England Thrash France 6-4 in Wild Third-Place Classic
England leave Hard Rock Stadium with bronze after a breathtaking 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off.
Miami was never going to feel like a final, but it still felt like a World Cup night. France and England arrived with semi-final bruises and one medal left on the table, and both sides played like that mattered.
What followed was the highest-scoring third-place match in World Cup history. England struck early and often, but France refused to fold. The game swung in waves: a burst of England goals, a French response, then another English surge. Defences dissolved as both teams chased the podium.
When the whistle confirmed 6-4, England had third place, ten goals and a statement performance. France's long run ends fourth, still proud of a tournament that saw them reach the final week.
The stakes
Third place at the 2026 World Cup. Ranking points, a bronze medal, and one last statement after semi-final exits.
The rivalry angle
Familiar European rivals with club-level connections meeting again when only pride and a podium place remained.
Players who could decide it
Led the line with a brace and forced France into desperate defending throughout.
Scored twice but could not drag France back from the English onslaught.
Did you know?
- !The 6-4 scoreline is the highest-scoring third-place match in World Cup history.
- !The match produced more goals than the entire semi-final round combined.
- !Hard Rock Stadium hosted its second major knockout night of final week.
Head to head
Recent tournament meetings have been decided by fine margins until this thrashing rewrote the record books.
