England chases historic World Cup‑Open double on Sunday

Harry Kane celebrated after netting England’s first goal in the World Cup round‑of‑32 against Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, as captured in an AP Photo by Butch Dill. The strike gave the Three Lions an early lead in a match that could set the tone for the tournament.

England’s men’s team, still yearning for a first World Cup since 1966, advanced to the semifinals where they will meet Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Wednesday. A victory would end six decades of disappointment for a nation where soccer reigns supreme.

Meanwhile, an Englishman lifted the Open Championship trophy at Royal Birkdale, becoming the champion golfer of the year. It marked the first English Open win on home soil since Tony Jacklin in 1969, with Nick Faldo’s three Scottish victories the only other English triumphs.

“It would be mega,” said Matt Wallace, one of 21 English golfers competing in the final major that runs from Thursday at the northwest coast of England. He highlighted the possibility of a Sunday double that would unite the country’s two biggest sports.

Tommy Fleetwood, a local lad who grew up near Royal Birkdale and often walked the course with his father Peter, emerged as England’s best hope on the fairway. “For those guys, they definitely carry a nation on their shoulders a lot more than we do,” the No. 9‑ranked Fleetwood said. Matthew Baldwin, born in Southport, will tee off first at 6:35 a.m. on Thursday, while Matt Fitzpatrick pleaded for a later tee time to avoid clashing with the England‑Argentina game on Wednesday night.

R&A chief executive Mark Darbon suggested moving the final round forward to prevent a clash with the World Cup final, a move praised by 70‑year‑old fan Roger Shutt as “outrageous” if the events coincide. Should England win both titles, it would rewrite a story of six decades of hurt in soccer and a half‑century without an English Open champion on home soil.