Bukayo Saka Scores Three as England Defeat France 6–4 to Finish Third at FIFA World Cup
England secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after an entertaining 6-4 victory over France, inspired by a sensational hat-trick from Bukayo Saka.
Thomas Tuchel’s side made a blistering start, racing into a 4-0 lead before halftime. Captain Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute with a long-range effort, while Ezri Konsa added a header before Saka struck twice to put England firmly in control.
France responded strongly after the break, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice to reduce the deficit. Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also found the net as the French side mounted a spirited comeback.
However, Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute before Jude Bellingham added a stoppage-time goal to seal a memorable 6-4 victory for the Three Lions.
The win handed England the FIFA World Cup bronze medal after their semi-final defeat to Argentina, while France finished the tournament without a podium place.
Saka’s outstanding performance was the highlight of the match, capping off England’s campaign with one of the most memorable individual displays of the tournament.
