France vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Live Updates: Bellingham finished off the goal fest with his seventh goal of the tournament (AP)England and France ended up making an exhibition out of a match that is normally seen as one that no team ever wants to play. England scored four goals in the first half while France scored three in the second to give them a scare. Both sides then added more goals and finished off with a total of 10 goals shared. England came out on top with a 6-4 scoreline going their way. They have sealed their best finish at a World Cup since 1966, which was the only time they had won the trophy.
Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise have been right in the thick of the action as France flicked a switch at half time and came out all guns blazing in the second half of the 2026 FIFA World Cup bronze medal match against England. Mbappe scored twice while Olise added two more assists to get to seven for this tournament as France reduced England’s 4-0 lead to just one before the 66th minute of the match. Bukayo Saka then smashed
| Score | FRA 4-6 ENG |
| Half | 2nd |
| Current Time | |
| England XI | Henderson, Konsa, Guehi, Spence, Quansah, Rice, Rogers, Eze, Saka, Rashford, Toney |
| France XI | Maignan, Gusto, Konate, Hernandez, Lacroix, Rabiot, Zaire-Emery, Cherki, Mbappe, Olise, Doue |
| Venue | Miami Stadium |
| Big moments of game | 3rd min: Declan Rice puts England ahead early with a long-range effort; FRA 0-1 ENG
11th min: Saka scores puts the ball into goal but not given as he was off side 18th min: Ezri Konsa heads in England’s second goal of a cross from Rice; FRA 0-2 ENG 33rd min: Marcus Rashford’s long-range effort saved by Mike Maignan 37th min: Bukayo Saka scores to put England 3-0 up; FRA 0-3 ENG 45+1 min: Saka scores his second goal of the match; FRA 0-4 ENG 48th min: Kylian Mbappe scores and take the lead in the Golden Boot race; FRA 1-4 ENG 54th min: Bradley Barcola scores France’s second goal, England’s lead reduced to two; FRA 2-4 ENG 64th min: Dembele’s shot saved easily by Dean Henderson 66th min: Mbappe scores France’s 3rd goal, his 10th of the World Cup and Michael Olise has now assisted his 7th goal of the tournament; FRA 3-4 ENG 87th min: Saka completes his hat-trick by smashing in from the penalty spot; FRA 3-5 ENG 90+6 min: Dembele scores and brings France within one goal again; FRA 4-5 ENG 90+8 min: Bellingham scores the 10th goal of the match; FRA 4-6 ENG |
Declan Rice earlier was the driving force for England as they raced to a 4-0 lead. The Arsenal midfielder Rice scored in the third minute and then provided an aerial ball with pin-point precision for Ezri Konsa to head into goal in the 18th minute. France have hardly made any changes to their lineup, with Kylian Mbappe clearly trying to get some goals to boost his chances at securing the golden boot. England, on the other hand, have made as many as seven changes, which includes leaving star names Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham on the bench.
SCROLL DOWN FOR HIGHLIGHTS OF FRANCE vs ENGLAND, 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP 3RD PLACE MATCH:
AAAND THAT'S THE LAST ACTION OF THE MATCH AS THE CONTEST ENDS WITH 10 GOALS IN TOTAL!!! This is the highest-ever scoreline in a third place match in world cup history, pipping France and West Germany's 9-goal encounter at the 1958 edition of the tournament. This is also the highest England have finished in a World Cup since their triumph in the 1966 edition.
FT: ENG 6-4 FRA
AAAND THAT'S ANOTHER GOAL!!! THIS TIME FROM BELLINGHAM WHO SKIPS THROUGH THE FRENCH DEFENCE AND FINSIHES CALMLY!!! Absolutely brilliant finish to the match!!! Absolute carnage here.
ENG 6-4 FRA
What is this match!!!! Dembele breaks away and last year's Balon d Or winner joins the party with an excellent finish past Henderson!!! England's lead down to 1 goal again!!
ENG 5-4 FRA
Chalobah is brought on for the last 5 mins as Guehi goes off. France keeping the pressure on and Demebele's cross is blocked. Olise tries to skip past Spence but can't get past him. More frustration for France as their attack is stopped due to Spence going down.
ENG 5-3 FRA
Barcola with a shot from range and we have a corner now. Kounde will now replace Gusto. And the corner yields nothing as Mbappe is caught offside. England can almost smell victory here.
7 mins added
ENG 5-3 FRA
England come again with Watkins who feeds Spence. And the Tottenham man is fouled inside the penalty box by Gusto!! Referee points to the spot. Bellingham will take the kick. Oh wait, he has handed it to Saka for his hattrick. AAND HE SCORES!!! Gives Maignan no chance. It's a hattrick for the player who had missed a penalty in the Euro 2020 final.
ENG 5-3 FRA
A bit of stoppage in the match as the referee is getting checked by the physio for an injury. Looks like a calf issue. Also, Konsa is down and will probably be replaced by James.
ENG 4-3 FRA
England now with changes with Bellingham and Anderson on for Eze and Toney. Tuchel will now hope for some control in the midfield which is easily being out-ran by France. Bellingham almost makes an instant impact, barelling inside the France box but it's saved by Maignan.
ENG 4-3 FRA
France on the front foot again and Gusto is fouled by Watkins in a dangerous area. Olise and Dembele over it. In from Dembele and Eze clears it away.
ENG 4-3 FRA
There's a foul by Olise on Guehi as England get the ball back. It's now imperative that they don't give it away cheaply. Upamecano gives away another foul on Toney as England look to break with Watkins but Gusto dispossesses him. Olise with a chance and that's shot wide
ENG 4-3 FRA
AAAND ANOTHER!!! France come again and Olise has found Mbappe in the middle again and he has slapped the ball past Henderson. 10 goals this World cup and Mbappe now leads Lionel Messi in the all-time top-scorers' list with 22 goals as well as the Golden Boot race!!!
ENG 4-3 FRA
Delightful lob by Eze over the top of the French defence to get the ball to Toney who just can't control it and tumbles to the ground. No penalty though but a good chance for England to create more daylight between the two teams. Dembele, meanwhile, on the other end has cut in from the left and shot straight at Henderson.
ENG 4-2 FRA
England come forward with Djed Spence now and that's gone behind for a corner. And that's floated inside the box and Ivan Toney with a header but it's kept out by Maignan.
ENG 4-2 FRA
Dembele on the charge now and he only has the goalkeeper top beat but it's at a bit of a difficult angle but he still tajkes the shot only for Henderson to make the save. Olise follows through but it's over.
ENG 4-2 FRA
Eze with a wonderful run, skipping past French players at will but he was lacking the finish. Tries a lob over the goalkeeper and that's gone wide. France get the ball rolling quickly and the ball is fed to Barcola who runs inside the England penalty box and finishes it off!! England crumbling now.
ENG 4-2 FRA
Olise looks for mbappe who had made another run but this time, an England defender is there. The ball falls kindly to Rabiot and he takes in on the volley and shoots it over!!!
ENG 4-1 FRA
AAAND WE HAVE A FRENCH GOAL NOW!!! Olise finds Mbappe in space and the England defence is split in half. Mbappe doesn't even take an extra ouch and finishes first-time, guiding the ball past Henderson. He takes the lead in the Golden Boot race with 9 goals.
ENG 4-1 FRA
England get us underway for the second half now. Spence advances with the ball but he gives away a foul . France look to break away but Dembele is caught off side.
ENG 4-0 FRA
France have unsurprisingly made changes for the second half. Attacking as well as defensive with Demebele, Upamecano, Digne and Barcola all in. England make one as well with Watkins on for Rashford.
ENG 4-0 FRA
France look absolutely shell-shocked here. They haven't ever conceded 4 in the first half of any World Cup match. The farewell match of Didier Deschamps is turning out to be a nightmare. England get a corner now and Saka will take it. Nothing off t as Guehi has fouled Maignan. And that's the last action of this half as England have absolutely demolished the opposition. Where was this gameplay when they were playing against Argentina?
HT: ENG 4-0 FRA
It's just isn't happening for France as Gusto's attempted crosses can't find a French player inside the English box. A foul on Spence now as England get a free kick. Lovely turn from Eze who feeds Saka and his first-time shot finds the back of the net again!!! Absolute demolition by Tuchel's team!!!
ENG 4-0 FRA
Saka finds Rashford again in the left flank and the Manchester united man with a great ball across goal but it just ebades an on-rushing Toney. Could have been 4-0 up in the first half.
ENG 3-0 FRA
What is going on with France??? Marcus Rashford with acres of space to run and Maignan closes in and makes it difficult for him to shoot with a save. Saka gets the ball and gives it back to Rashford who finds Saka again as the French defenders were running around the box like headless chicken. Saka calmly sidesteps them and finishes it off.
ENG 3-0 FRA
Mbappe now makes his way deep inside the England box and attempts a shot. It has been struck with power but Henderson somehow keeps it out.
ENG 2-0 FRA
England look pretty comfortable with the ball, keeping it from the chasing French pack. It's clear as day to see how England players play without a mountain of pressure on them. Rashford gets a bit of space in the middle and he shoots from long range and Maignan with a save.
ENG 2-0 FRA
Mbappe almost gets his goal as Dean Henderson gets a vital block which slows down the ball. It was still trickling towrads the goal but Guehi is in the right place at the right time to clear. Was offside though, so wouldn't have counted.
ENG 2-0 FRA
France with a little bit of possession now, playing the ball from one flank to another, trying to find a way through. Mbappe with a shot now and that's gone pretty wide.
ENG 2-0 FRA
Saka again with a blistering run as Lacroix is struggling to keep up with him. The Argentine winger cuts inside to shoot but Lacroix blocks it for a corner. Rice takes the corner and oh dear me!! Konsa has headed it inside the French net. Absolute dominance by the Three Lions.
ENG 2-0 FRA
Mbappe starting to get into his stride as he leaves Konsa in his wake and tries to find a French shirt in the middle but the England defence deals with it.
ENG 1-0 FRA
France can't string two passes together at this juncture as England are quick to get to every lose ball. The Les Blues don't look remotely like the all conquering unit that started this tournament. As I was typing, Cherki gets the ball in a good position and shoots, only for Henderson to save. On the other end, Saka has shot the ball into the French net with a lighning quick counter-attack but it's offside.
ENG 1-0 FRA
Here's Saka with the ball now on the right hand side as England are finding it very easy to cut through this France backline. Saka finds Rashford and his shot is blocked for a corner. The corner is kept in by Konsa and Eze's shot is blocked.
ENG 1-0 FRA
England in white and France, in navy blue, get us away for this match. England have possession with Spence and Rashford. Decent ball in by the Manchester United winger and Toney can't get to it!!! Rice has the ball now and the captain HAS SCORED!!!! OH DEAR, DEAR!!!! France lose possession and shoots it to the left side of the French keeper who is rooted to the spot.
ENG 1-0 FRA
7 changes for England as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham the big names to sit out while Dean Henderson, Eberechi Eze and Ivan Toney start for the first time in the World Cup. France, meanwhile, have retained most of the team which started against Spain with some changes here and there.
The two teams are in the middle. The flags of both countries are flanking them on both sides. France's national anthems first, followed by England's.
England: Dean Henderson, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Djed Spence, Jarell Quansah, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Ivan Toney
Subs: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Trevoh Chalobah, Dan Burn, Reece James, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke
France: Mike Maignan, Malo Gusto, Ibrahim Konate, Theo Hernandez, Maxence Lacroix, Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaire-Emery, Rayan Cherki, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Desire Doue
Subs: Brice Samba, Robin Risser, Lucas Digne, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Lucas Hernandez, Manu Kone, Aurelien Tchouameni, N’Golo Kante, Maghnes Akliouche, Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Bradley Barcola, Jean-Philippe Mateta
Neither England and France would have wanted to be in Miami for a third placed play-off match when the World Cup started. But after over a month of grueling action, here they are locking horns in a bronze medal match after losing their respective semifinals to Argentina and Spain. Two teams with stars like Mbappe, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham now only have the Golden Boot in sight while stealing glances towards New Jersey where Argentina and Spain clash for the ultimate glory on Sunday. For England and France, both will hope to sign off from the tournament with a high. Who comes out on top tonight? We’ll soon find out.
THE MAKESHIFT tent on the edge of the playing field at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, a sprawling public park in New York’s Queens borough, is blaring the Latino chartbuster DTMF by the Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny.
A few teenage players tap their feet to its tunes, their gaze fixed on a game of football in the middle. A volley from 20 yards clangs onto the crossbar, and coach Vincent Cordoba, a stern-looking elderly Colombian man with small, sharp eyes, throws a water bottle to the ground in anger. He shouts expletives in Spanish and instructs his players to tighten up their defence and fall back in numbers.
