England beats France 5-3 to finish third at 2026 World Cup

BAGHDAD, Iraq — MIAMI — England defeated France 5-3 in the third-place match at the 2026 World Cup, securing the bronze medal. Goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka gave England a 4-0 lead at halftime at the Miami venue. France cut the deficit after the break, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice, but Saka converted a penalty in the 87th minute to restore a two-goal cushion. Mbappe's second goal was his 10th of the tournament, moving him past Lionel Messi to the top of the 2026 World Cup scoring chart. Late strikes from Ousmane Dembele and Jude Bellingham, traded in stoppage time, settled the final scoreline at 5-3. The result gave England its best World Cup finish since winning the 1966 title. France, beaten 2-0 by Spain in the semifinal, ends the tournament with the loss in the playoff for third place.