England Beat France 6-4 as Jude Bellingham Seals World Cup Bronze
6–4Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, France launched a fierce second-half comeback, and Jude Bellingham scored England’s sixth goal to secure third place at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
England finished the FIFA World Cup 2026 on the podium after defeating France 6-4 in one of the wildest third-place matches in tournament history. The Three Lions led 4-0 at half-time, survived a ferocious comeback and sealed the bronze medal through Jude Bellingham’s late sixth goal.
England 6-4 France: Match Summary
England began with aggression and freedom. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute, giving the Three Lions immediate control and forcing France to chase the game.
Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage from a set-piece situation before Bukayo Saka took over the first half. Saka scored twice before the interval, sending England into half-time with an extraordinary 4-0 lead.
England’s first-half attacking explosion proved decisive despite France’s comeback.
England scorers
- Declan Rice
- Ezri Konsa
- Bukayo Saka ×3
- Jude Bellingham
France scorers
- Kylian Mbappé ×2
- Bradley Barcola
- Ousmane Dembélé
France Turned the Match Into Chaos
France emerged from the interval with far greater intensity. Kylian Mbappé scored shortly after the restart, Bradley Barcola added another and Mbappé struck again to make it 4-3.
England stopped controlling possession and became increasingly vulnerable whenever they lost the ball. Saka’s late penalty completed his hat-trick and restored a two-goal cushion, but Ousmane Dembélé then scored deep into stoppage time to make it 5-4.
With France pushing for an equalizer, Jude Bellingham scored England’s sixth goal and ended the contest. The goal transformed a nervous 5-4 lead into a 6-4 bronze-medal victory.
Jude Bellingham Seals England’s Bronze Medal
Bellingham began on the bench but entered during the second half as England tried to regain midfield control. His ball carrying and composure gave the team another route through pressure.
His final goal carried symbolic importance. England had spent much of the second half defending a collapsing lead; Bellingham’s finish restored authority and ensured France could not complete one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history.
Bukayo Saka Was England’s Match Winner
Bellingham sealed the result, but Saka was the outstanding attacking player. His hat-trick combined movement, composure and penalty-box timing, punishing a French defence that struggled throughout the opening 45 minutes.
Saka’s penalty was especially important because France had reduced the score to 4-3 and appeared capable of completing the comeback. His conversion gave England breathing room and completed a memorable World Cup hat-trick.
Why England Won
England played forward quickly from the opening whistle and forced France to defend before establishing rhythm.
Konsa’s goal showed England’s continued threat from dead-ball situations and second phases.
France could not control Saka between the full-back and centre-back.
Saka and Bellingham supplied the decisive actions when England’s structure became unstable.
England Still Have Questions to Answer
A 6-4 victory is spectacular, but the collapse from 4-0 to 4-3 cannot be ignored. England again became passive after taking a commanding lead, surrendered midfield control and allowed France to attack repeatedly.
The bronze medal produces two conclusions at once: England have enough attacking quality to overwhelm an elite opponent, but game management remains a major weakness.
What the Bronze Medal Means
England’s third-place finish is their best World Cup result since winning the tournament in 1966. It confirms that the squad can reach the final stages of a 48-team World Cup and defeat major opponents under knockout pressure.
Yet England entered the tournament believing they could become world champions. Bronze is therefore both an achievement and a reminder that the tactical and psychological gap to the final remains.
France Leave With Records but No Medal
France’s second-half response showed pride and enormous attacking ability. Mbappé scored twice, while Barcola and Dembélé also found the net. Their first-half defensive performance, however, made the comeback almost impossible.
The match also marked the end of Didier Deschamps’ long tenure as France coach, producing a dramatic and disappointing conclusion for one of international football’s most successful eras.
ITC Final Assessment
England deserved the bronze, but the match exposed both their ceiling and their weakness. At their best, they attacked with speed, movement and elite individual quality. At their worst, they retreated too deeply and allowed France back into a match that should have been finished at half-time.
Saka’s hat-trick defined the performance, while Bellingham’s sixth goal delivered the final statement: England leave the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a bronze medal and a 6-4 victory over France.