England finished their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on a winning note after defeating France 6-4 in a pulsating third-place playoff on Saturday night, securing the bronze medal in one of the tournament’s highest-scoring matches.
The encounter at Atlanta Stadium lived up to expectations as both sides produced an attacking spectacle, combining for 10 goals in a game that swung from end to end before England eventually emerged victorious.
England, still recovering from their heartbreaking 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina, responded with renewed purpose, showing attacking flair and clinical finishing to outscore Didier Deschamps’ side.
France, who had been beaten 2-0 by Spain in the other semi-final, fought back repeatedly but were unable to contain England’s relentless forward play.
The victory ensured Thomas Tuchel’s men ended the tournament on a positive note after narrowly missing out on a place in the final.
It also marked England’s highest-scoring performance of the competition and provided a morale boost ahead of future international assignments.
For France, the defeat capped a disappointing finish after entering the tournament as one of the favourites.
Despite scoring four times, defensive lapses proved costly as Les Bleus were forced to settle for fourth place.
Attention now shifts to Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final, where defending champions Argentina will face Spain in a blockbuster showdown for football’s most prestigious prize.
