In a thrilling encounter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, England triumphed over France with a score of 6-4 in the third-place playoff, held at Miami Stadium, Florida. This match, which took place at 6 a.m. Korean time on July 19, 2026, saw a record-breaking total of 10 goals scored, surpassing the previous record of nine goals set in 1958.

England's Dominant First Half

England started the match with an aggressive 4-1-4-1 formation, featuring Ivan Tony at the forefront of their attack. The team quickly took control, scoring their first goal just three minutes into the match. Declan Rice intercepted a misplaced pass from France's Désiré Doué and launched a powerful right-footed shot from outside the penalty area into the corner of the net.

Despite an early offside call that ruled out a potential goal from Bukayo Saka in the 11th minute, England continued to press forward. In the 18th minute, Ezri Konsa scored from a corner taken by Rice, heading the ball in from the far post. France's Kylian Mbappé attempted to respond, but his shots in the 28th and 35th minutes were thwarted by England's goalkeeper, Dean Henderson. England then extended their lead in the 37th minute when Saka scored after a sequence of plays initiated by Marcus Rashford. Just before halftime, Saka added another goal, curling a left-footed shot into the net after receiving a pass from Eze, leaving England ahead 4-0 at the break.

France's Comeback Attempt

Facing a daunting deficit, France made four substitutions at halftime, bringing on fresh legs in an attempt to turn the tide. The team, which had deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, sought to capitalize on their attacking potential. Despite their efforts, England managed to maintain their composure and continued to find the back of the net.

As the second half progressed, France fought back, scoring four goals, but England's lead proved insurmountable. The match concluded with England securing third place in the tournament, while France finished fourth.

This high-scoring affair not only highlighted England's attacking prowess, particularly through Saka's hat-trick, but also marked a memorable moment in World Cup history with the most goals ever recorded in a third-place playoff.