Bukayo Saka delivered a sensational performance, scoring a hat-trick as England defeated France 6-4 to claim third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a thrilling encounter at Miami Stadium.
Thomas Tuchel’s side dominated the opening half, racing into a commanding 4-0 lead before the break. Captain Declan Rice opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort in the third minute, while Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage with a well-taken header.
Saka then stole the spotlight with two first-half goals, putting England firmly in control and leaving France with a mountain to climb.
France responded strongly after the restart, launching an impressive comeback. Kylian Mbappé netted twice to become the highest-scoring player in FIFA World Cup tournament history, while Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also found the back of the net to reduce the deficit.
Despite the French resurgence, England held their nerve. Saka completed his memorable hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute before Jude Bellingham added a stoppage-time goal to secure a dramatic 6-4 victory.
The win earned England a third-place finish after their semi-final defeat to Argentina, while Didier Deschamps’ France ended their World Cup campaign without a medal.