The clash on 18 July 2026 now holds the prestigious title of the highest-scoring third-place game in FIFA World Cup history. England and France went head-to-head in a breathtaking offensive showcase. When the final whistle blew, a staggering total of 10 goals had been scored.
The Three Lions dominated the pitch during this historic encounter, ultimately defeating their rivals by a remarkable scoreline of England 6-4 France. Despite being the new highest-scoring third-place match, it was not the biggest margin of victory a national team has achieved in World Cup history.
This historic game took place at a packed Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium), where a confirmed sellout crowd of 64,478 fans witnessed the drama unfold. This massive turnout highlights just how much the tournament has grown compared to older eras, easily clearing the modern standard of 60,000 fans per game.
Goodbye to the 1958 third-place match
The thrilling 2026 encounter officially surpassed by one single goal the previous record set during the 1958 World Cup, where France defeated West Germany 6-3 in a spectacular 9-goal thriller.
ABSOLUTE MADNESS IN MIAMI AS JUDE BELLINGHAM PUTS ENGLAND UP 6-4 TO SEAL THE BRONZE MEDAL 🏴 pic.twitter.com/2hMBGTzE8d
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 18, 2026
That match was famously headlined by the legendary Just Fontaine, who spearheaded the French attack by scoring 4 goals. The new 10-goal battle between England and France now stands alone at the top of the tournament’s history books.
Other high-scoring third-place thrillers
Long before France and England shattered the record, the 1938 tournament witnessed Brazil defeat Sweden 4-2 in a brilliant offensive display. That six-goal thriller was the first top scoring third-place match before france-west germany took the first spot twenty years later. Even earlier, the 1934 edition featured a thrilling 3-2 victory for Germany over Austria, setting an early standard for high-scoring consolation finals.
The modern era has also delivered its fair share of dramatic, high-scoring matches. A prime example occurred in 1986 when France defeated Belgium 4-2, earning a memorable spot among the thrilling extra time third place matches in world cup history.
Additionally, Sweden showcased its attacking prowess in 1994 by dismantling a surprising Bulgaria team with a commanding 4-0 victory. The twenty-first century has kept this entertaining tradition alive with fast-paced, high-scoring games that thrilled soccer audiences tuning in.
Tomas Brolin of Sweden (Getty Images)
In 2002, fans witnessed a lightning-fast start as South Korea fell 2-3 against Turkiye in a match featuring the fastest goal ever. Keeping up the momentum, the 2010 tournament saw Uruguay vs 2-3 Germany in a spectacular, rainy blockbuster that kept viewers guessing until the last second.
