On Saturday, July 19th, 2026, England secured third place at the FIFA World Cup by defeating France in a memorable bronze medal match held at Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock Stadium.

Both teams entered the match following tough semifinal defeats—France to Spain and England to reigning champions Argentina. France sought redemption as tournament favorites, while French star Kylian Mbappe aimed to surpass Argentina's Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.

England, who had a 2-1 World Cup match advantage over France, started the game with key offensive players Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham on the bench. England dominated the first half, taking a commanding 4-0 lead into halftime, marking one of the most lopsided first halves of the tournament.

The second half saw a resurgence from France, with Mbappe scoring in the 66th minute to narrow the score to 4-3. This goal also extended his lead in the Golden Boot race and made him the all-time top World Cup goal scorer.

Despite France's efforts to equalize, England was awarded a penalty late in the match. Bukayo Saka converted the penalty, completing his hat trick and securing England's victory.

This intense match underscored the high stakes and competitive spirit of the World Cup's third-place contest.

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