England finished third at the 2026 World Cup after a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in Miami. Bukayo Saka scored a first-half hat-trick, but the match was overshadowed by his walkout from a BBC interview and an emotional medal ceremony.
Match highlights: England's 6-4 win
England opened the scoring in the third minute when Declan Rice intercepted a pass and drove forward to fire a hard shot. Ezri Konsa doubled the lead in the 18th minute, heading in a Rice corner. Saka then scored twice before halftime—first reacting to a rebound from Marcus Rashford's shot in the 37th minute, then converting a pass from Konsa just before the break—giving England a 4-0 lead.
France fought back in the second half, but Jude Bellingham set up Saka for a penalty in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-3. Ousmane Dembele pulled one back for France in stoppage time, but Bellingham sealed the win with a solo goal in the 98th minute, his seventh of the tournament.
Saka walks out of BBC interview
After the match, Saka abruptly left a BBC interview when the presenter suggested that a third-place finish was 'at least' something. The gesture highlighted the team's disappointment at falling short of the final.
Assistant manager Anthony Barry, known for his direct assessments, was visibly emotional during a halftime interview, saying the squad was competing with 'broken hearts' and that their performance was 'an absolute honour' to witness.
Medal ceremony: Bellingham ensures Steele receives bronze
During the medal ceremony, veteran goalkeeper Jason Steele was initially overlooked. Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, and Jordan Henderson spotted the error and dragged him onto the stage. Henderson placed the bronze medal around Steele's neck.
Reflecting on the tournament, Bellingham posted a handwritten poem called 'The Lion's Way' on Instagram, written by the team's driver Michael Chandler. Bellingham thanked the fans and called for unity, vowing that the team would achieve great things together.
What's next for England players
With the World Cup over, England players will have a brief break before returning to their clubs. European domestic leagues, including the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, start in a few weeks. Players will report back to their clubs in early August.
Spain will face Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final, with Lionel Messi's side aiming to defend their 2022 title.
