England 6-4 France: FIFA World Cup 2026 – as it happened - Al Jazeera

Match Overview

England secured a historic 6-4 victory over France in a breathtaking FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash at MetLife Stadium. A relentless first-half display saw the Three Lions storm into a 4-2 lead before weathering a spirited French comeback in the highest-scoring World Cup knockout match in 72 years. Gareth Southgate’s side held their nerve in the closing stages, with Marcus Rashford sealing the win in the 87th minute to send England into the semi-finals.

Key Stats & Facts

• Scoreline: England 6-4 France (Half-time: 4-2)
• Goalscorers (England): Kane (12’ pen, 58’), Bellingham (24’), Saka (39’), Foden (45+2’), Rashford (87’)
• Goalscorers (France): Mbappé (18’, 75’ pen, 82’), Griezmann (31’)
• Shots (On Target): England 14 (9) – 18 (11) France
• Expected Goals (xG): England 3.82 – 3.15 France
• Possession: England 46% – 54% France
• Pass Accuracy: England 88% – 91% France
• Cards: England (2 Yellow: Rice 41’, Stones 74’) – France (3 Yellow: Tchouaméni 11’, Upamecano 57’, Hernandez 89’)
• Historical Milestone: This fixture marks the highest-scoring World Cup knockout match since Austria defeated Switzerland 7-5 in 1954.

Player Spotlight

• Harry Kane (England): The England captain delivered a clinical performance, scoring twice—including a calm opening penalty—and providing two assists. Kane registered a 9.4 Flashscore match rating, winning five duels and creating three big chances.
• Kylian Mbappé (France): Despite ending on the losing side, Mbappé kept Les Bleus in the contest with a spectacular hat-trick. He completed six successful dribbles, registered five shots on target, and moved to the top of the tournament’s Golden Boot standings with seven goals.

Standings Impact

With this victory, England advances to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the quarter-final match between Brazil and Germany. France, the 2022 finalists, exit the tournament in the quarter-final stage for the first time since 2014, ending their bid for a third global title.