General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: July 14, 2026, 5:31 AM ET

World Cup Semifinals and International Soccer

The FIFA World Cup is down to its final four, with Spain preparing to face France in a highly anticipated semifinal matchup. Spain have cultivated a strong "all for one" mentality in their camp to take on France's formidable squad. Meanwhile, Spain winger Lamine Yamal's pre-match comments, suggesting France should fear the defending Euro champions, were clarified by Jules Koundé, who stated there was no disrespect intended ahead of the clash. Switzerland forward Breel Embolo was controversially sent off after a VAR review showed he simulated a foul in a World Cup quarterfinal match against Argentina on Saturday night.

Rugby Union Update: Nations Championship and International Fixtures

Ireland are seeking to find "1% margins" to overcome the daunting venue of Eden Park when they face the All Blacks on Saturday. New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie acknowledged Ireland's ability, stating his team is "well aware" of their opponents as the two sides prepare. Wales captain Dewi Lake is expected to miss the Test against South Africa on Saturday. Prop Rhys Carre believes Wales took a "step back" in their Nations Championship defeat to Argentina. Argentina secured a convincing 35-21 victory over Wales, with the Pumas proving worthy winners. Scrum-half Raffi Quirke has been called into the England squad for their match against Argentina this coming Saturday. Scotland, despite scoring ten tries, fell short in a thrilling Nations Championship match against South Africa, losing 42-28. Sean Jansen marked his international debut with a try as a changed Ireland side defeated Japan for their second bonus-point win in the Nations Championship this weekend.

Golf World: The Open and Player Concerns

There is a strong possibility an Englishman will win The Open at Royal Birkdale, breaking a nearly 60-year drought since Tony Jacklin's victory on English soil. Matt Fitzpatrick has voiced concerns that sports betting is contributing to increased abuse directed at golfers by fans. Bob Mac Intyre and Matt Fitzpatrick share the lead heading into the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open, alongside Min Woo Lee, following disruptions caused by fog earlier in the week.

WNBA Season Action and Standings

Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles scored a career-high 33 points, becoming the first WNBA player to achieve 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists in just 22 career games, as the Lynx defeated the Phoenix Mercury. Head coach Cheryl Reeve indicated that All-Star Napheesa Collier's return may be imminent for the Lynx, a team currently tied atop the WNBA standings with the Las Vegas Aces entering the weekend. In a separate game, the Tempo outlasted the Liberty 93-91 in Montreal, with an eventful fourth quarter seeing New York's Betnijah Laney-Hamilton ejected for throwing a shoe that struck Toronto's Marina Mabrey during the contest. A WNBA regular-season record crowd of 20,996 watched the Wings defeat the expansion Toronto team 108-95 in Montreal on Friday night, with Paige Bueckers scoring 34 points in the victory.

Home Run Derby and MLB Draft Buzz

Jordan Walker became the first Cardinal to win the Home Run Derby, homering on his final six swings to defeat hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber in the event. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel has released predictions for the MLB draft, highlighting players to watch in the minor leagues. McDaniel also identified key players to monitor in the MLB Future Games, featuring top prospects from the minor league circuit competing in Philadelphia.

UFC 329 and Fighter Showdowns

Paddy Pimblett strengthened his claim for a lightweight title shot with a 52-second submission victory over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 in Liverpool. Standout performances from Pimblett and Gable Steveson were credited with saving UFC 329 from being an afterthought, despite Conor McGregor's injury-shortened return to the octagon. Steveson impressed in his UFC debut, securing a first-round TKO against Elisha Ellison with a notable display of striking on Saturday. Conor McGregor's comeback fight at UFC 329 ended abruptly due to an injury sustained in the opening minute, raising questions about his future fighting capabilities after the bout. The outcome of McGregor's fight has fueled speculation about a potential future matchup between him and Max Holloway, who also secured a quick win.

NCAA Basketball and Eligibility Rules

The NCAA will implement true rankings for seeding the top 16 teams in the women's basketball tournament starting next year, irrespective of conference affiliation for the upcoming season. A federal class action lawsuit has been filed by eleven Division I athletes alleging that the NCAA's new eligibility rules have negatively impacted them, particularly those who depleted their eligibility during the 2025-26 season of competition. Lagerald Vick, a former member of the Kansas Jayhawks' 2018 Final Four team, faces charges of attempted first-degree murder in Tennessee following an incident.

Tennis Update: Wimbledon and Player Dominance

Jannik Sinner has returned to his No. 1 ranking after a dominant Wimbledon victory, overcoming a recent challenging period before the tournament. Linda Noskova defeated Karolina Muchova in an all-Czech women's final at Wimbledon, showcasing the nation's significant influence in the sport this season. Great Britain's Alfie Hewett was defeated 6-1, 6-1 by top seed Tokito Oda in the men's wheelchair singles final at Wimbledon this past weekend. Novak Djokovic, despite his loss to Sinner at Wimbledon, appeared rejuvenated and aims to continue his career, having won 24 major titles to date.

Formula 1 and Motorsport News

Questions persist about whether Max Verstappen would consider a move to McLaren, as discussed in a recent F1 Q&A ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. Seven-time Moto GP world champion Marc Marquez secured his 10th German Moto GP victory with a dominant performance at the Sachsenring this past Sunday. Ryan Blaney won the weather-delayed NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta in overtime, emerging from a three-wide battle on the final lap early Monday.

Other Sports News and Notes

The World Series of Poker main event final table has been set, with nine players vying for the $10 million first prize in the 2026 tournament. Team NI heptathlete Kate O'Connor discussed her working relationship with her father, who also serves as her coach for the upcoming season. Max Whitlock, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow due to a hand injury sustained in training this summer. Former tennis player Mardy Fish won his third American Century Championship title in Tahoe, defeating Pavelski and Curry on Sunday. The University of Michigan regents are expected to discuss an investigation into the culture of its athletic department on Thursday, with a decision on Athletic Director Manuel potentially being made as part of the review. Irish bowler Caoimhin Agyarko is set to face IBF light-middleweight champion Josh Kelly for a world title on July 25 in Saudi Arabia. Brodie Croft scored a hat-trick to help Super League leaders Leeds maintain their four-point advantage at the top of the table. Wakefield Trinity ended Super League champions Hull KR's 11-game home winning streak. Joe Joyce's comeback fight concluded in a bizarre fashion as he lost to Artem Suslenkov in Moscow. Mayo manager Andy Moran stated his team is "not the finished article" despite a significant 17-point victory over Louth that propelled them into their first All-Ireland SFC final in five years this weekend. Kerry's pursuit of back-to-back All-Ireland SFC titles remains on track following a 2-18 to 0-20 victory over Dublin in Sunday's semi-final, with goals proving decisive in the match. Dublin manager Ger Brennan has called for the GAA to introduce video technology to aid officials in making crucial decisions, following his team's All-Ireland SFC semi-final defeat to Kerry. The future of England's Test head coach is being considered, with the ECB looking at between six and 10 names to replace Brendon McCullum. BBC Sport reflects on the highs and lows of Brendon McCullum's tenure as England Test head coach following his dismissal earlier this week. Heather Knight leaves a significant legacy in English cricket that extends beyond statistics, and her future role is being discussed. Mathieu van der Poel won the ninth stage of the Tour de France, which was shortened due to extreme heat measuring 40°C. Tim Merlier secured his second consecutive stage win on the Tour de France, prevailing in another sprint finish on Saturday. Afghanistan's women's refugee team is expected to have their funding extended following a recommendation to the ICC board at their annual conference this week.