England and France Fall Short at 2026 FIFA World Cup

England reached the semi‑finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup before being beaten 2‑1 by Argentina, ending a long wait for a second world title since 1966. Under manager Thomas Tuchel, the side showcased attacking talent, with Harry Kane scoring twice and partnering with Jude Bellingham, but defensively struggled against elite opposition.

France also made the semi‑finals, losing to eventual champions Spain, and then fell 6‑4 to England in the bronze‑match to finish fourth. Kylian Mbappé captured the Golden Boot with ten goals, becoming the all‑time leading World Cup scorer at 22 goals, and returned to Real Madrid for a third season. Michael Olise set a new World Cup assist record with seven, while Ousmane Dembélé recorded a hat‑trick against Norway, joining the ranks of Fontaine and Mbappé.

Both teams left the tournament with notable individual achievements but missed the final, extending the gap since their recent successes.