 18th minute when Ezri Konsa doubled the Three Lions’ advantage from a well-delivered set-piece.
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