World Cup 2026: England and France deliver 10-goal thriller in bronze playoff
England secured a 6-4 victory over France in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff, marking their best finish since 1966. Despite the loss, Kylian Mbappé set a new record as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
Why it matters
This match represents a historic moment in international football, highlighting both team achievement and individual player milestones.
England defeated France 6-4 in a thrilling FIFA World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday, securing their best finish at the tournament since 1966.
Bukayo Saka inspired the Three Lions with a hat-trick, opening the scoring in the 37th minute before adding a second in first-half stoppage time. He completed his second hat-trick in an England shirt from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.
France, who trailed 4-0 at half-time, mounted a spirited second-half comeback but ultimately fell short.
Despite the defeat, Kylian Mbappé made history by surpassing Lionel Messi as the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history. However, the milestone was not enough to earn Les Bleus the bronze medal.
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