Saka Hat-Trick Powers England to 6–4 Win Over France and World Cup Bronze

Dragon Media News Desk

Bukayo Saka completed a hat-trick as England defeated France 6–4 in a thrilling third-place play-off to claim the bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a remarkable 10-goal encounter at Miami Stadium in Florida on Saturday, England established a commanding 4–0 lead in the first half. France staged an impressive comeback after the interval, but Saka’s late penalty and Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time goal secured a historic victory for England.

Declan Rice gave England the lead in the second minute before Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage in the 17th minute. Saka then scored twice, in the 36th minute and shortly before half-time, to send England into the break with a comfortable four-goal cushion.

France began its comeback two minutes into the second half through Kylian Mbappé. Bradley Barcola added another goal in the 53rd minute before Mbappé struck again in the 65th minute, reducing England’s lead to 4–3.

France created several opportunities to equalise but failed to convert them. In the 86th minute, Malo Gusto fouled Djed Spence inside the penalty area, allowing Saka to score from the spot, complete his hat-trick and restore England’s two-goal advantage.

Ousmane Dembélé scored France’s fourth goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time to make it 5–4. Two minutes later, however, Bellingham broke through the French defence and scored an outstanding goal to seal England’s 6–4 victory.

Saka played the decisive role with three goals, while Rice, Konsa and Bellingham scored once each for England. Mbappé scored twice for France, with Barcola and Dembélé adding one goal apiece.

Mbappé’s two goals took his overall World Cup tally to 22, moving him ahead of Lionel Messi. He also reached 10 goals in the 2026 tournament, strengthening his position in the race for the Golden Boot ahead of the final.

Bellingham, meanwhile, scored his seventh goal of the tournament, setting a record for the most goals by an England men’s player in a single World Cup edition.

England had been forced into the third-place play-off after suffering a 2–1 defeat against Argentina in the semi-final. The victory over France secured England’s first third-place finish at a World Cup and its best result since winning the tournament in 1966.

The match also became the highest-scoring third-place play-off in World Cup history. The previous record was nine goals, set when France defeated West Germany 6–3 in 1958.