Miami Gardens: France stunned by England in World ...

By Priya Nair — 19 July 2026 — 3 min read

England secures third place in World Cup

England concluded their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign by securing the bronze medal, defeating France 6-4 in a high-scoring third-place playoff match. The encounter took place at Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens, Florida. The match saw England establish a significant lead in the first half, with France staging a comeback attempt after the interval.

The English side, managed by Thomas Tuchel, took control early in the game, building a 4-0 advantage before halftime. Declan Rice initiated the scoring in the third minute, followed by Ezri Konsa doubling the lead in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then contributed two goals in quick succession, scoring in the 37th minute and again in the 45+1′ minute. This marked the first instance of France conceding four goals in a single half of a FIFA World Cup match.

Following the match, French forward Kylian Mbappé acknowledged the team’s initial struggles, stating that France was “completely stunned” in the first half. He noted the stark contrast between the two halves of the game, praising his teammates for their improved performance and mental resilience after the break. Despite their efforts, France ultimately fell short of victory.

Mbappé’s second-half resurgence and record-breaking goals

France mounted a strong comeback in the second half, with Mbappé scoring twice and Bradley Barcola also finding the net, narrowing England’s lead to 4-3. Mbappé’s goals in the 48th minute and later in the second half were crucial to France’s resurgence. His brace in this match also propelled him past Lionel Messi to become the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, reaching a total of 22 goals.

Despite France’s spirited fightback, England managed to regain control towards the end of the match. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Although Ousmane Dembele scored another goal for France, Jude Bellingham sealed England’s 6-4 victory with a goal in stoppage time.

Mbappé’s performance in the second half also placed him in a strong position for the Golden Boot award for the tournament’s top scorer. With his ninth and tenth goals of the tournament, he surpassed Messi’s eight goals. If Messi does not score two or more goals in the final against Spain, Mbappé would secure his second consecutive Golden Boot, a feat unprecedented in World Cup history.

Controversy and coaching legacy

Mbappé’s actions at halftime drew some criticism. Reports indicated that he exchanged jerseys with Declan Rice and was seen conversing and laughing with England’s manager Thomas Tuchel as he headed into the tunnel. Commentator Owen Hargreaves described the jersey exchange, which occurred before halftime, as “very, very strange behavior.” The scene, occurring while France was significantly trailing, caused embarrassment among some fans, especially given Tuchel’s past connection with Mbappé at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The defeat marked the conclusion of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as France’s manager. Deschamps, who took charge of the national team in 2012, led France to the FIFA World Cup title in 2018 and guided them to the 2022 World Cup final. His final campaign saw France reach the semi-finals before a defeat to Spain and ultimately a fourth-place finish after the loss to England. Mbappé expressed regret that the first-half performance might have given the impression of letting Deschamps down, but affirmed that the match would not tarnish the coach’s legacy.

The match was broadcast in English on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo, with streaming options available on Fubo and Peacock. The game was scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 18.