The Open 2026 final round tee-times at Royal Birkdale could be brought forward to avoid clashing with the football World Cup final, should England reach it. England face Argentina in Wednesday's semi-final, with a potential final in New Jersey at 20:00 BST — just 90 minutes after golf is scheduled to finish around 18:30.

The R&A remains flexible on scheduling, with no decision yet made. Stakeholders and broadcasters will be consulted. Chief executive Mark Darbon said in April they would "attempt to avoid a clash wherever possible," though play-offs are unpredictable. The Open uses a three-hole aggregate play-off, potentially extending to sudden death, which could push the Claret Jug presentation close to kick-off.

The last Open decided by play-off was 2015, when Zach Johnson won at St Andrews. BBC correspondent Iain Carter notes tee times are influenced by US broadcasters like NBC, with final putts typically dropping at 18:30. A prolonged play-off this Sunday could create a direct scheduling conflict.