Saka hat-trick helps England down France 6-4 to win World Cup 2026 bronze

England secured third place in the 2026 World Cup with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France, highlighted by a hat-trick from Bukayo Saka and a record-breaking performance by Kylian Mbappe. The chaotic bronze-medal match saw both teams make significant changes to their starting lineups, with England boss Thomas Tuchel leaving out Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, while France coach Didier Deschamps, in his final match, omitted Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele.

England took an early commanding lead with goals from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa, before Saka extended it to 3-0. Saka completed his brace just before halftime, making it 4-0 and prompting Deschamps to call the first-half display "catastrophic." France responded in the second half, with Mbappe scoring his ninth goal of the tournament to move clear in the Golden Boot race. Bradley Barcola pulled another goal back, and Mbappe then netted his second, becoming the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer with 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi.

Despite France's comeback, England were awarded a penalty, which Saka converted to complete his hat-trick. Ousmane Dembele scored a fourth for France, but Jude Bellingham then scored England's tenth goal with an individual effort, becoming the first England player to score seven goals at a World Cup. This third-place finish marks England's best World Cup performance since their victory in 1966, though they will remember their semifinal loss to Argentina.

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the first-half display had been “catastrophic”