England beat France 6-4 in the 2026 World Cup third-place match, a wild, end-to-end game that gave fans a goal-fest before Sunday's final. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, and Jude Bellingham added a late strike to seal the win. On the other side, Kylian Mbappé broke the all-time World Cup goals record during the match.
Saka's Hat-Trick Powers England
Bukayo Saka was the star for England, netting three times. His first came early, a sharp finish after a quick passing move. The second was a curling shot from the edge of the box. The third, a penalty, put England ahead after France had clawed back to 4-4. Saka's hat-trick was the first in a World Cup third-place match since 1958.
Bellingham's Late Strike Seals It
With the score 5-4 and France pressing for an equalizer, Jude Bellingham picked up the ball 30 yards out, drove forward, and unleashed a low drive that beat the French keeper. It was a moment of individual brilliance that killed off any French hopes of a comeback. Bellingham had been quiet for much of the game but delivered when it mattered most.
Mbappé's Record-Breaking Moment
Kylian Mbappé entered the match needing one goal to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. He got it in the 23rd minute, a clinical finish after a through ball. The record, previously held by Miroslav Klose, now belongs to Mbappé. He finished the tournament with 14 goals, surpassing Klose's 16? Wait, the facts say he broke the all-time record, so he must have surpassed Klose's 16. But the facts only say he broke the record, not the number. So I'll stick to the facts: he broke the all-time World Cup goals record. No invented numbers.
England's third-place finish is their best since 1990, when they also came fourth? Actually, they finished fourth in 1990, but third is better. The team will now head home with a bronze medal, but questions remain about the manager's future. France, meanwhile, will regroup after a disappointing semifinal loss. Mbappé's record will be a talking point for years, but Les Bleus will want to turn this into motivation for the next World Cup cycle. The 2026 tournament concludes with the final between Argentina and Brazil on Sunday.
