England finished third at the 2026 World Cup after beating France 6-4 in the bronze medal match. The Three Lions were 4-0 up at halftime, as Bukayo Saka scored twice and Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa were also on target. France then mounted a spirited comeback after the break. Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Bradley Barcola slammed in a powerful strike, leaving the chaotic game delicately poised at 4-3. Saka then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, before Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back for France and Jude Bellingham made it 6-4 with the last kick of the game. That result ensured England ended the campaign on a high note, but the players will still be disappointed by the nature of their defeat to Argentina in the semifinals.
England’s 2026 World Cup campaign
England was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after losing 2-1 to Argentina in the semifinals. The Three Lions took the lead after Anthony Gordon slotted in Morgan Rogers’ cross, but manager Thomas Tuchel’s negative tactics ultimately cost them. He threw on extra defenders in a bid to protect England’s lead, but that simply invited pressure on his team. Enzo Fernández fired in an equalizer from 25 yards, and substitute Lautaro Martínez headed in Lionel Messi’s cross to win the game for Argentina in the 93rd minute.
It was a shambolic end to England’s World Cup chances. Tuchel’s team was in control of the game, but his negative substitutions proved disastrous. Argentina’s forwards hadn’t created any notable chances before he shifted to a five-man defense, but they quickly forced Jordan Pickford to make a bunch of desperate saves, and they also hit the woodwork twice. It was ultimately a deserved win for Argentina, and a wasted opportunity for England.
Prior to that defeat, England was the second favorite to win the World Cup. The Three Lions were trading at 22.8% with Polymarket and 22.7% with Kalshi to lift the trophy after beating Norway 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Jude Bellingham scored both goals for England in that game, taking his tally to six for the tournament. Captain Harry Kane has also found the back of the net six times, so England’s attack looks formidable right now.
The Three Lions were priced at just 8.1% with prediction sites to win the World Cup after scraping a 2-1 win against DR Congo in the Round of 32. However, traders turned more bullish after they beat Mexico 3-2 in the Round of 16. Mexico hadn’t lost at Estadio Azteca in 11 years, but Bellingham’s double put England 2-0 up inside 38 minutes. Julián Quiñones pulled one back for Mexico, and England right-back Jarell Quansah was then sent off on 54 minutes, forcing his team to play the rest of the game with 10 men. Anthony Gordon won a penalty, which Harry Kane converted. However, Kane then gave away a penalty, and Mexico striker Raúl Jiménez buried it, teeing up a tense finale. The referee added 11 minutes of injury-time, but England held on for a famous win.
England was unbeaten in 14 competitive matches under Thomas Tuchel, but that semifinal defeat to Argentina ended his perfect record. It was a familiar story for England fans, who suffered a series of heartbreaking defeats under former manager Gareth Southgate. The Three Lions were runners-up at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, and they reached the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup. They also qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup, where they suffered an unlucky defeat to France.
However, Southgate could never get his hands on a trophy, and he resigned after England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Tuchel replaced him, and the highly-rated German coach was supposed to end the rot by doing away with Southgate’s negative tactics. Instead, he reverted to type and England crashed out in the semifinals. Tuchel restored some pride by winning the bronze medal match against France, and he will now shift his focus to Euro 2026.
Key players for England
England boasts one of the deepest and most talented squads in world soccer right now. These are the top four players that impressed during the tournament:
- Harry Kane: England’s captain scored six goals during the 2026 World Cup. He could still add to his tally in the third-place playoff game against France on Saturday. Kane won the Golden Boot after firing in six goals at the 2018 World Cup. He has now scored 85 goals in 121 games for the Three Lions, and he has also been prolific for Bayern Munich over the past few years, scoring around a goal per game for the German champions. Kane maintained his hot streak in front of goal by scoring twice in Engand’s World Cup opener against Croatia. He was on target in a 2-0 win against Panama on Matchday 2, before scoring twice against DR Congo in the Round of 32 and adding another goal against Mexico in the Round of 16.
- Jude Bellingham: The Real Madrid star fended off fierce competition from Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze to gain a place in England’s starting lineup. Bellingham justified his inclusion by scoring twice in the group stage, and he remains one of England’s best players. His two-goal salvo inspired England to a 3-2 win against Mexico in the Round of 16, and he scored another two goals in the 2-1 victory over Norway in the quarterfinals. Bellingham was also on target against France in the third-place playoff, ensuring he scored more goals at a single World Cup than any other England player in history.
- Declan Rice: Arsenal’s midfield general led the Gunners to the Premier League title in 2026. Rice is no longer just a holding midfielder, as he has added goals and assists to his game in recent years. He was named England’s vice-captain for the World Cup, and he played well throughout the tournament, but the Three Lions capitulated after he was substituted against Argentina in the semifinals. He scored and provided an assist to put England 2-0 up against France in the bronze medal match.
- Marc Guehi: The former Crystal Palace captain has been on an upward curve in recent years, and his superb form earned him a January transfer to Man City. He was left out of England’s opening game against Croatia, but he started every other match, and he looked composed on the ball.
Where to bet on England at future tournaments
Kalshi and Polymarket will both offering a wide range of markets on England’s future attempts to win trophies. You’ll find tournament winner and other futures markets on both sites, plus Golden Boot markets.
There are dozens of markets on each England game too. You can predict which team will advance to the next round, or delve into classic markets like the three-way regulation time moneyline, total goals, and spreads. Prediction sites are offering loads of props too: both teams to score, the first team to score, a player to score or assist, the number of corners in the game, and much more.
Before placing your first trade, it’s worth reviewing prediction market fees across platforms, as trading costs vary significantly across sites. Not sure which platform to use? See our Kalshi vs. Polymarket breakdown for a full comparison of fees, markets, and liquidity, and check out the latest sign-up offers for new accounts.