England have not won the men's World Cup since 1966, but in 2026 they recorded their best finish on foreign soil by beating France 6-4 in a scarcely believable third-place play-off. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, Kylian Mbappé added two more to his record tally, and the match swung from a 4-0 England half-time lead to a frantic second half before Jude Bellingham sealed it in stoppage time. For England, it was a bronze-medal finish that offered consolation after semi-final heartbreak against Argentina, but it also raised questions about manager Thomas Tuchel's future after he was booed by fans before kick-off.
What happened in the match was simple: England tore France apart in the first half. Declan Rice opened the scoring, Ezri Konsa added a second, and Bukayo Saka scored twice — once just before half-time — to put the Three Lions 4-0 up at the break. France, playing in Didier Deschamps' last match as manager, looked shell-shocked. But Kylian Mbappé, hunting his second successive Golden Boot, began the comeback after half-time with a goal, then Bradley Barcola made it 4-2, and Mbappé struck again to make it 4-3. Suddenly, the game was alive. Saka restored the two-goal cushion from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick, but Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back again. In the 94th minute, Jude Bellingham came off the bench to score England's sixth and seal a 6-4 victory — the highest-scoring third-place match in World Cup history.
“England beat France 6-4 in an epic World Cup third-place play-off, their best finish since 1966, with implications for Tuchel's future.”
This match was the culmination of several storylines. For England, it ended 60 years of hurt — though not the ultimate prize — and gave them their best finish since winning the tournament in 1966. Third place is their highest ever on foreign soil. For France, it marked the end of an era: Didier Deschamps, who led them to the 2018 title and the 2022 final, stepped down after 14 years. Mbappé, meanwhile, became the first male player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to reach double figures at a single World Cup, scoring his 10th and 11th goals of the tournament. He also overtook Lionel Messi as the all-time leading World Cup scorer (both men's and women's, though the report specifies male).
Why does this matter for UK readers? Pride, for one: England beat a major rival and produced a memorable performance. But it also has practical implications for the national team's future. Thomas Tuchel signed a contract extension before the tournament and indicated he wants to lead England into Euro 2028 on home soil. However, after a semi-final defeat to Argentina that some fans felt he mishandled, his reception in Miami — boos before the France match — showed he has work to do to rebuild trust. The players, like Harry Kane, were praised by supporters as they received bronze medals, suggesting the squad retains goodwill. Next steps: Tuchel will prepare for Euro 2028 qualifying, while Deschamps' departure opens France's managerial vacancy.
## Key questions answered
Q: Why did England fans boo Thomas Tuchel before the match? Tuchel had faced criticism for his tactics in the semi-final loss to Argentina. At a pre-match press conference, he doubled down on his decisions, and fans showed their displeasure by booing him before kick-off against France.
Q: How many World Cup goals did Kylian Mbappé score in 2026? Mbappé scored 11 goals in the 2026 tournament, becoming the first male player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to reach double figures. He also overtook Lionel Messi as the all-time leading World Cup scorer.
Q: What does this result mean for England's future under Tuchel? Tuchel has a contract extension and aims to lead England into Euro 2028 on home soil. The third-place finish is England's best since 1966, but Tuchel's relationship with fans needs mending after the semi-final disappointment.
## What happens next
Thomas Tuchel will remain as England manager for the Euro 2028 campaign, which begins with qualifying matches. France will begin a search for a new manager to replace Didier Deschamps after 14 years. The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina takes place later on the same day, concluding the tournament.