Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 in a thrilling third-place playoff at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday, securing their best finish in the tournament since winning the title in 1966.
England looked set for a comfortable victory after racing to a 4-0 lead by half-time. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute before Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage from a Rice corner. Saka then struck twice before the break to put England firmly in control.
However, France produced a stunning comeback in the second half. Kylian Mbappe scored twice, while Bradley Barcola also found the net as France reduced the deficit to 4-3 and came close to completing an unlikely comeback.
Saka eased England’s nerves by converting a penalty in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-3. Ousmane Dembele pulled one back for France soon after, but substitute Jude Bellingham sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal. It was Bellingham’s seventh goal of the tournament, the most by an England player at a single World Cup.
The match produced 10 goals, making it the highest-scoring third-place playoff in World Cup history. The previous record was France’s 6-3 win over West Germany in 1958.
France had hoped to give outgoing coach Didier Deschamps a winning farewell in his final game in charge. After a disappointing first half, they came out with far more energy after the break.
Mbappe scored twice to take his tournament tally to 10 goals, moving two clear of Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. His brace also took his overall World Cup tally to 22 goals, making him the competition’s all-time leading scorer.
Messi, 39, will have the chance to add to his goal tally when Argentina face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
England made a flying start after criticism of their cautious display in the semi-final defeat to Argentina. Rice scored within three minutes before setting up Konsa’s goal from a corner in the 18th minute.
Unlike their semi-final, England attacked with purpose and regularly broke through France’s defence. Saka benefited from two excellent forward passes, scoring in the 37th and 46th minutes to give England a commanding 4-0 halftime lead.
Deschamps introduced Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Digne at half-time to strengthen the defence, and France responded immediately. Mbappe scored three minutes after the restart before Barcola made it 4-2 in the 54th minute. Mbappe then added another in the 66th minute from a Michael Olise assist to bring France within one goal.
England came under heavy pressure but continued to threaten on the counterattack. Saka’s late penalty and Bellingham’s stoppage-time strike eventually secured England’s first-ever victory in a World Cup third-place playoff after defeats in 1990 and 2018.
“It’s even more disappointing for the coach,” Mbappe said. “We wanted to win this game for Didier Deschamps, but our first-half performance let him down.
“We want to thank him for everything he has done. One match cannot change the legacy he leaves behind.”
