General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: July 3, 2026, 2:31 AM ET

World Cup & Soccer

Portugal secured a berth in the last 16 of the World Cup with a dramatic victory over Croatia, setting up a challenging matchup with Spain. The United States' victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night shattered domestic viewership records, drawing over 24.4 million English-language viewers and becoming the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has logged nearly 39,000 miles on his private jet, visiting multiple World Cup host nations during the tournament.

Wimbledon & Tennis

The Wimbledon Championships are underway with several title contenders faltering in recent Grand Slam events, leading to an open field. Defending champion Iga Swiatek, despite her powerful performances, evaluates her own mental strategy for maintaining dominance. Taylor Fritz advanced to the third round with a well-dressed performance, while Arthur Fery became the sole British player to reach the same stage, carrying home hopes. Grigor Dimitrov also extended his emotional return to the tournament, reaching the third round. Amanda Anisimova, with 20 aces, avoided an upset bid to advance. Mirra Andreeva, however, was eliminated in tears after a tough match. Novak Djokovic urged the public to temper criticism of Serena Williams following her singles return. British doubles hopes were dashed as Katie Boulter and Heather Watson exited the competition.

WNBA & Basketball

Angel Reese voiced her displeasure, calling the lack of Dream starters in the WNBA All-Star Game a "slap in the face" and "disrespectful." In contrast, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston were named starters for the Fever, while a broader ESPN ranking identified the 50 best players WNBA eight weeks into the season. Discussions around potential All-Star starters also continued, with a focus on who should earn a starting nod for the July 25th game in Chicago.

Rugby Union

Former Wales and Lions center Ray Gravell is set to be inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame. The Welsh rugby pay dispute has been resolved before their Fiji opener, according to head coach Steve Tandy. George Furbank will make his first England start against South Africa, while Finn Russell will not play for Scotland in their opening Nations Championship match, with Jonny Gray returning after missing the Six Nations. Jamie Osborne has been given a chance to prove his credentials as a Test winger for Ireland, with Tommy O'Brien injured and James Lowe having departed for Australia. Sam Prendergast earned a recall to the Ireland starting team for their match against Australia, with Osborne also switching to wing for the fixture. Wales head coach Steve Tandy has made changes for the Fiji Test, with Rees-Zammit reverting to wing for the match.

Golf

Phil Mickelson is reportedly disputing new misconduct allegations, denying claims that he was forced out of several California golf clubs. President Donald Trump expressed hopes to visit the Irish Open at his Doonbeg resort in county Clare this September.

Boxing & Combat Sports

A look inside the intense competition for boxing's top rankings reveals the contrasting situations of various gyms and locations, from Terence Crawford's Omaha base to the former turf of Mike Tyson in Atlantic City. Jaron "Boots" Ennis has climbed one spot on the pound-for-pound rankings after becoming a two-division champion as of the latest ESPN rankings. Welsh lightweight Mason Jones is scheduled to face Mar Quel Mederos at UFC Fight Night in Sacramento.

Other Sports News

The men's ATP Tour faces accusations from leading doubles players who fear the tour is attempting to eliminate doubles as a viable profession. England's cricket team has significantly improved its fielding, a former weakness, through diligent work and the assistance of a distinctive jacket. The T20 World Cup will feature England in the final against Australia after a dominant 40-run victory over South Africa. Former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn has been indicted on a felony charge related to the vandalism of the Reflecting Pool. A Florida judge has granted prosecutors access to review Tiger Woods' medical records concerning his March vehicle crash and subsequent DUI arrest. The first Enhanced Games, which encouraged PED use, concluded with only one world record broken, though participating athletes received substantial pay. The 2026 World Series of Poker main event is set to commence in Las Vegas. Northern Ireland swimmer Bethany Firth broke her own S14 at the Dutch National Championships. Lewis Hamilton commented that the Silverstone circuit will feel "a completely different circuit" with the new cars. Jockey Frankie Dettori is recovering in hospital after sustaining broken ribs in a car crash. ESPN is opposing media access limitations in a Miami murder trial, where a judge has considered restricting access and imposing a gag order.