Saka Hat-Trick Seals England's 6-4 World Cup Third-Place Win Over France

UNITED STATES — Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England defeated France 6-4 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday, according to The Guardian.

The Guardian, reporting on the match on 18 July, described the contest as an "epic" nine-goal encounter at the conclusion of the 48-team tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Saka's three goals led England against the 2022 runners-up in a high-scoring thriller.

The result means England finish third at the World Cup, while France end the campaign without a podium place. The victory caps a turbulent knockout phase for both European sides.

The third-place playoff precedes the World Cup final, scheduled for 19 July 2026. The Guardian's report did not immediately list the full set of goalscorers beyond Saka.

For Source Reporters' global readership, the match underscores the deep European presence in the latter stages of a tournament staged across North America. Attention now turns to Sunday's final.

## About The Match

England's 6-4 victory, reported by The Guardian, secures third place at the 2026 World Cup. The scoreline is reported as a final result.

**SEO** - Primary keyword: "World Cup third-place playoff" / "England France 6-4" - Slug: sport-worldcup-england-france-6-4-third-place-2026 - Meta title (≤60): England 6-4 France: Saka Hat-Trick, World Cup 2026 - Meta description (150-160): Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff, according to The Guardian's report on Saturday. - Internal links: [World Cup 2026 final preview](/world-cup-2026-final-preview), [World Cup 2026 results hub](/world-cup-2026-results)

**FAQ** Q: Who won the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff? A: England beat France 6-4, according to The Guardian.

Q: Who scored a hat-trick in England v France? A: Bukayo Saka scored three goals for England.

Q: When is the 2026 World Cup final? A: The final follows on 19 July 2026.

**Sources** - https://www.theguardian.com

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