FIFA 2026: England Win Historic Bronze After France Defeat

 

After 60 years and many attempts at lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy, England can finally breathe a sigh of relief after finishing third at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami, Florida. 

England Claines claimed a goal-thriller 6-4 third-place playoff victory against France, with Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick and Kylian Mbappe scoring a brace for the French side. France were the finalists from the last edition in Qatar, and Mbappe led the scoring with eight goals, while the team lost to Argentina. He scored a hat-trick in the final and received the Golden Boot for his effort. 

However, since 1966, England had never reached the semifinal of the tournament. Until now, their best performance was reaching the quarter-final of the 2014 edition in Russia. The semi-final match against Argentina was their first in 60 years. Though they lost, it gave them the lifeline to contend for a bronze. 

England led the first half with four goals to nil. Declan Rice opened the scoresheet with the opening goal in the third minute, and Konsa followed with the second goal before the mid-game heat break. Saka extended the lead with two goals within four minutes before halftime. 

France were rejuvenated in the second half, narrowing the deficit to one goal after Mbappe scored twice and Barcola netted the third for the side. They could not complete the comeback as England extended the lead with two goals, the fifth from a penalty scored by Saka and the sixth from Jude Bellingham after Ousmane Dembele scored the fourth for France. Both Bellingham and Dembele scored their goals in injury time. 

England had never won the bronze medal. It was their first in the FIFA World Cup. Also, Saka became the first English player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup third-place playoff. He is also the second English player after Geoff Hurst in 1966.