England men achieve best World Cup finish since 1966

The England men's national team have secured their best FIFA World Cup finish for 60 years, after defeating France 6-4 in the bronze final at the 2026 tournament in North America.

Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions won a 10-goal thriller Miami Stadium against Les Bleus, following an eye-catching first half performance, to end this summer's campaign on a high.

And, in doing so, England recorded their highest World Cup finish since lifting the trophy at Wembley in 1966.

By winning the third-place game, the Three Lions have also recorded their best-ever World Cup finish at a tournament staged on foreign soil.

England men have reached the semi-final on three occasions in the six decades since being crowned world champions, but this was the first time they have been victorious in the bronze medal match.

In 1990, Sir Bobby Robson’s side finished fourth after losing 2-1 to hosts Italy in the third-place play-off, and it was a similar story eight years ago in Russia when the team managed by Sir Gareth Southgate fell to a 2-0 defeat against Belgium.

But Tuchel’s squad went one better this time around as first-half goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and a brace from Bukayo Saka appeared to set them on the way to victory over the two-time World Champions, playing under Didier Deschamps for the final time.

France staged a remarkable comeback after the break, with Kylian Mbappe scoring two either side of Bradley Barcola's strike to make it 4-3. A penalty from Saka to complete his hat-trick gave England a two-goal cushion back before Ousmane Dembele made it 4-5.

The last word came from Jude Bellingham though, who came off the bench to score a fine solo goal in stoppage time to make it 6-4 and also notch his seventh of the tournament to become the highest-scoring individual at a major men's senior tournament.

England’s run to the last four also set a new milestone for the nation’s senior sides.

Over the last four major tournaments for the men's and women's teams combined, dating back to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, England have reached at least the semi-final stage.

England men’s best finishes at the FIFA World Cup

1966: Winners
2026: Third
1990: Fourth
2018: Fourth