Craziest World Cup game ever? England wins 10-goal thriller, Mbappe sets record
Jesse YomtovMeghan L. HallSeth VertelneyUSA TODAY
Updated July 18, 2026, 9:14 p.m. ET
England and France played one of the wildest World Cup matches in history, a 6-4 England victory to secure the bronze medal at this 2026 tournament.
The 10 combined goals was the most in a World Cup game since 1982.
The Three Lions took the lead less than three minutes in with Declan Rice’s long-range goal, then Ezri Konsa headed home Rice’s corner 15 minutes later to double England’s lead. Bukayo Saka added two before the halftime whistle as England took a stunning 4-0 lead into the break.
But France wasn’t done. In his last game after 14 years in charge, Didier Deschamps made a quadruple sub to start the second half, shaking things up in attack with the additions of Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola.
Kylian Mbappe scored a few minutes after the intermission, his ninth goal at this tournament to take the Golden Boot lead over Lionel Messi and 21th career World Cup score, equaling the mark Messi set this summer. Barcola scored 10 minutes later and suddenly England’s lead was down to 4-2.
Mbappe scored again in the 66th minute to pull France within one and make him the all-time leader in World Cup goals. But Saka converted a penalty in the 87th to restore the two-goal advantage. Dembele, of course, responded in stoppage time to give France hope again and make it 5-4.
But it still wasn’t over!
Substitute Jude Bellingham scored in the 98th minute to ice it for England and secure the team’s best World Cup finish since winning it all in 1966.
England vs France highlights
Deschamps, Tuchel hug it out after wild game
France and England players share postgame moment
Jude Bellingham clinches it! England 6, France 4
Dembele goal makes it 5-4!
It’s not over in Miami as the reigning Ballon d’Or winner scores to get France back within one goal.
Bukayo Saka hat trick! ENG 5, FRA 3
Bukayo Saka steps forward to smash home the penalty kick after Djed Spence was fouled in the box, and the Arsenal star his hat trick. More importantly, England has a two-goal lead again.
End-to-end action
Minutes after Jude Bellingham came on, England had a major opportunity to restore a two-goal cushion but were kept out.
England subs: Bellingham and Anderson on
Hanging on for dear life, Thomas Tuchel brought on Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson to replace Eze and Toney in the 79th minute.
Michael Olise sets assist record
France’s Michael Olise was credited with assists on both of Kylian Mbappe’s goals and now has seven assists at this World Cup, breaking Pele’s record for most in a single tournament.
Mbappe goal again!
It’s 4-3 now in Miami after Kylian Mbappe scored his second goal o the game in the 67th minute, his 10th at this World Cup and 22nd career in the World Cup, breaking a tie with Lionel Messi.
Both teams pushing hard for more
This game has opened up in the second half with France pouring numbers forward and England getting opportunities to create space on the counter-attack, still up 4-2 in the 65th minute.
Bradley Barcola goal! England 4, France 2
Les Bleus have halved England’s lead with two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half, the latter through Bradley Barcola.
Game on in Miami!
Kylian Mbappe goal!
Mbappe scores in the 48th minute to take the 2026 Golden Boot lead and tie Lionel Messi with his 21st career World Cup goal.
Ollie Watkins replaces Rashford
Thomas Tuchel made his own substitution to start the second half, bringing on Ollie Watkins for Marcus Rashford.
Watkins scored the winning goal for England in the Euro 2024 semifinal against the Netherlands.
Quadruple sub for France
Dembele, Digne, Barcola and Upamecano replace Konate, Doue, Hernandez and Cherki as the teams take the field for the second half.
HALFTIME: England leads 4-0
That was not what we were expecting in Miami! The Three Lions head into the intermission up 4-0 behind two goals from Buakyo Saka and one from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa.
In the first half, Arsenal players accounted for three goals (Saka and Rice) and two assists (Eberechi Eze and Rice).
Saka goal! England 4, France 0
Bukayo Saka scored his second goal in less than 10 minutes, firing home from the top the penalty area past Mike Maignan for England’s fourth goal of the half.
Bukayo Saka goal! England 3, France 0
An absolutely bonkers counter-attack ends with Bukayo Saka smashing home on a mostly-open net, staking England to. a3-0 lead in the 37th minute.
Ezri Konsa goal! England 2, France 0
Ezri Konsa headed Declan Rice’s corner kick to the far post in the 18th minute, extending England’s lead to 2-0.
That’s Konsa’s second international goal, the first coming in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia in 2025.
Offside erases Saka goal
England’s Bukayo Saka appeared to have scored his team’s second goal after a mazy run down the right side, but the flag went up for offside.
10 minutes in: England 1, France 0
Declan Rice’s goal in the third minute remains the only score, but both teams have looked positive in the first 10 minutes, particularly England pushing forward with a front line of Marcus Rashford, Ivan Toney and Bukayo Saka.
Declan Rice goal! Stunner puts England in front
Less than three minutes into the match, Declan Rice stepped up and scored a long-range goal, his first of this World Cup to put England ahead on France.
Rice is wearing the captain’s armband for England today with Harry Kane starting on the bench.
Mbappe pays tribute to Deschamps
Kylian Mbappé is paying tribute to France coach Didier Deschamps, saying he deserved a better send-off.
“You who have given us so much, we should have offered you a better ending but we failed,” Mbappé wrote. “To put into words all that you have brought us for the past 14 years is very difficult. You have been such a major player in the rebuilding of this team. People didn’t always know how to appreciate your greatness, but time and history will change all of that.”
Strong crowd in Miami
Despite this being a third place game at Hard Rock Stadium, the stands are pretty full, just minutes before kickoff. There are jerseys of all kinds, including for teams who aren’t playing today such as Colombia, Mexico and Argentina.
What time is France vs England game?
The matchup kicks off at 5 p.m. ET.
England lineup today
- GK: Dean Henderson
- DF: Ezri Konsa
- DF: Marc Guehi
- DF: Djed Spence
- DF: Jarell Quansah
- MF: Declan Rice
- MF: Morgan Rogers
- MF: Eberechi Eze
- FW: Bukayo Saka
- FW: Marcus Rashford
- FW: Ivan Toney
France lineup today
- GK: Mike Maignan
- DF: Malo Gusto
- DF: Ibrahima Konate
- DF: Theo Hernandez
- DF: Maxence Lacroix
- MF: Adrien Rabiot
- MF: Warren Zaire-Emery
- MF: Rayan Cherki
- FW: Kylian Mbappe
- FW: Michael Olise
- FW: Desire Doue
Where is England vs France game?
The third-place match is being held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
England vs France predictions, expert picks
Seth Vertelney: France 3-1 England
Third-place games are typically pretty open, which should benefit a France side that surprisingly saw its attack stifled against Spain.
Jon Arnold: France 2-1 England
Nobody wants to be there, but with many of the depth players getting opportunities this could be a more lively game than expected. I’m ready for Rayan Cherki and Kobbie Mainoo to strut their stuff.
Jesse Yomtov: France 3 – 0 England
We’ll all have fun watching Rayan Cherki. And some more Désiré Doué. And N’Golo Kanté could get a final send-off. Why does this game exist again?
Victoria Hernandez: France 1 – 2 England
I’m never afraid to be the odd one out. I think France’s loss to Spain was way more deflating than England’s to defending champion Argentina. It’s not coming home, but the pride points simply mean more to the Three Lions.
World Cup prize money 2026
- Champion: $50 million
- Runner-up: $33 million
- 3rd place: $29 million
- 4th place: $27 million
- 5th-8th place: $19 million
- 9th-16th place: $15 million
- 17th- 32nd place: $11 million
- 33rd-48th place: $9 million
England vs France odds
England-France Miami weather
According to AccuWeather as of July 17 at 8 a.m., a high of 93 degrees is expected for July 18, though it’ll feel like 104 degrees outside. The weather will consist of “sunny spells with a thunderstorm,” and the “lightning from nearby storms may impact the soccer match.”
Who are France vs England referees?
- Referee: Jesus Valenzuela
- Assistant Referees: Jorde Urrego, Tulio Morena
- 4th official: Jalal Jayed
- Reserve assistant referee: Zakaria Brinsi
What team is Kylian Mbappe on?
France’s Kylian Mbappe plays his club soccer for Real Madrid.
World Cup winners list
- 2022: Argentina 🇦🇷
- 2018: France 🇫🇷
- 2014: Germany 🇩🇪
- 2010: Spain 🇪🇸
- 2006: Italy 🇮🇹
- 2002: Brazil 🇧🇷
- 1998: France 🇫🇷
- 1994: Brazil 🇧🇷
- 1990: West Germany
- 1986: Argentina 🇦🇷
- 1982: Italy 🇮🇹
- 1978: Argentina 🇦🇷
- 1974: West Germany
- 1970: Brazil 🇧🇷
- 1966: England 🏴
- 1962: Brazil 🇧🇷
- 1958: Brazil 🇧🇷
- 1954: West Germany
- 1950: Uruguay 🇺🇾
- 1938: Italy
- 1934: Italy
- 1930: Uruguay 🇺🇾
What time is England vs France game PST?
The England-France third-place match kicks off at 2 p.m. Pacific Time.
Kylian Mbappe stats
Entering the third-place match, France’s Kylian Mbappe has eight goals at the 2026 World Cup, tied for the lead with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Mbappe, 27, now has 20 career World Cup goals, one behind Messi on the all-time list.
Does Kylian Mbappe have a World Cup?
As a 19-year-old, Kylian Mbappe helped France win the 2018 World Cup.
World Cup third-place game location
Saturday’s match is being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Has England won the World Cup?
England won its only World Cup title in 1966, and has lost twice in the third-place game since then (1990 and 2018).
When do England and France play CST?
The France-England match kicks off at 4 p.m. Central Time.
FIFA World Cup bracket
Round of 16
- July 4: France def Paraguay – Philadelphia
- July 4: Morocco def Canada – Houston
- July 5: Norway def Brazil – East Rutherford
- July 5: England def Mexico – Mexico City
- July 6: Spain def Portugal – Arlington
- July 6: Belgium def USA – Seattle
- July 7: Argentina def Egypt – Atlanta
- July 7: Switzerland def Colombia – Vancouver
Quarterfinals
- July 9: France def Morocco – Foxborough
- July 10: Spain def Belgium – Inglewood
- July 11: England def England – Miami
- July 11: Argentina def Switzerland – Kansas City
Semifinals
- July 14: Spain def France – Arlington
- July 15: Argentina def England – Atlanta
Final
- July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ousmane Dembele team
France star Ousmane Dembele plays for Paris Saint-Germain.
Where is the next World Cup?
The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco – with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay all hosting one match to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first-ever World Cup.
Has France won the World Cup?
France has two World Cup championships: 1998 and 2018.
Kylian Mbappe age
France’s Kylian Mbappe is 27 years old.
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