England Secure Best World Cup Finish in 60 Years After Third-Place Run

England's 2026 World Cup campaign ended with a third-place finish, their best result at a men's World Cup since they won the tournament outright six decades ago.

Thomas Tuchel's side were beaten 2-1 by Argentina in the semi-finals after failing to regain momentum once the South Americans leveled the scoring, according to the manager's own comments after the match. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a first final since 1966, several players pointed to the squad's growth across the tournament.

Midfielder Jude Bellingham had a tournament to remember individually, becoming the first Englishman to score seven goals at a single World Cup with a late strike in the win over France. Bukayo Saka also drew praise for a hat-trick against France that reignited debate over his earlier place in the starting eleven.

Declan Rice summed up the mood in the camp, saying it was "the best England group for a very long time." With a young core of players now with a World Cup semi-final and third-place finish behind them, expectations will only grow heading into the next major tournament.