The World Cup brought a significant boost to UK pubs, with 30m extra pints sold and £150m in added sales, outperforming previous tournaments like Euro 2024, though benefits were uneven across the hospitality sector.
Gerwyn Price defeats Ross Smith 16-12 in the World Matchplay quarter-finals, advancing to face Gian van Veen in the semi-finals, while defending champion Luke Littler prepares to face Dirk van Duijvenbode.
China, after a surprising five-set victory over the United States, has advanced to the Women's Volleyball Nations League semi-finals in Macau. They are set to face Turkey on Saturday, a team that has consistently defeated them in recent major tournaments, including the 2023 VNL final and the Paris Olympics quarter-finals.
The schedule for cricket at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, has been announced, with defending champions India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh receiving direct entry into the men's and women's T20 quarter-finals. The women's competition runs Sept 17-22, men's Sept 24-Oct 1.
Defending champion Luke Littler secured a dominant 16-7 quarter-final victory over Josh Rock at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, throwing 17 180s. Littler will face Dirk van Duijvenbode in Saturday's semi-final, after Van Duijvenbode defeated Gary Anderson 16-13.
Italy and Brazil secured their spots in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals semi-finals in Macau, with Italy beating the Netherlands 3-0 and Brazil overcoming Japan 3-1. Ana Cristina was key for Brazil, scoring 30 points. Turkey, Canada, China, and the USA will compete for the remaining semi-final places.
Several significant football transfers have been announced, including Leandro Trossard's move to Besiktas, Nathaniel Brown joining Bayern Munich, Denzel Dumfries signing with Real Madrid, and Emersonn transferring to Ipswich. Other notable moves include Harry Winks to Cagliari, Mathys Detourbet to Manchester City, Illan Meslier to Arsenal, and Gonçalo Ramos to Milan, alongside Robert Lewandowski's move to Chicago Fire.
Northamptonshire defeated Somerset in a dramatic T20 semi-final, marked by David Willey's exceptional boundary catch and a late run-out. In the second semi-final, James Vince led Hampshire to victory over Nottinghamshire with a strong batting performance, setting up a final clash between Northamptonshire and Hampshire.
FIFA has launched a disciplinary investigation into the Argentina national team over incidents following the World Cup final, including player confrontations and alleged coaching staff misconduct. This probe also covers a prior semi-final incident involving a political banner, which drew criticism from the UK government.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra-time to win the expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament saw traditional powerhouses dominate but also featured surprising runs from teams like Cabo Verde and Norway, while hosts like Canada showed significant progress.
Spain's national football team, led by midfielder Rodri and coach Luis de la Fuente, secured its second World Cup title in the US, 16 years after its first. The victory, marked by a dominant performance against Argentina, was celebrated with trophy presentations and team camaraderie.
Thousands of Argentinians gathered at the Obelisco in Buenos Aires to celebrate their national football team's journey to the final, despite a 1-0 loss to Spain in extra time. Fans expressed immense pride in their team's effort and reaching the final, with some acknowledging past racism accusations while emphasizing the country's welcoming nature.
Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's column for 'El Debate' sparked controversy by praising the Spanish team but criticizing the French national team for having "no French players." The comment gained traction in Spain and prompted a response from Emmanuel Macron's government, with Spanish player Lamine Yamal also addressing the issue.
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, leading England to a 6-4 victory over France in the World Cup third-place play-off in Miami. This secured England's best World Cup finish since 1966, following their semi-final defeat to Argentina where Saka was an unused substitute, sparking debate over manager Thomas Tuchel's decision.
This report evaluates the individual performances of England's goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards during a major international tournament, highlighting key contributions, challenges, and overall impact, with Jude Bellingham and Marc Guéhi receiving high praise.
England defeated France 6-4 in a high-scoring World Cup bronze medal match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, securing their best tournament finish since 1966. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, contributing to England's initial four-goal lead, which was challenged by a French comeback before England sealed the win.
Brazilian journalist Julia Duailibi announced she would not support Argentina in the World Cup final due to racist incidents by some Argentinian fans, a sentiment echoed by many in Latin America, marking a shift from traditional regional solidarity amidst growing rivalries and social media influence.
The article argues that Spain's and Argentina's collective identity and deeply ingrained methodologies, rather than individual stars, are the reasons for their World Cup final success. It contrasts this with England's perceived individualistic focus and mental challenges, suggesting a need for a national shift in mindset.
Chinese table tennis stars Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha experienced their second mixed doubles defeat this month at the National Championships in Changsha, losing to Yuan Licen and Wang Yidi. This loss, following a runner-up finish at the WTT US Grand Smash, has sparked concern among fans ahead of the Asian Games.
Former Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy published a new column, "You need to keep your sense of humour," doubling down on his controversial remarks about the French national team's players' nationalities, drawing renewed criticism from the Spanish government and ministers.
Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal will lead France and Spain in a men's World Cup semi-final at AT&T Stadium, featuring a record combined squad value of $3.2 billion. Despite this, ticket demand for the England vs. Argentina semi-final, driven by Lionel Messi, is higher.
Harry Kane has publicly supported manager Thomas Tuchel after England's World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, urging the team to learn from the defeat. Kane emphasized the importance of the upcoming Nations League campaign against top teams like Spain and Croatia for gaining crucial experience.
England and France face off in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off in Miami, seeking to end their campaigns on a positive note after semi-final losses to Argentina and Spain, respectively.
England have travelled over 14,000 miles for the World Cup, significantly more than semi-final rivals France and Argentina. This extensive travel is due to their base in Kansas City and matches across North America, contrasting with France's minimal travel.
