England and France produced one of the most extraordinary matches in FIFA World Cup history as their third-place playoff at the 2026 tournament ended in a remarkable 6-4 victory for the Three Lions.
While both European heavyweights entered the contest disappointed after missing out on a place in the World Cup final, they delivered a spectacular 10-goal thriller that ultimately rewrote the competition's record books.
England Beat France 6-4 in World Cup Third-Place Thriller
England made a flying start to the contest, with Declan Rice opening the scoring in just the third minute before Ezri Konsa doubled their advantage in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then added another in the 37th minute as England took control of the match.
France responded strongly after the break. Kylian Mbappe scored in the 48th minute before Bradley Barcola struck six minutes later. However, Saka completed a memorable hat-trick with further goals in the 46th and 87th minutes as the game developed into an end-to-end classic.
Mbappe scored his second goal of the night in the 66th minute, while Ousmane Dembele also found the net for France deep into the match. Jude Bellingham eventually added England's sixth goal as the Three Lions secured a stunning 6-4 victory and third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
France vs England Breaks 64-Year World Cup Record
The incredible scoreline saw France and England combine to break a major World Cup record that had stood for 64 years.
The third-place playoff became the first World Cup match since 1962 in which both teams scored at least four goals. The last time it happened was when the Soviet Union and Colombia played out an unforgettable 4-4 draw during the 1962 World Cup.
England's 6-4 victory therefore became the first World Cup game in more than six decades to feature four or more goals from each side.
Highest-Scoring World Cup Game Since 1982
The 10-goal thriller also became the highest-scoring match at a FIFA World Cup in 44 years.
No World Cup fixture had produced as many goals since Hungary famously demolished El Salvador 10-1 at the 1982 tournament. While France and England fell short of matching that game's 11-goal total, their remarkable third-place playoff ended a lengthy wait for another World Cup match to reach double figures.
A Bittersweet End for France and England
Despite producing a game that will be remembered for years, the result represents a bittersweet end to the tournament for both nations. France and England arrived at the World Cup as two of the heavy favorites to lift the trophy, and both would undoubtedly have preferred this spectacular meeting to have taken place in the final rather than the third-place playoff.
Nevertheless, the future remains bright. With world-class quality throughout their squads and another generation of elite talent emerging, both England and France should continue to challenge for football's biggest prize. It would hardly be surprising to see one, or even both, of these nations lifting the World Cup again in the not-too-distant future.
