England beat France in Miami goal rush to claim World Cup bronze
Telemundo Deportes reported England topped France in a high-scoring third-place match at the 2026 World Cup in Miami.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
England walked away with the bronze medal after a wild third-place match against France at the 2026 World Cup, with Miami hosting a game Telemundo Deportes described as packed with intensity and goals.
The July 18 match delivered a busy scoreboard and a fast English start. Telemundo’s match clips showed Declan Rice opening the scoring for England, Ezri Konsa adding a second, and Bukayo Saka pushing the lead to 3-0 before completing a brace for 4-0.
Saka was later identified by Telemundo as the player of the match. In a postgame clip, he said England won the bronze because of the way the team played in the first half, according to the network.
France fought back after England’s burst
France did not let the match drift away quietly. Telemundo’s coverage highlighted Kylian Mbappé getting France on the board with what the network called a historic World Cup goal, then setting up Bradley Barcola for another French goal.
Mbappé scored again in the comeback push, according to Telemundo’s clips, while Ousmane Dembélé later struck to make it 4-5. The network also showed Saka scoring from the penalty spot as England kept punishing France despite the rally.
Jude Bellingham then put the match beyond France, with Telemundo describing his goal as the strike that sealed England’s victory. The coverage did not present the match as a quiet consolation game. It was a bronze-medal shootout between two heavyweights.
Bronze for England, farewell tone for Deschamps
Telemundo showed England receiving the bronze medals after recovering from the disappointment of missing the final. The network’s coverage also captured English supporters in Miami turning the atmosphere into a party as the Three Lions took control.
Before kickoff, Thomas Tuchel and Didier Deschamps were shown embracing, according to Telemundo. After the match, Tuchel praised his players, saying: “La mentalidad que mostramos, y haber superado la adversidad, es absolutamente brillante.”
For France, the defeat carried an added note. Telemundo described the match as Deschamps’ last with Les Bleus and showed him reacting with frustration during England’s scoring surge. In a postgame clip, Deschamps reflected on his time with France by saying: “Fue una aventura muy hermosa.”
Mbappé was shown leaving unhappy after France’s loss, according to Telemundo. The network also showed players from both teams sharing an emotional embrace after the final whistle.
The result gave England third place at the 2026 World Cup and left France with a painful finish after a match that had almost everything: early English control, a French fightback, star turns from Saka and Mbappé, and a medal ceremony at the end of a breathless night in Miami.
This story draws on original reporting from TELEMUNDO.com.