England take World Cup bronze after 10-goal thriller with France
Telemundo Deportes reported England beat France 6-4, with Bukayo Saka scoring three and Kylian Mbappé reaching 10 tournament goals.
By Frankie Delgado · News Reporter
2 min read
England grabbed third place at the 2026 World Cup with a wild 6-4 win over France, according to Telemundo Deportes, in a bronze-medal match that delivered 10 goals before the tournament’s final act.
The July 18 match put England back on a World Cup podium after six decades, Telemundo reported in its coverage. France, meanwhile, ended its tournament with a defeat despite another scoring burst from Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé scored twice for France, Telemundo said, taking his total for the tournament to 10 goals. Telemundo also reported in related World Cup coverage that Mbappé became the leading scorer in World Cup history.
Bukayo Saka led England’s charge with a hat-trick, according to Telemundo. The network identified Saka as the player of the match and reported that he credited England’s bronze-medal win to how the team played in the first half.
Jude Bellingham also had a major say in the result, with Telemundo describing his goal as the strike that sealed England’s victory over France.
A bronze match with fireworks
Telemundo billed the England-France meeting as a third-place match packed with goals, and the final score backed that up. England’s six goals were enough to survive a four-goal French response and close its World Cup run with medals.
The network’s coverage framed the match as an emotional rebound for England after a semifinal setback. Telemundo also reported that Tuchel praised the team’s reaction, saying in Spanish-language coverage that the mentality shown and the way the side overcame adversity was “absolutely brilliant.”
France’s exit carried its own closing note. Telemundo described the match as Deschamps’ last with France and reported that he called the experience “a very beautiful adventure.”
Mbappé’s scoring race rolls into the final
Mbappé’s double gave him 10 goals in the tournament, according to Telemundo, but the Golden Boot picture was still tied to the final. Telemundo’s programming notes said Saka celebrated bronze while Mbappé left the Golden Boot in Lionel Messi’s hands.
The World Cup title match remained ahead, with Argentina and Spain set for the final, Telemundo reported. England’s tournament ended one step below the finalists, but with a 10-goal showpiece, a Saka hat-trick and a return to the podium.
This story draws on original reporting from TELEMUNDO.com.