**Saka Hat-Trick Helps England Down France to Win World Cup 2026 Bronze Final**
*Published On 18 Jul 2026*
In a thrilling encounter at the World Cup 2026 Bronze Final, England triumphed over France with a score of 6-4, securing their best World Cup finish since their victory in 1966. The match, held in Miami, was marked by a standout performance from Bukayo Saka, who netted a hat-trick, and Kylian Mbappe, who made history by becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
Both England and France entered the match with high hopes after suffering disappointing semifinal exits. England's journey ended with a late collapse against Argentina, while France was outplayed by Spain. As a result, both teams made significant changes to their lineups for the playoff, with England's coach Thomas Tuchel opting to rest key players like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Meanwhile, France's Didier Deschamps, who announced he would step down after 14 years in charge, left out Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele from the starting eleven.
The match kicked off with an explosive start as England took the lead just three minutes in. Declan Rice scored from distance, setting the tone for the first half. Ezri Konsa quickly followed up with a header, doubling England's lead. Despite efforts from France's Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise to respond, they faced a resilient England defense, bolstered by second-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
As the first half progressed, England continued to dominate. Bukayo Saka scored the third goal after a swift counterattack, and just before halftime, he added another, bringing the score to 4-0. This prompted a frustrated response from Deschamps, who described the first-half performance as "catastrophic" and urged his players to show pride in the second half.
Deschamps made four substitutions at halftime, including the introduction of Dembele and Dayot Upamecano, which immediately changed the dynamics of the game. Kylian Mbappe scored his first goal of the match shortly after, marking his ninth goal of the tournament and moving ahead of Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. The momentum shifted further when Barcola scored, reducing England's lead to 4-2.
Mbappe then made history by scoring his second goal, bringing his World Cup tally to 22 and surpassing Messi's previous record. However, despite their resurgence, France missed several opportunities to equalize. England was awarded a penalty when Malo Gusto fouled Djed Spence in the box, and Saka stepped up to convert, completing his hat-trick and extending England's lead to 5-3.
France managed to score once more through Dembele, but England responded decisively. Jude Bellingham, who had been substituted in, scored the tenth goal of the match, showcasing his talent and becoming the first England player to score seven goals in World Cup history.
The match concluded with a score of 6-4 in favor of England, solidifying their third-place finish. This victory not only marked a significant achievement for the team but also left them with a bittersweet feeling, as they reflected on their earlier semifinal defeat to Argentina.
As for France, the loss was a disappointing end to a tournament where they were considered favorites. Deschamps, who previously led the team to World Cup glory in 2018, will leave behind a legacy of success but will also carry the weight of this tournament's outcome.
Looking ahead, Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final, set to take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The excitement surrounding the final promises to be a fitting conclusion to a remarkable tournament.