Keyword – Football
Trefwoorden – World Cup 2026, World Cup, Football, Sport, US sports, Australia sport
Title – World Cup 2026: Cape Verde continue remarkable story; Messi, Mbappé and Haaland return – live | World Cup 2026 | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/danielharris,https://www.theguardian.com/profile/paulmacinnes
Link – World Cup 2026: Cape Verde continue remarkable story; Messi, Mbappé and Haaland return – live | World Cup 2026 | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-22T09:15:07.000Z
Category – Sport
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jun/22/world-cup-2026-cape-verde-continue-remarkable-story-messi-mbappe-and-haaland-return-live

Michael Olise was incredible in the second half against Senegal – now that you don’t ask, that game was, for mine, the highest-level we’ve seen so far, though I also really enjoyed Germany v Côte d’Ivoire. And it’s actually hard to know whether France hit a groove, or Olise just made it look that way.

What level do we think Mbappé can reach? In terms of output, he’s already up there with the best, and he’s scored a hat-trick in a final too – it certainly wasn’t his fault France lost on penalties. But to cement himself among the highest echelon of legends, he does need to lift the trophy, and he may never have a better chance than this time around. By the next World Cup , he’ll be 31 – still good, but this is the tournament of his peak.

Mbappé said he had already rewatched the Senegal game twice, once by himself and once with staff. He praised the performance of Dembélé, whose international form has been the subject of much scrutiny by French journalists, to the extent that, when later confronted with the same topic, Deschamps insisted the media were “very much on his back”.

‘In the first half he was the best attacker, he made the play fluid,’ Mbappé said ‘In the second half Michael Olise and I were decisive [in the opening goal] but Ousmane also contributed. If you see Michael’s pass, Ousmane creates the space. It doesn’t count in the stats, but it matters. He is the Ballon d’Or and everyone is on board.’”

However, Iqbal and pals have a problem; well, they have several. Here’s one:

I saw a fair bit of Iqbal when he was playing age-group football at Manchester United. He’s really comfortable in possession and has a good eye for a pass; I’m looking forward to seeing how he does against France … 12 hours and nine minutes from now.

Iqbal bids to make Iraq proud against France

On the pristine training pitches of the University of Pennsylvania, where Iraq are training before of their Group C match with France, the laconic Mancunian drawl stands out. “They have big players, big personalities, big talents,” says Zidane Iqbal of his opponents. “They’re an amazing team, but it’s just another game. We’re preparing for it like we’ve always done.”

Iqbal, product of the Manchester United academy and focus of no little hype as a teenager, now plays his football in the Netherlands for Utrecht. He is also part of the Iraqi diaspora from which the Australian coach, Graham Arnold, has built a side that has reached its first World Cup since Mexico 86.

“It’s been 40 years since Iraq was last at the World Cup and the country has been through so much. It’s an honour to represent them,” says the 22-year-old. “We get messages from the people in Iraq and I’ve seen a lot of stuff on Instagram. We just want to make those people proud.”

Iqbal speaks with the calm confidence of a lost Gallagher brother, and said Iraq have already brushed off their 4-1 defeat to Norway in Boston last week. “We made a few mistakes, but that can happen to anyone,” he said. “We’ve learned from it. It decided the game but, inshallah, tomorrow [Monday] no mistakes. We’ll bounce back and give 100% tomorrow. Always.”

Iqbal made his debut for the Lions of Mesopotamia in 2022 and now has 26 caps. He says the bond inside the squad is strong, despite their diverse backgrounds. “Some of us have been together for two World Cup campaigns,” he said. “We know each other pretty well. We’re also know how to keep ourselves entertained at these long camps; lots of Uno, Fifa and Werewolf.”

Usually starting on the bench, Iqbal played the last 30 minutes against Norway, and said the first 30 seconds of that spell were memorable. “Reaching the World Cup has been a dream and when I first went on the pitch I felt it, but then it went away because you’re just focussed on the game,” he said. “Afterwards I was able to sit down with my family and appreciate it, I had done something I’d been dreaming of since a child. I think that experience has just given us all a taste for more. We need to work hard get ready for [the France] game but we’re all excited.”

I could get lost in this for days.

Anything else going on in the world?

No, thought not.

You gate amazing marine life off the cost of Mauritania, I’m told. I daresay that, after Cape Verde’s exploits at the World Cup , more tourists will be visiting to find out.

It’s about the football but also, it’s not about the football at all. I can’t even begin to detail everything that football has taught me; currently, I’m learning about Cape Verde.

Alexander Abnos has some thoughts on the man of yesterday, Alireza Beiranvand of Iran.

The latest World Cup Daily is poised to caress your cochleas.

So what of Uruguay? I’m afraid even the wizardry of Marcelo Bielsa can’t create talent, and when you’ve lost the likes of Diego Godin, Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, it’s not easy to find anything remotely as good.

Email! “Cape Verde is the Cameroon of 2026,” reckons Krishnamoorthy V. “And Vozhina is the new Roger Milla. Keep the fairy tales coming. Isn’t it what the world cup finally is all about. They dilute the toxic Giannis and the Donalds.”

Yup, I’m having a couple of weeks off the World Cup from next Monday for Wimbledon and was just musing, while stroking my chin of course, that what the early stages of those tournaments share in common is being about lesser lights and surprise bangers.

And what a joy Kevin Pina’s goal was – in execution but also in celebration, their first at the World Cup .

What I love about Cabo Verde is the discipline, structure and composure of their defending. They shut out Spain with difficulty but also with comfort, the confidence in what they were doing palpable. And they also know how to counter, the question now whether they can change gears and force the issue against Saudi.

What a World Cup Cape Verde are having. A draw with Saudi, in their final group match, might be enough to get them into the last 32; a win certainly will.

Beiranvand, by the way, holds the world record for the longest throw in a competitive match – 61.0026m – and for the longest drop-kick , 78.014m. Not bad for someone who was once sleeping rough.

But let’s return to Iran for a moment. Their goalie, Alireza Beiranvand – or “The Wall of Persia” as he’s known – had to run away from home to become a footballer, his old fella less than enchanted by the ruse and cutting up his gloves. I wonder how he feels now his boy has been player of the match at a World Cup .

Egypt, meantime, have taken control of things, coming form behind to beat New Zealand.

Group G is pretty tight. Belgium, who ought to be favourites, are between teams, the old stagers not what they were and younger players not as good – perhaps yet but possibly ever. They’ll hope to beat New Zealand in their final match and really should, but their attack doesn’t look poised to click.

I do wonder if they’ve enough goals in them when it comes down to the biggest matches, but they may only need one to win them. And though it’s true that if you stop Lamine, you’re a long way towards stopping Spain, that’s easier said than done and, if Olmo stays in the team, though he’s not a possession player in the same way that Fabian Ruiz is, he’s a very serious goal-threat.

France, I think, have the most routes to winning games – their battery of attackers might be the most ridiculous we’ve ever seen – but Spain remain the hardest to beat, their control of possession and space meaning opponents need to make a lot out of a little. Their defence is far from impregnable but, though it’s not as hard to get at as when a midfield of xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andrès Iniesta were in front, Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo isn’t bad.

Spain are an entirely different proposition with Lamine Yamal, aren’t they? Apologies if that sounds unacceptably basic, it is, but sometimes, basic is what we need. He gives them width, edge, pace, invention – and his teammates the confidence they have him so anything is possible.

But hatred of the US as a single entity is also a confusing idea, albeit one that fits a certain monotheistic world view, where there can only be devils and angels. It involves demonising as a single failed entity a hugely diverse and varied nation with elements of every kind of people and every kind of culture, the great human experiment, with all its freedoms and flaws; and doing so based on the actions and pronouncements of a few governing Maga Republicans.

If America has become this single thing in so many people’s minds, it is perhaps because this is the way we experience things now. Everything is flattened, foreshortened, turned into sound and noise. Never underestimate the effect of the hive mind, that constant third space we carry around with us. This World Cup is the first global event to take place so deep inside that online space, experienced in peeled-eyeball detail through a screen as a set of images and shouted ideas

This is how our flow of information works now, and indeed how Donald Trump took power, flooding the zone, shouting the simplest message above the noise. The US may feel like an expression of violence simply in its daily existence, an endless amplification of human talent, greed, desire, cruelty, where nobody is ever really in charge, they’re just out there riding it like a runaway bronco. But the US is also not Trump. Seventy‑seven million people voted for him, 272 million did not. A nation of 350 million people with more than 100 significant immigrant cultural groups cannot be one thing.

The US is the world in a very large and varied grain of sand, endlessly rich in all its beauty, energy, flaws and vices. To hate this is a baffling idea. If you don’t like America, what do you like? This is what humans are.

OK, so before we begin stepping our way through yesterday – depending, of course on where we live – let’s begin by throwing things forward with Barnay Ronay’s latest missive.

Preamble

Howdy pardners! So Cape Verde are in with a serious chance of the second phase, likewise Iran – wins over Saudi and New Zealand respectively will seal it, but a draw might be enough … but nor are the latter two out of things.

Meantime, Spain are up and sprinting, Uruguay aren’t what they were, and we’ve another set of fixtures but a few hours away, tantalising us with their imminence. So we’ll look forward to Argentina v Austria, France v Iraq, Norway v Senegal and Jordan v Algeria.

Welcome to World Cup 2026 – day 12!

Keyword – Sport
Trefwoorden – Prem Rugby, Northampton, Exeter, England rugby union team, Rugby union, Sport
Title – Pollock and Smith tune into Springbok summer after on-song Saints’ Prem triumph | Prem Rugby | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/robertkitson
Link – Pollock and Smith tune into Springbok summer after on-song Saints’ Prem triumph | Prem Rugby | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-21T17:00:36.000Z
Category – Sport
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/21/henry-pollock-fin-smith-england-springbok-test-rugby-prem-final

O f all the celebratory snapshots of Northampton’s Prem final triumph , perhaps the best was the morning-after picture of Henry Pollock and Fin Smith in bed with the trophy accompanied by backing vocals from Frank Sinatra. “That’s life, that’s what all the people say. You’re riding high in April, shot down in May. But I know I’m going to change that tune, when I’m back on top, back on top in June …”

Talk about suitably perfect lyrics. Saints may have finished top of the regular-season table but when they were being smashed 41-17 at Leicester on 9 May they looked far from dead certs to collect a second title in three years. To have claimed it on the occasion of their captain, George Furbank, making his final Saints appearance made it all the sweeter for Pollock, Smith and all his other close compadres.

The drinks will continue to flow in the East Midlands for a while after their 26-17 victory. There were a few moments when Exeter threatened to gatecrash their party but, ultimately, the Chiefs’ first‑half profligacy and an exhausting run of big games finally caught up with them. The yellow card for their captain, Dafydd Jenkins, followed by two well-taken tries within four minutes from George Hendy, proved the final straw.

At some stage the focus in Northampton will have to turn to replacing the Harlequins-bound Furbank , whose ability and example will be sorely missed. The good news, for now, is that this young Saints side remain in enlightened coaching hands in the shape of Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty, who have instilled a gameplan and a team bond that make them increasingly strong candidates as and when England seek fresh coaching inspiration.

In the meantime it is Pollock, Smith and co who must lie back and think of England, whose Nations Championship squad is being announced on Monday. In theory, nothing should sharpen the mind more than a flight to South Africa on Wednesday, before the Test on Saturday week against the world champions. In practice it has been another achingly long domestic slog and Steve Borthwick will head south with some seriously battered and patched-up foot soldiers.

Exeter’s Manny Feyi-Waboso, for instance, somehow played on Saturday despite a recently broken jaw. Given he underwent surgery on the injury only 17 days previously, things could easily have gone painfully awry. “We were planning on the first game being hopefully South Africa,” he said.

“Even then the chances of my jaw healing probably wouldn’t be high. We all sat down with the surgeon … and they just laid the information out to me. They said that [with] a direct blow to the jaw it’s likely the repair is going to fail, but you can try.

“It’s still a bit sore to touch but when the adrenaline’s pumping and you’ve got some painkillers you’re all right. I’m just happy the jaw stayed intact and it hasn’t jeopardised my chances to be away with England.”

Given Greg Fisilau also played on with a cracked eye socket and Archie McParland now has a lacerated knee, it leaves Borthwick to make a call. Is there any huge benefit, ultimately, in dragging barely fit players across three continents when what they need is a break? Thankfully, with George Martin, Alex Coles and Ollie Chessum all ready for duty, Maro Itoje is now poised for a summer off and hopefully the same will apply to one or two others.

On the flipside, Pollock is clearly itching to make a successful return to the country where he shared in a junior world title with England Under-20s in 2024. He has already had 29 competitive games for club and country this season on the back of the British & Irish Lions tour last year, but his latest man‑of‑the‑match display on Saturday has sharpened his appetite for more.

“We’ve got three big, big Test matches,” he said. “Obviously the Six Nations didn’t go our way and we are still hurting from that a little bit. I’m buzzing to get into camp and be around the boys again. There is no bigger challenge than going to South Africa and playing away at altitude in one of the biggest stadiums in the world. Those are the things you dream of.”

While not every South African is a fan of Pollock’s ebullient on-field persona – “They can talk all they want … I guess I keep showing up” – it is also a chance for the 21‑year‑old to measure his progress in comparison with the world’s best. “Obviously I want to let my hair down [this weekend] but I know in the back of my mind we’ve still got a job to do in the summer. There are lots of demands on us but we trust in the coaches and staff to manage us well. Those games are the ones you want to play in. You want to go away and play against the best in the world.”

To borrow again from Sinatra, come fly with me.

Keyword – Football
Trefwoorden – Mary Earps, London City Lionesses, Women’s Super League, Women’s football, Paris Saint-Germain Women, Football, Sport
Title – ‘People think I’ve vanished’: Mary Earps on signing for London City and feeling forgotten | Mary Earps | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/tom-garry
Link – ‘People think I’ve vanished’: Mary Earps on signing for London City and feeling forgotten | Mary Earps | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-19T12:30:32.000Z
Category – Sport
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/19/mary-earps-london-city-lionesses-signing-interview

W hen Mary Earps signed for Wolfsburg eight years ago, shortly after they had played in the Women’s Champions League final, there was no club photographer available for her unveiling, meaning her agent popped out to buy a scarf from the club shop before taking a makeshift announcement image. So when the former England goalkeeper’s latest club, London City Lionesses , announced her Women’s Super League return with a glamorous photoshoot on a boat on the Thames in front of landmarks such as Tower Bridge, she was struck not only by how much the women’s game and her life have been transformed, but by the bold scale of her new team’s ambitions.

“The energy and effort put into the shoot, I would never have imagined this even five years ago,” says Earps, whose move to London City from Paris Saint-Germain was confirmed on Friday. “All I keep saying is ‘I’m so excited,’ but that shoot just poured petrol on the excitement fire. Wow, if that’s what they do just to say ‘Hey, by the way, Mary’s arrived,’ then imagine hopefully what we can do [in the future].”

The 33-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the club that recently finished sixth in their debut WSL season, having chosen to return to the league where she has spent most of her career, including five years at Manchester United.

“I had an amazing time in Paris for two years, in a really special city, but last year I was sort of swaying more and more towards coming home,” the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year says. “Every contract now, with where I’m at in my career, it’s just about maxing out with whatever I’ve got left in the tank, and I wanted to do that at home.

“It felt like being back home in the WSL, scrapping it out every week, playing in front of the fans, being in those incredible English stadiums, being a part of English football culture again.”

When it came to choosing London City, a video call with the club’s owner, the American businesswoman Michele Kang , helped Earps feel valued: “She showed a real energy for me to join. I found it really impressive that she even made the time for me in [among] the crazy amount of business ventures that she’s got going on and how successful she is. She never made me feel like she had to leave. She was really, really open. She really believes in women’s football. I really respect her.”

The independently run club, who play home games in Bromley and train in Kent, will be hoping Earps’s fame can help them build a fanbase off the pitch as well as succeed on it. Work to build their new training centre at Cobdown Park in Ditton was also a pull for Earps. “I had the pleasure of playing at world-class facilities last year [at PSG],” she says. “In women’s football, I’ll be brutally honest, when you’ve experienced everything, you don’t expect perfection. But [London City’s] intention and the plan of: ‘This is when it’s going to happen, by this date,’ it feels tangible and more real. Whereas I think there’s a lot of broken promises that can be made in women’s sports sometimes because just of where it’s at in its timeline. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows. But their vision and the way they’re actively working towards it, it’s not just words, it feels very much like action.

“The main thing was really feeling like our values really aligned in terms of what the club wants to achieve, their ambition, my ambition. The fact that it’s a woman-owned football club, independent, can really go about its business in its own way was really exciting for me.”

Earps says she has no regrets about moving to PSG: “The facilities are the best facilities I’ve ever trained at in my whole entire life. You could eat dinner off the pitches. And, it sounds stupid, but even having your own [women’s team] places to park when you come in. These things, I’d not experienced prior to that. The league was maybe not as competitive as I would have liked and that’s just the nature of football sometimes.

“When I joined they were Champions League semi-finalists so I probably had hoped we’d be a little bit more competitive on the pitch than we turned out to be, but that’s football. I think a lot of people don’t take those jumps [in life] and I’m just one of those people – I’d rather give it a go and look back with no regrets. I loved it, the city especially was incredible.”

Can the fans expect to see a slightly different goalkeeper, on a technical skills level, from the one who left United after lifting the 2024 Women’s FA Cup at Wembley? “I’ll let the people decide, because I feel like for two years I know people think like I’ve vanished off the face of the earth,” Earps says. “People ask me if I’m still playing, which is sometimes a bit hard to hear because I’m like: ‘Guys, still here, I’m still around, I’m still alive and kicking.’ But I understand that’s how football is and obviously here it’s very WSL-focused.”

London City will be the sixth WSL side Earps has played for and she appears to have no desire to slow down or contemplate retiring. “It will be a challenge for myself to come back and to come to a new team [but] there’s still some fight in the old dog,” she says. “There’s still a lot to come, and still many years to come, hopefully. I think when you retire internationally, you accept that you’re not going to be in those conversations about being the ‘top goalkeeper’ any more, because that’s just how it goes when you’re not playing for your country.

“You do fall down the pecking order. So maybe people don’t expect that much of me any more, but hopefully I can show a good level and really contribute to the team. I felt really good for the last two years in PSG.

“I’m one of those people that always believe that better days are coming. I still want to be the best version of myself every day. I still think I can learn. If I didn’t think I could better myself, I would have hung my boots and gloves up already. Hopefully I can continue to grow as a player and peak. I don’t know if I’ll reach the 40s, but maybe a few more years.

“The 40s seems so far away. It does get a little bit harder as every season that you play, there’s a few more cracks in the back and the neck and the knees as you wake up in the morning. But I love this game and I will play it for as long as I love it … I want to play until the wheels fall off a little bit. I want to avoid going into the real world for as long as possible because football is a pretty good job.”

Keyword – US news
Trefwoorden – Arizona, Extreme heat, National parks, Texas, Oregon, Alaska, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, US weather, West Coast, US news
Title – Grand Canyon on ‘extreme heat’ watch, with temperatures set to soar | Arizona | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/anna-betts
Link – Grand Canyon on ‘extreme heat’ watch, with temperatures set to soar | Arizona | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-20T19:36:00.000Z
Category – News
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/20/grand-canyon-extreme-heat-watch

Extreme heat is set to hit lower parts of the Grand Canyon from Monday, the US National Weather Service (NWS) warned, with temperatures projected to exceed 100F (37.7C).

An alert published on Saturday will be in effect from 10am local time on Monday through 7pm on Tuesday.

Temperatures could climb as high as 112F (44.4C), according to the NWS’s office in Flagstaff, Arizona , compounding concern about warm conditions. Three hikers in the national park have recently died in heat-related incidents.

Forecasters warned “dangerously hot conditions” were possible below 4,000ft, with daytime temperatures expected to range between 97F (36.1C) at Havasupai Gardens to 111F (43.8C) at Phantom Ranch.

“Most individuals will be at risk for heat-related illnesses without effective cooling or adequate hydration, especially with prolonged outdoor exposure,” the agency’s Flagstaff office said. Such “extreme heat watch” notices are “reserved for only the hottest days of the year”, it added, and “issued when temperatures could rise to dangerous levels”.

Weather officials urged hikers to avoid being in the canyon between 10am to 4pm, and advised against physical activity.

The warning follows a series of recent heat-related deaths in the park. On Friday, the National Park Service (NPS) said that Grand Canyon park rangers and emergency personnel responded to two separate heat-related incidents, on 12 June and 16 June, that resulted in three deaths.

“In both cases, the deceased hikers were hiking trails in the Inner Canyon, where temperatures can exceed 109F in the shade during midday hours,” the agency said .

According to park officials, on 12 June, a 72-year-old male “succumbed to symptoms of heat-related illness” along the South Kaibab Trail. And on 16 June, in a separate incident, a 67-year old man and a 68-year-old woman also appeared to have “succumbed to symptoms of heat-related illness” on the North Kaibab Trail, although the investigation is “still ongoing”.

“Despite rapid response and aerial support, all three individuals were found deceased when responders arrived,” the statement said.

Earlier this month, an 18-year-old man also died in the park after experiencing what the authorities described as “heat-related symptoms”.

“Hiking in Grand Canyon can be a challenge for anyone, especially during the heat of summer,” the park service said on Friday. “Recent increase in heat-related incidents comes as summer temperatures in the Inner Canyon have reached dangerous levels, creating conditions that can quickly overwhelm hikers during the hottest parts of the day.”

Elsewhere in Arizona, evacuation orders have been issued for some communities between Sedona and Forest Highlands as firefighters work to contain a the Pocket fire located just north of Sedona in the Oak Creek Canyon area.

Meanwhile, extreme heat watches have also been issued for parts of Oregon from Monday through Tuesday evening, and for portions of California from Tuesday evening through Thursday, with forecasters warning of potentially dangerous temperatures.

In Texas, the NWS office in San Angelo, said that “triple-digit heat” can be expected from Sunday into early next week.

Heat advisories are currently in effect for parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico , Florida and Texas. The advisories have also been issued for Sunday in portions of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.

The heat comes as the US is currently co-hosting the Fifa World Cup, alongside Mexico and Canada. Earlier this week, a Guardian analysis found two matches of the tournament’s first round were played at a level of severe heat that a football players’ union has previously said should trigger the delay or postponement of games.

Keyword – Sport
Trefwoorden – Tennis, Sport, US sports
Title – Cerúndolo fights back in marathon three-hour Queen’s final to defeat Paul | Tennis | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/seaningle
Link – Cerúndolo fights back in marathon three-hour Queen’s final to defeat Paul | Tennis | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-21T17:39:59.000Z
Category – Sport
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/21/francisco-cerundolo-tommy-paul-queens-club-longest-final-tennis

All week at the Queen’s Club, ­Francisco Cerúndolo has had an unlikely guest in his players’ box: the No 10 Argentina shirt of Diego Maradona. And on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Hand of God, Cerúndolo summoned tennis from the heavens to lift the biggest trophy of his career.

But after fending off the American Tommy Paul 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3 in an epic that lasted a record three hours and two minutes, Cerúndolo said he had been inspired by another of his heroes: his father, Alejandro, who had flown to London to see him win.

“It is the first time my dad takes a flight and it’s the first time he has watched me outside Argentina,” he said. “I want to congratulate my dad for taking a plane. It’s Father’s Day, so this is for him.”

Cerúndolo added: “When I was born, he stopped travelling, because he hated planes and he couldn’t handle it. Last year he started taking therapy to approach his fear. Last week, he was saying: ‘I will go to the grass season.’ He always loved London and always loved grass, and he never came.

“Me, my brother and my sister were saying: ‘OK, Dad, until you are in the plane, we don’t believe you.’ They took the plane yesterday evening. I knew they were landing in London around 2:30pm. So I knew if the match was short, they wouldn’t arrive. But if the match was longer, maybe they could.”

Cerúndolo had to do things the hard way. He was a set and a break down against Paul before coming back to take the longest Queen’s Club final in history, ­beating the previous record of two hours and 57 ­minutes set by Marian Cilic and Novak ­Djokovic in 2018.

“It’s not easy to speak,” ­Cerúndolo said during his ­victory speech, having secured the title on his sixth match point. Just imagine how this talented but occasionally ­brittle player would have felt if he had thrown this one away.

Now, however, the 27-year-old can legitimately dream of making a run at Wimbledon. After all, Carlos Alcaraz is injured , Djokovic is 39 and the French Open champion , Alexander Zverev, has never won a title on grass.

Of course Jannik Sinner is rightly the prohibitive favourite. But if the heat dome over London ­lingers for another few weeks, all bets could be off, especially with Cerúndolo’s forehand – which was responsible for most of his 27 ­winners – firing like this.

It turned out to be a ­compelling final, and one that repeatedly zigged when you thought it would zag, ­starting with the opening game.

Paul had got here without ­dropping a set, but he started wildly and allowed his opponent an ­immediate break. Cerúndolo then played ­sublime tennis until at 5-4 in the first set he was suddenly broken to love.

Soon the Argentinian had lost the tie-break too and, when Paul broke to go 3-2 up in the second, the engraver on the huge Queen’s Club trophy was on high alert. But from nowhere the American dropped his serve twice in quick succession and suddenly it was one set all.

By now the temperature on court was 29.5C. And the quality of tennis, like the mercury levels, continued to rise. At 3-2 Cerúndolo got the break to move two games from victory, but more drama was to come.

First he had to save two break points in the next game before increasing his lead to 5-2. Then five match points came and went before victory was finally sealed with an overhand smash.

Paul was gracious in defeat, telling his opponent: “We always seem to have unreal matches and today you were the better player.”

That much was true. And forget the Hand of God. This final was all about the forehand of Francisco.

Keyword – The Filter
Trefwoorden – Fashion, Men’s shoes, Women’s shoes
Title – ‘Ideal for long days on your feet’: the 30 best summer sandals for men and women | Fashion | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/charlotte-gornall
Link – ‘Ideal for long days on your feet’: the 30 best summer sandals for men and women | Fashion | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-21T13:00:32.000Z
Category – Lifestyle
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jun/21/best-summer-sandals-men-women

I ’m over clunky shoes the minute there’s a glimmer of sunshine in the sky. And because flip-flops will only get you so far (literally and figuratively), a range of sandals is constantly in rotation for me during the summer months.

Sandals have also become an unlikely favourite for men’s event dressing, with Alexander Skarsgård stepping out in a pair of Valentino Rockstud flip-flops on the Sundance red carpet earlier this year. And while thong sandals aren’t for everyone, plenty of more reserved options offer additional coverage.

But where to find the perfect middle ground between function and fashion? From comfort first and office friendly to dressy, these are the best sandals to keep you walking on sunshine all summer.

The best summer sandals for women and men

Best women’s sandals for comfort

Archies arch support flip-flops

If, like me, you find flat shoes are the enemy, those classic flat-soled flip-flops are off the cards for anything beyond a quick seaside stroll. However, Archies – as the name suggests – makes flip-flops with proper arch support, something you’d normally only get from a chunkier shoe. They’re easy to style since they’re so minimal, and the range of colours means there’s something for everyone. The hot pink pair is a personal favourite. Inspired by the early 00s trend, these can be styled with jeans for a laidback – the Row-approved – summer outfit.

Teva midform infinity sandals

Teva is known for making practical, sport-inspired sandals. The midform soles add a slight platform with built-in support, making them ideal for long days on your feet. The elastic lacing keeps them secure without them digging in or causing friction.

John Lewis x Rejina Pyo flatform sandals

Comfortable but fashion forward, these shoes from the John Lewis x Rejina Pyo collaboration have a soft, clean look that channels the designer’s minimalist aesthetic. The flatform soles add subtle height without compromising stability, while the cushioned base makes them easy to wear. I like how the mesh upper keeps things light and breathable too.

Best women’s sandals for the beach

Crocs platform flip-flops

After high-profile collaborations with designers such as Simone Rocha and Balenciaga, Crocs have become an unlikely fashion-world favourite. That said, their practicality is still a big selling point. These platform flip-flops are lightweight, waterproof and easy to clean, while the thicker straps offer a more secure fit than your average pair.

Havianas square-toe flip-flops

If you find most flip-flops rub, snap or just feel flimsy, Havaianas are a good option. I’ve had my pair for years and go back to them every summer. I love this chocolate brown pair with square toes, for added interest on an otherwise classic shape.

Lululemon Restfeel woven slides

These woven slides are a great alternative if you don’t like a toe-post style. The waterproof design makes them ideal for poolside or beach days, and they’re an easy-to-wear, subtle pop of colour.

Best women’s sandals for work

M&S leather woven flat slingback sandals

In classic black leather, these sandals are more polished than flip-flops but far lighter than traditional shoes – perfect for warmer office days. The layered woven straps add both coverage and stability, and are finished with smart gold buckles.

Cos crossover leather sandals

This crossover style is a smart choice. With open backs and peep toes, they’re neutral enough to work with most officewear. Also, if worn with trousers, these sandals almost pass as a closed shoe while still allowing extra airflow.

Charles & Keith Easley t-bar caged sandals

If traditional sandals feel off limits in your office, this caged-toe design might still pass. With its more structured, shoe-like feel, the breathable weave is softer and more forgiving for hot days.

Best women’s dressy sandals

Birkenstock Arizona rivet mules

If you live in Birkenstocks during the day, this gold-studded version of the Arizona should fit the bill – a little more dressed up without the signature cork sole.

Alohas Dawn sandals

A little more directional, this pair is crafted from red leather with an elegant toe-ring design. I also like the sculptural wavy sole. These feel minimal enough to style easily but have the right amount of design interest to elevate a summer dress.

Aldo Riva heeled sandals

With extreme versions seen on the runway at Matthieu Blazy’s recent Chanel Cruise show, barely there sandals are a big trend this summer. You’ll be glad to hear that, unlike Blazy’s, this metallic-gold leather pair does come with full soles.

Best women’s chunky sandals

Dr Martens Gryphon sandals

Dr Martens sandals have been increasingly popular over the past few summers. Whether I’m strolling down the high street or I’m in my local pub’s beer garden, I almost always see someone wearing a pair. The hard-wearing soles are brilliantly durable but do need a breaking-in period, so it’s worth having plasters on hand for the first few wears.

Camper Thelma sandals

Heavy shoes aren’t ideal for travel, but this platform pair weighs practically nothing thanks to its ultralight soles. The design taps into that revived 90s aesthetic while still feeling easy and wearable.

Hollister raffia platform sandals

This pair takes a bold shape and softens it with natural raffia. It’s chunky but not clunky; more Mediterranean getaway than heavy-duty platforms.

Best men’s sandals for comfort

Birkenstock Milano sandals

Birkenstocks are great starter sandals because they’re as functional as they are stylish. This style offers a slight update on the popular Arizona, adding heel straps to keep feet extra secure. The anatomically shaped cork-latex footbed is designed to mould to your foot over time, so these sandals should get more comfortable with every wear.

Keen Uneek sneakers

If you’re familiar with gorpcore, you’ve probably seen a pair like this before. Sitting somewhere between sneakers and sandals, this hybrid style from Keen leans into the outdoors-meets-everyday aesthetic. Made using recycled PET plastic, the bungee drawstring fastenings make them easy to slip on and off, while the contoured soles keep things comfortable whether you’re actually on the trail or just dressing as if you could be.

Vivobarefoot San-dal leather sandal

These sandals are designed to have thin, flexible leather soles that mould to your feet and the ground so you can feel as close to barefoot as possible. This might not be for everyone, particularly if you prefer more cushioned soles, but it’s great for those who love really lightweight shoes.

For more, read our guide to the best barefoot shoes

Best men’s sandals for the beach

FitFlop iQushion ergonomic flip-flops

FitFlop’s speciality is ergonomic footwear in designs that don’t look overengineered. This pair has cushioned soles, built-in arch support, and what the brand calls rebound technology – essentially impact pillows that reduce pressure on your feet as you walk.

Adidas Adilette Aqua slides

Fabrics such as leather, suede or anything too light in shade that could be easily marked are best avoided on the beach. You can’t go wrong with classic sporty slides instead. This navy and white pair is made from Eva, a soft foam-like material that’s fast drying – ideal if you’re in and out of the pool or sea.

AllSaints Dune slip-on logo slider s

These sliders are sleek and made from lightweight TPU, a recyclable alternative to rubber, that’s practical for water, salt and sand. The shark-tooth tread also gives the extra grip needed for a pool day. Less overtly sporty than your typical slides, they’re great if you favour a clean, fashion-led approach to summer dressing – and, if necessary, they’re smart enough to take you beyond the beach and out to dinner.

Best men’s sandals for work

M&S fisher sandals

M&S’s take on the fisher style offers a smart middle ground for summer dressing. This semi-open-toe suede pair is easily worn with or without socks, so it could work for chillier early autumn days too. These would look great at the weekend with light-wash denim jeans.

Grensen Quinton sandals

This pair, from 160-year-old shoemaker Grenson, blends the shape of a leather shoe with the structure of sandals. For stricter dress codes, they wouldn’t look out of place with smart trousers – wear with black socks for extra coverage.

Toms Santiago leather mule sandals

Inspired by classic smoking slippers, Santiago mules keep things clean and refined, with closed leather uppers and easy slip-on backs.

Best men’s dressy sandals

Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 sabots

Reworking its bestselling Mexico 66 trainers, Onitsuka Tiger has tipped into holiday mode with a backless clog design. With beige woven uppers and green accents, this style feels relaxed but put together enough for an evening look.

Cos leather mule loafers

Business in the front, party at the back: you could probably get away with wearing these loafer slip-ons to a summer wedding. They’re a strong option when you want something breezy without sacrificing formality.

Dune Is sac leather sandals

This is a pretty timeless design that should see you through several summers. The warm brown shade feels softer than black, making this pair an easy match for everything from tailored trousers to casual shorts.

Best men’s chunky sandals

The North Face Explore Camp sanda ls

This olive green pair is a sportier take on a chunky style. Set on sturdy but not overly chunky soles, they still align with the North Face’s signature outdoorsy style. With adjustable straps for comfort, they have hints of neon orange that add a welcome pop of colour.

Veja Etna suede sandals

These sandals manage to feel both minimal and chunky at once. With adjustable straps and cushioned footbeds, they’re designed for comfort as much as style and, like all other pieces from the brand, are made with a focus on sustainable practices.

Ugg Otzo slides

If I told you to wear a pair of Uggs in blistering heat, you’d probably think I’d gone mad, but this warm-weather option by the California brand known for its cosy sheepskin boots is lightweight and supportive.

For more: The best UV -protected sunglasses for men and women Jess Cartner-Morley’s 52 women’s summer wardrobe updates for under £100 50 men’s summer fashion updates for under £100 – some are even free

Keyword – Sport
Trefwoorden – US Open, Golf, Sport, US sports, European Tour, PGA Tour
Title – US Open golf 2026: final round – as it happened | US Open | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/scottmurray
Link – US Open golf 2026: final round – as it happened | US Open | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-21T23:22:56.000Z
Category – Sport
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/jun/21/us-open-golf-2026-final-round-updates-wyndham-clark-live

Bryan Armen Graham was at Shinnecock Hills: his report has landed, below, and is a mere click away. At which point, this blog signs off. Congratulations to Wyndham Clark, the 2026 US Open champion! Commiserations to Sam Burns, who is getting closer and closer to US Open glory by the year – his last three finishes are now T9-T7-2 – and Tom Kim, who is back in the big time after a couple of quiet years. And thanks to you for sticking with myself, Dave Tindall and Matt Cooper over the four days. It’s been a blast. See you here for Birkdale next month? OK, it’s a date!

-4: Wyndham Clark -3: Sam Burns -1: Tom Kim E: JT Poston, Keith Mitchell, Scottie Scheffler +1: Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, Gary Woodland, Sam Stevens +2: Justin Rose, Aaron Rai, John Parry, Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, Sahith Theegala

Then another nod to his locker-bothering antics at Oakmont last year, something he’s taken ownership of and for which he’s clearly sorry. “The first [US Open] was the breakthrough of knowing I can do it … this one was a lot of redemption … last year was so tough … a terrible year … I left this place in shambles … it’s amazing what a year can do … I’m leaving this Sunday as a champion and I am just so blessed … thank you, guys … happy Father’s Day, I love you so much!”

Then the inevitable question about the attitude of the gallery: “Yeah, New York really didn’t like me … I love you guys … but I get it … [some cheering and applause] … some of it is self-deserved … I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret … I’ve been sorry multiple times and I’m still sorry … hopefully I can win you guys over eventually … but I get it, they’re rooting for Scottie! … grand slams only happen a few times … he’s gonna get it … he’s the best player in the world … but today is my day!”

A broad smile. More applause. That was a classy response given the borderline contempt he’s been subjected to by some sections of the gallery. And to be fair it was reciprocated by the punters who have stayed to watch the trophy hoist and speeches.

Clark is asked by NBC how it feels to lift the trophy again. “Pretty amazing … it seems just like yesterday … pretty similar, two putts to win … surreal, to be honest … I played some ugly golf the last two days but my putter and short game kept me in it … to make all the putts I did with my Ping putter that I love so much has been amazing … it comes down to believing that good things are going to happen and you’re going to make the putt … it’s been a grind … I haven’t played the prettiest golf … to make birdie [on 16] was the pivotal moment.”

The closing ceremony. First up, a silver salver for Wyndham Clark’s caddie, David Pelekoudas. Then the Jack Nicklaus Medals for Ryder Cowan and Jackson Koivun, this year’s co-low amateurs. Then the champion of the 126th US Open , who receives the Jack Nicklaus Gold Medal. Some warm applause at last! Finally the trophy is handed over, and lifted. More of that sweet-sounding applause. Where was that all afternoon? Better late than never!

Wyndham Clark started the day six clear; he was reeled in to a single shot. But he never so much as shared his lead. When he looked like buckling, he pulled some magic out of the hat. Nothing on a par with his 3-wood into 16 last night, that set up eagle, but some stuff that came close: his approach to 10 that set up a momentum-shifting first birdie of the day; his staunch birdie at 16, teasing in a 30-footer from the back of the green, just as Sam Burns and Tom Kim were threatening to finally catch him. A final round of 73 was enough, his work done long before: that 64 on the first day, all of those scrambles yesterday afternoon. It might not have been the prettiest US Open victory; it was certainly one of the grittiest. And all of that while fending off both the world number one and an antagonistic gallery. The toughest round Clark ever played, according to his pops, and he came through with flying colours. He’s now a two-time US Open champion. He’s earned that status.

Clark is congratulated by his caddie, Scottie Scheffler, his partner, several friends and family … and finally, a surprise, his father! Well it is Father’s Day after all. A huge hug. “So glad you could be here,” Clark mutters in his pop’s ear. “I’m so proud of you!” his dad returns. “That was the toughest round you ever played, and you were such a worker!” Tears and smiles. Clark deserves this sweet moment. He’s been through the wringer today, and come out smiling.

Wyndham Clark: 2026 US Open champion!

Clark taps in, spins around, celebrates with his caddie, and soaks up the … well, the reserved applause from the gallery who were never on his side. But he deserves a hell of an ovation: he’s just won the US Open , leading wire to wire after opening with a 64 on Thursday, and never relinquishing his lead, despite the field threatening to catch him. But every time they got close … Clark got clutch. What a performance!

-4: Clark (F) -3: Burns (F)

Scheffler tidies up for his par. A final round of 71, and that’s a tie for fourth at level par. And then …

Scheffler very nearly does chip in, as well. A delightfully judged clip bounced into the bank and rolled out to four feet. And then over to Clark, who has two putts to win the US Open … and he strokes it up to tap-in distance! A clenched fist as he celebrates his certain win, though he’ll not tap in before Scheffler tidies up! Muted applause, bordering on respectability, but that’s all he’s getting for now. Sam Burns meanwhile trudges off the practice green. So close. Again.

Scottie Scheffler won’t be completing the career slam this week. But he receives a warm ovation from the gallery anyway as he walks up to assess his final chip of the week, having bundled his ball through the back of the green. He’ll be desperate to get up and down for a share of fourth place. Chip in, and he’s sharing third with Tom Kim.

Wyndham Clark catches a good lie in the semi-rough to the right of the 18th fairway. Upon hitting his nine-iron, he reacts like he’s made a grievous error, moaning in despair. But his ball reaches the green. A good 50 feet from the pin, but it’s uphill, and two putts will secure the 32-year-old from Denver his second US Open in four years!

Tom Kim dribbles his birdie putt towards the hole at 18. No birdie, but that’s a kick-in par for a 70. Third place at the US Open: happy 23rd birthday, Tom!

-4: Clark (17) -3: Burns (F) -1: Kim (F) E: Poston (F), Mitchell (F), Scheffler (17)

Wyndham Clark bogeyed 18 last night. He can’t afford the same outcome now. And he doesn’t start well, carving his tee shot towards the fescue on the right. But the ball, which initially looks like scampering from the fairway, through the first cut, and into the tall stuff, stops a couple of feet short of the proper nonsense. Not perfect, but not a killer either. Up in the clubhouse, Sam Burns can’t sit still. If he doesn’t win this, he’ll see those putts at 17 and 18 again and again when he closes his eyes tonight. So close.

Clark steps up to take his putt … but he doesn’t like it, and withdraws. When he gets back into his routine, he still looks a little twitchy … and sends a nervy putt slipping by on the left. He tidies up for bogey, but it’s now just a one-shot lead going up the 72nd. Just! He’d have taken that at the start of the week, but perhaps not at the start of this round, given that six-shot advantage. But here we all are. The crowd cooed their approval at the miss, by the way. Of course they did.

-4: Clark (17) -3: Burns (F)

Clark is left with a putt of 70 feet. He lags it up to six. Another test upcoming. The business end of the US Open . Meanwhile up on 18, Tom Kim, having split the fairway with his tee shot, sends his second to six feet. Too late for glory, but he allows himself a warm smile anyway. It’s been a good week, and it is his birthday after all. Third place at the US Open won’t be too bad a present!

Clark’s tee shot at the par-three 17th finds the dancefloor. Not anywhere near the flag, but then it doesn’t have to be. That birdie on 16 should seal the deal, though nothing on major-championship Sunday is certain until the past putt drops.

Wyndham Clark’s putt from the back of the green rolls up a ridge, then down a fast slope. It looks like stopping short for a second, but somehow keeps on going, and drops for birdie! What an outcome, given the wild tee shot … and how close his approach came to dropping off the back of the green. But fortune favours the brave, and he was certainly that with both approach and putt. It’s a huge birdie, one that’s almost certainly won him this US Open … and shoved a few hollers back down the throats of the gallery that’s been baiting him all day. Tom Kim meanwhile can’t get up and down from sand at 17, and a brave charge from a previously out-of-sorts player comes to a quiet end.

-5: Clark (16) -3: Burns (F) -1: Kim (17)

Scottie Scheffler’s uphill 29-footer needs to go in. But like so many of his putts this week, it stops one turn short. The world number one’s been a little too tentative with the flat stick all week. He remains level par, and he’s all but cooked.

Clark from the centre of 16, 144 yards out. He sends his approach a little bit long and left, and the ball threatens to topple off the back. But it stays put on the back edge. Just. So close to potential disaster. Scheffler meanwhile sends his third from thick rough down the right into the heart of the green. He’ll need to make a 30-footer for birdie if he’s to have any realistic chance of making a play-off, his best remaining hope.

Scheffler splits the fairway at 16, then opts to go for the green. Driver off the deck! He carves it off into trouble down the right. Clark then powers out of the thick fescue, back onto the fairway. That’s a great shot, a great result considering the circumstances. And up on 17, Kim’s tee shot dribbles into the bunker to the right of the green. This is all still very much in the balance … but Clark remains in the box seat. No huge mistakes, and this is most likely his title. That’s what he has to tell himself, anyway.

Tom Kim isn’t out of this either! He lays up at the par-five 15th, backing his wedge game. The birthday boy – 23 today – wedges from 127 yards to nine feet, prowls around the putt awhile, then rolls it into the centre of the cup confidently! He yells in delight as the birdie putt drops. He’s just two off the lead, one off the clubhouse lead. The biggest two holes in his life coming up!

-4: Clark (15) -3: Burns (F) -2: Kim (16) E: Poston (F), Mitchell (F), Scheffler (15)

Poor Sam Burns, who enters the scorer’s room a study in dejection. A hige sigh. He sits in the chair, leans back, closes his eyes, and puts his hands to his head. Off comes the cap as he stares at the wall awhile, before finally getting down to the business of signing his card. It could still be the winning card, to be fair. Meanwhile Scottie Scheffler can’t make his birdie effort on 15, and his race is more likely than not run. But he’s not quite out of it yet either. Not least because Wyndham Clark has just yanked his tee shot at 16 into thick rubbish down the left of the par-five. Not a good lie at all.

Burns shoots 67; sets -3

Sam Burns, having gone to school on that putt, rolls his effort on a similar line … but it slides by the right lip. He falls to his knees while tossing his putter away – gently – with sadness. Two missed birdie chances on 17 and 18 could prove the difference. He signs for a 67 and sets a clubhouse target of -3, but wears the look of a man who thinks he might have come up just short yet again on US Open Sunday.

Wyndham Clark and Scottie Scheffler take turns to land their approaches at 15 pin high, spinning them back to 20 feet. Both left with uphill putts. Clark’s effort is never going in, always stopping a little short, but it’s close enough to tap in for par. Meanwhile up on 18, Keith Mitchell reads the line of his right-to-left slider perfectly … but doesn’t give it enough oomph. It stops one turn short and he tidies up for par. His fourth level-par 70 of the week, and he becomes the first-ever player in US Open history to make par in each of his four rounds!

Sam Burns sends his tee shot at 18 into the semi-rough down the right. Anticipating a flyer, he clubs down, and sends a nine-iron into the front of the green, the ball rolling up to 15 feet. A chance of birdie – and he’ll get a read from Keith Mitchell, whose second stops a couple of feet behind. Should it go in, he’ll post a clubhouse score that will challenge Wyndham Clark to close it out.

Xander Schauffele ends the week at +2. He’ll end the week in the top 15, and that’s the tenth time he’s done that in his ten appearances. What a record, without actually once winning it! It’s a sequence only matched in history by Willie Anderson and Bobby Jones, two bona-fide US Open legends. Tommy Fleetwood flings an arm around him; he finishes at +2 as well. At least Schauffele has a couple of majors to his name; poor Tommy is still looking for his first.

On 17, Burns hangs his head as his pusillanimous prod at his short downhill birdie putt dribbles apologetically towards the hole, then stops short. Par. And it’s a three-putt bogey for his playing partner Keith Mitchell, whose race is now almost certainly run. Par for Tom Kim at 15, but otherwise, the last few minutes have generated some much-needed positivity for the beleaguered leader.

-4: Clark (14) -3: Burns (17) -1: Kim (15) E: Poston (F), Mitchell (17), Scheffler (14)

From 33 feet on 14, Clark nearly makes one of the birdie putts of the week, a big right to left swinger that grazes the right-hand lip. But it somehow stays out. Not even the width of a dimple away. Then Scheffler clips that right-hand lip from similar distance, albeit along a straighter line. He’s got a bit excited with that, though, and it slingshots three feet to the left. And he doesn’t make the one coming back. Almost complete silence as the crowd process their hero’s error. The career slam might have to wait for another year. Clark remains at -4, Scheffler slips back to level par.

Scheffler and Clark both reach the 14th green in regulation. Neither particularly close to the pin. Scheffler was coming in from 200 yards; Clark, who had gone for broke with the big stick, will be a little bit disappointed to end up further away than his playing partner from 150 yards. Putting contest coming up, though with three shots still between the players, time is running out for Scheffler to make his move. Level par for his round so far, he’s not made a move towards Clark today; it’s Clark, at three over today, who has come back towards him.

Sam Burns has clearly decided to go for broke. Win or bust. He whistles a forensic arrow at the par-three 17th straight at the flag, to six feet. A huge chance for birdie that would give him a share of the lead. He was seven behind at the start of play.

Sam Burns with a bounceback birdie on the par-five 16th! He walks in a left-to-right slider from 20 feet and the crowd do their (much more reasonable) thing! We’ve got ourselves a US Open here all right.

-4: Clark (13) -3: Burns (16) -1: Mitchell (16), Kim (14), Scheffler (13) E: Poston (F)

Amid the hubbub, Clark does exceptionally well to bump his chip up from the bottom of the swale to eight feet. He’ll have a chance to salvage his par. Before he can have a go, Scheffler’s left-to-right birdie slider dies a death one dimple shy of the cup. A few joules more, and that was birdie. Scheffler turns with an agonised look on his face; he knows holes are running out. But Clark does him a favour by letting his par putt slide by on the low side. Off go the crowd again, delighting in his misery. This is getting both old, and increasingly embarrassing.

-4: Clark (13) -2: Burns (15) -1: Mitchell (15), Kim (13), Scheffler (13) E: Poston (F)

Pantomime nonsense at sporting events is all good and well. But this is getting really uncomfortable to listen to now. Scottie Scheffler’s second into 13, sent pin high to 20 feet, is met with love. Wyndham Clark’s approach topples off the back, ever so slowly, and the groans when the ball threatens to stop on the green, followed by the delighted cheers when it speeds away down the slope, are a bit much. The gallery need to raise their game.

Cowan and Koivun share low amateur

Ryder Cowan makes a birdie on 17 thanks to a shot that he could sell to the leaders for cash money. Were he not an amateur, that is. And were it actually possible. Anyway, one shot behind Jackson Koivun, in the house at +5, and needing a birdie, Cowan fires a go-for-it arrow over the bunker guarding the pin, front left, to seven feet. In goes the putt, and then he pars the last. And so that’s a share of Low Amateur status with Koivun, the pair winning the Jack Nicklaus Medal! Some players to have previously won this award (latest first): Viktor Hovland, Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones. Not bad company, huh?

Out of nowhere, a careless three-putt bogey for Sam Burns on 14. That could be extremely costly with holes running out. Back on 12, Scottie Scheffler nearly holes his birdie putt. [FX: BEDLAM] Then Wyndham Clark narrowly misses his effort. [FX: TUMBLEWEED] It’s getting a bit too much on the nose, this.

-5: Clark (12) -2: Burns (15) -1: Mitchell (15), Kim (12), Scheffler (12) E: Poston (F)

There are reports of some fans getting hoicked off the property for sledging Wyndham Clark. He’s getting the full treatment from a few members of the gallery. One punter screams “GO WYNDHAM!!!”, though it’s not 100 percent clear whether that’s sarcasm as his tee shot at 12 disappears into semi-rough. Either way, that particular doofus is quiet when Clark whips out a chip to 12 feet. His ball is right by Scottie Scheffler’s, and the world number one will give him a read.

Some missed birdie putts. Sam Burns on 14, Tom Kim on 12, Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark on 11. The pressure cranking up and up and up. The crowd becoming even more obvious in their preferences, too: a few cheers as Clark missed his birdie chance, whoops as Scheffler tidies up for par, next to nothing as his playing partner does the same. Some residual ill-feeling for Clark beating up on his locker at Oakmont last year, perhaps.

Par for JT Poston at the last. He signs for a superb 67, and becomes the new clubhouse leader at level par. His playing partner John Parry bogeys and that’s a 69 for a +2 finish. Parry is part of an impressive English contingent at the top end of the leaderboard, alongside Tyrrell Hatton (+1), Justin Rose (+2) and Aaron Rai (+2). Tommy Fleetwood (+2) and Matt Fitzpatrick (+3) are still out there too.

Scottie Scheffler is in the zone. After rolling in that birdie putt on 10, he sends his tee shot at the par-three 11th to the left of the flag, the camber taking the ball back to the right, ten feet past. Good birdie op. But not as good as the one Wyndham Clark sets up for himself: he fires over the flag, the spin taking his ball back to six feet. The gallery don’t boo exactly, but there are groans as Advantage Wyndham is established. Scottie clearly the crowd favourite, and though that’s been obvious from the very first shots of their round, it’s beginning to get a little bit more pronounced. Again, this could either work for or against both players. How much Brooks Energy does Clark have within?

The golfing gods smile kindly on Scheffler’s moment of sporting largesse. He rattles in his 15-footer for birdie, and suddenly the pressure is on Clark, whose four-footer looks twice the distance. But he pours it in. Once again, it’s notable that the gallery whoops and hollers when Scheffler sinks his birdie putt, but not when Clark makes his. Tough crowd, but that’s the entertainment industry for you.

-5: Clark (10) -3: Burns (13) -1: Mitchell (13), Kim (11), Scheffler (10) E: Poston (17)

Tom Kim responds to dropping a stroke on 10 by hitting one of the shots of the day at the par-three 11th. A gentle fade from 154 yards to a couple of feet. He’ll tap in for birdie to bounce back to -1. Meanwhile back on 10, Scottie Scheffler sends his second to 15 feet, a fine result given the carnage that’s occurred on and around this green this week. But Wyndham Clark trumps him with a glorious wedge in, the ball gripping 15 feet past the hole and spinning back to four feet. Scheffler, already up on the green, and to his great credit, offers a thumbs-up back down the fairway to Clark. A lovely sporting moment! And what a shot from Clark.

The new PGA champion Aaron Rai finishes well. A long birdie rake across 17, followed by par at the last, and that’s a final round of 69. He ends the week at +2 and that’s a very respectable return for a man playing in his first major championship as a major champion. The gallery give him the flowers he’s due. A class act, as ever.

JT Poston, who missed a tiddler on 15 to move to -2, can’t get up and down from the back of 17 and drops back to level par. The small margins between glory and ending up in the pack. Bogey meanwhile for Tom Kim at 10; he slips back to level par as well. There are now just three players under par, which is just how the USGA like it.

-4: Clark (9) -3: Burns (13) -1: Mitchell (13) E: Poston (17), Stevens (11), Kim (10), Scheffler (9)

If Wyndham Clark’s nerves are jangling, his short game isn’t betraying them. From the thick rough at the front of the 9th green, he lobs high and confidently into the air, the ball landing softly a couple of feet shy of the cup and nearly rolling in. That would have been a proper US Open moment. Not quite up there with Tom Watson on 17 at Pebble in 1982, but something nonetheless. He’d have grabbed par with both hands before taking the shot, though. Scottie Scheffler doesn’t hit his birdie putt from 15 feet and what looked most likely to be a two-shot swing ends up in a half. Clark remains -4, Scheffler level par.

Clark can’t reach the green with his second from the rough at 9. His ball lands in the thick strip of rough guarding the front of the green. Scheffler turns up the heat by clipping his iron from the middle of the fairway pin high. It’s a half-chance for birdie; a two-shot swing between these players is eminently possible here.

Sam Burns finds the thick stuff down the right of 12. He sends his second scampering to the edge of the green, then nearly drains his Texas Wedge. He’ll take that par to remain at -3. Meanwhile back on 9, Scottie Scheffler batters a drive down the middle, but Wyndham Clark’s tee shot ends up in the first cut to the right of the fairway, and mostly disappears. The leader is three over for his round today and continues to look ragged. He got away with a wild long game yesterday, but it’s not entirely clear whether this is sustainable. When it all comes down, it may prove that he started the day with enough shots in his back pocket. But right now, he’s treading a thin line.

Wyndham Clark lags his long putt at 8 to a couple of feet, and wastes not too much time over the par putt. In it goes. Scottie Scheffler reads his 15-foot right-to-left birdie curler perfectly … but doesn’t hit it! He taps in. Both players move on, four shots between them.

Gary Woodland signs for a 68. That’s the 13th round under par already today; there were only two players to break 70 yesterday. That puts the 2019 champion in a tie for the clubhouse lead at +1. Meanwhile Rory McIlroy, who fought his way into contention on Thursday, and Friday, and Saturday, carelessly letting things go south each time, finishes his week with an underwheming 73. He’s +6 and he’ll always have Congressional.

Bogeys on 7, then, for both players in the final group. But Scheffler will be much more content with the way it all unfolded, making his missable putt after taking two to escape from sand, Clark missing a short one for his par. And now on 8, Scheffler is on in regulation, while Clark, having found a fairway bunker … well, he gets on as well, but he wasn’t in any position to go for the flag, and aiming for the meat of the green, is a long way away. Concern etched across his face. He’s not got his best stuff here at all.

It’s Scheffler’s turn to make a damage-limiting putt. He guides in his right-to-left bogey curler on 7 … then Clark shoves his downhill four-footer right of the cup and a couple of feet past! He makes the one coming back, but that was an extremely nervous stroke. And on that subject, JT Poston misses a putt from similar distance on 15 for birdie. He remains very much in this at -1, but what an opportunity to put some scoreboard pressure on the leaders. However Keith Mitchell, who dropped a stroke at 10 having failed to get up and down from the swale, birdies 11, and this US Open continues to bubble away. No procession here!

-4: Clark (7) -3: Burns (11) -1: Poston (15), Mitchell (11), Kim (8) E: Scheffler (7)

Scottie Scheffler splashes out delicately from the bunker at 7. Too delicately. His ball topples back into the trap, and though he gets out with his second attempt, he’ll need to make a 15-footer for bogey. Wyndham Clark by contrast whips up decisively to four feet, and this could be a matchplay double-whammy for the world number one.

Scheffler and Clark both find the bunker guarding the front-left of the par-three 7th green. But while the former’s only just squeaks in, looking for a while like it was dead on line for the pin, the latter slam-dunks into the trap. The leader continues to make some big tee-to-green errors … though it’s not cost him dearly. Yet. He remains ahead thanks to that street-fighting short game, which by the looks of things will continue to be stress-tested over the closing two-thirds of his round.

Forget that bit about putting. Both players opt to chip up. Clark leaves his effort ten feet short, giving Scheffler the green flag to get more aggressive. Which he does, and he should be tidying up from a couple of feet. Another big pressure putt for Clark … and he makes them more often than not. And so he does here, the confident roll ensuring a bobble halfway along the route to the cup doesn’t divert the ball offline. Scheffler makes his par, and it’ll be Clark who’ll be the happier right now. But his game is getting a little tatty under these extreme tournament conditions. If at any point his putter goes cold, he’ll be in a spot of bother.

Having got to within one shot, Sam Burns immediately cedes ground. His chip at 9 races eight feet past the hole, and he’s left with a treacherous downhill par putt. He dribbles it down, but it slides off to the right. Bogey, and Clark’s lead is two again. The iron in at fault there. Burns still out in an impressive 32 strokes, mind. Meanwhile back on 6, Clark and Scheffler both send fine approaches into the heart of the green … only for the camber to slowly take both balls away from the flag and off the putting surface to the right. No bunker, and both will most likely putt from where they are, with Clark going first to offer his opponent a read.

-5: Clark (5) -3: Burns (9) -1: Poston (14), Mitchell (9), Scheffler (5) E: Fleetwood (9), Grillo (7), Kim (6) +1: Niemann (F), Hatton (F), Woodland (17), Parry (14), Morikawa (11), Schauffele (9), Stevens (7)

… so having said that, Sam Burns makes his first big mistake of the final round. From the centre of the fairway at 9, he underhits his approach, and his ball topples back off the front. It stops in a thick collar of rough. Meanwhile a final-hole bogey for Tyrrell Hatton, the result of finding the long stuff with his tee shot. That’s still an impressive closing round of 67, and at +1 he’s got a fair chance of another top-ten finish at the US Open . He’s got two of them on his resumé already. Hatton joins Joaquin Niemann in the clubhouse lead.

Keyword – Football
Trefwoorden – World Cup 2026, Cape Verde, World Cup, Football, Sport, Australia sport
Title – Where is Cape Verde? Meet the tiny African island nation upsetting World Cup giants | World Cup 2026 | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jack-larkin
Link – Where is Cape Verde? Meet the tiny African island nation upsetting World Cup giants | World Cup 2026 | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-22T04:57:02.000Z
Category – Sport
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/22/cape-verde-cabo-world-cup-football-team-country-best-players-explained

Cape Verde announced themselves in what was one of the biggest World Cup upsets in recent memory. In their first World Cup game, they held a stunned Spain goalless in a remarkable 0-0 draw . The European champions boast players of the pedigree of Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Rodri, and were marked as one of the favourites going into the tournament. But they couldn’t get one over the debutants.

Many chalked it off as a fluke, but the fairytale continued in their second game against Uruguay – ranked 19 in the world – with Cape Verde pulling off a 2-2 draw and recording their first World Cup goals. After making history by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, they now have the chance to progress to the last 32.

Where is Cape Verde?

The country is an archipelago with 10 islands, nine of which are inhabited. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean roughly 600 km off the coast of the African continent, with Senegal being its closest neighbour.

Discovered in the mid-1400s by Genovese and Portuguese explorers, the island was uninhabited until 1464, when the Portuguese settled the then capital of Cidade Velha, using the island as a shipping lane out of Africa and a centre for the trade in enslaved people. Cape Verde gained its independence from Portugal in 1975.

What is the population of Cape Verde?

The population of Cape Verde is just over 500,000, making it one of the smallest countries to play at the World Cup, along with Curaçao, with 158,000. It’s largest city is the capital, Praia, estimated to have over 180,000 residents, followed by São Vicente with 88,000.

It is one of the most stable democracies in Africa, according to Australia’s department of foreign affairs, and its economy is reliant on service-based industries, including tourism and foreign investment. There is a large diaspora community in the US – estimated at 500,000 – which is where all their Group H matches are being played at the 2026 World Cup.

How did they qualify for this World Cup?

To qualify for the tournament, Cape Verde came through the African qualifiers. Their campaign got off to a shaky start with a goalless draw with Angola before getting demolished 4-1 by Cameroon. However, they went on to win seven of their remaining eight games to top the group and relegate favourites Cameroon to second place.

“Independence Day and 13 January 1991 – when the first multiparty elections were held – are the two symbolic dates that have united our people,” said José Maria Silva, the national director of state protocol, after the team qualified . “This World Cup qualification can already be considered the third defining moment of our nation.”

Who are Cape Verde’s top football players?

The team, known as the Blue Sharks, is made up of a lot of dual-nationality players assembled by coach Pedro Leitão Brito, known as Bubista. The 26-man squad represents 25 clubs from 14 countries and has more players born in Rotterdam (six) than in Praia (four); overall, there are 11 players born in Cape Verde.

Their star player is the captain, Ryan Mendes, who has played for Lille in France and Nottingham Forest in England before making his way to the UAE and Turkey.

Cape Verde was named by the US government on a list of countries whose citizens must post a returnable bond of US$15,000 to travel to the US, in addition to a visa fee. The high costs prevented the mother of Cape Verde’s star goalkeeper Vozinha, Ana Candida Evora, from attending the tournament , before an intervention by US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.

“Cape Verdeans in America and throughout the diaspora have been celebrating the underdog grit and resilience of the Blue Sharks, joined by soccer fans from nations throughout the globe,” Jeffries said last week before the match against Uruguay.

“It is a privilege to announce that Vozinha’s mom will be able to secure a visa in time to attend their game this Sunday against Uruguay.”

To read more about the Cape Verde team, check out our team guide .

Will they qualify for the knockouts?

Unbeaten in two games, Cape Verde sit third in Group H with two points, just behind Uruguay on goal difference. Their final group game will be against bottom-placed Saudi Arabia on 26 June (27 June AEST).

A win against Saudi Arabia will secure them a spot in the knockouts, and a draw may be enough to get through as a third-placed team.

Keyword – Football
Trefwoorden – England, World Cup 2026, Arsenal, Football, World Cup, Sport
Title – Declan Rice reveals he has played through hamstring nerve pain for six months | England | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/davidhytner,https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ed-aarons
Link – Declan Rice reveals he has played through hamstring nerve pain for six months | England | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-21T15:30:59.000Z
Category – Sport
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/21/england-declan-rice-hamstring-nerve-pain-arsenal-schedule-world-cup

Declan Rice has revealed he has been managing nerve pain in a hamstring since Christmas as he reflected on the “obscene” number of matches he has played this season.

The England midfielder sparked concern when he was forced off in the 72nd minute of the 4-2 World Cup win against Croatia last Wednesday. The problem relates to the upper hamstring, with the pain radiating into his lower back. But Rice described his substitution as “smart” and said he would be fighting fit for England’s second group game against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.

“I’m ready and fit, raring to go,” he told ITV Sport. “I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision.

“In the end, that last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it’s where you play a 70‑minute match. But that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it. And I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.”

Rice has played 63 matches this season, 55 for Arsenal and eight for England. His club reached the finals of the Champions League and Carabao Cup, losing against Paris Saint‑Germain and Manchester City , and won the Premier League.

“It’s an obscene amount of games,” Rice said. “The schedule was crazy but what can we do about it? You can’t sit and complain. We have to just get on with it for the moments like I had in the ­Premier League, winning that ­Premier League. You know you’d play as many games as possible to have that ­feeling again and ­knowing that there’s a World Cup at the end of it as well. You know you’d put your body on the line to be always in to play. It’s a lot of games but we’ll get our break at the end.”

England began a hot-weather acclimatisation camp in Florida at the start of June and know the heat and humidity in North America are among the major challenges. The Croatia game was played in Dallas’s domed, air-conditioned stadium, where the temperature was set at 22C. Happily, it is forecast to be something similar in Boston’s open-air stadium for the 4pm local kick-off (9pm BST).

It is likely England will play in much hotter conditions after that but Rice said the players have been reassured by Thomas Tuchel that they have the conditioning to cope.

“The heat’s going to dictate [our playing style] in spells but the manager’s been really clear with us and with this squad that we have the strength and power to outrun and outplay teams with our strength,” Rice said.

Rice also talked about the fitness worries that cling to Bukayo Saka , his Arsenal and England teammate. Saka has been managing an achilles problem for some time and was fit enough to play only as a 72nd-minute substitute against Croatia. He was good when he came on and set up the fourth goal for another replacement, Marcus Rashford. Saka followed an individual training programme on Saturday and is not expected to be ready to start against Ghana. Noni Madueke is likely to continue on the right wing.

“Bukayo will impact this tournament,” Rice said. “It’s really good the way we’re managing him. I think the amount of football he’s played – I’ve seen him at Arsenal – this little achilles problem he’s got. I think we’re managing him the right way, for sure.

“I don’t think you want to put him in straight away and put him at risk. We need to keep building him in. He’s been training really well. He came on and had an amazing impact the other night. He’s one of the biggest game players I’ve played with and he wants to play every game. But here he’s being smart. And we also have Noni who, for me, has been unbelievable.”

William Saliba is another Arsenal player who has pushed himself through the pain barrier this season. The France centre-half, though, continues to do so as he chases World Cup glory.

“I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” he said in advance of Monday’s game against Iraq. “I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well. The World Cup comes round only once every four years so you’ve got to grit your teeth. I’m not at 100% but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100% either – you can’t make excuses.”

Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins has revealed he has taken Michael Owen’s advice to be nastier on the pitch and is ready to be England’s supersub again after finishing the season in blistering form.

The Aston Villa striker scored eight goals in his last 10 Premier League games to earn a late recall from Thomas Tuchel and came off the bench to score the winner against the Netherlands at Euro 2024 . “I feel like I understand the competition now, I understand that everyone has their moment,” he said. “I watch the game when I’m on the bench, I can see the game opens up. There’s so many more opportunities when you come on, a lot of people are tired, they lose focus and sometimes it can be better to be a substitute than to start the game.”

Keyword – Politics
Trefwoorden – Brexit, European Union, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Europe, World news, Foreign policy, Politics, UK news
Title – Two-thirds of EU citizens back UK rejoining bloc, survey finds | Brexit | The Guardian
Author – https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jonhenley
Link – Two-thirds of EU citizens back UK rejoining bloc, survey finds | Brexit | The Guardian
Publish date – 2026-06-21T05:00:21.000Z
Category – News
URL – https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/21/two-thirds-eu-citizens-back-uk-rejoining-bloc-brexit-survey

Two-thirds of EU citizens would back Britain rejoining the bloc, while most UK voters say Brexit has been bad for the issues they care about and want closer ties, including levels of integration – such as free movement – long seen as toxic, a survey has found.

Ten years after the Brexit referendum, the polling by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) , a thinktank, found 66% of respondents across 15 countries said they either “strongly supported” or “tended to support” UK membership.

The average comfortably exceeded those favouring a closer relationship (59%) or the status quo (46%). Support for rejoin ranged from lows of 56% in Bulgaria and 59% in France and Italy to highs of 75% in the Netherlands and Denmark.

Even voters for far-right and EU-critical parties said they would support closer relations between the bloc and the UK, including a majority of backers of Poland’s Confederation (71%), Germany’s AfD (58%) and France’s National Rally (58%).

Many European leaders have reflected this view. France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, has said the door is “always open” and Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has said Spain would “absolutely” support British membership.

Alexander Stubb, Finland’s president, has explicitly named the UK as a candidate for membership, saying: “We need a UK voice in Europe. We really miss you guys.” In May, the European Green party formally invited the UK to rejoin .

In the UK, the polling, carried out in May, found voters across party lines, including supporters of Reform UK, believed Brexit had had a negative impact on the country and on many key issues at the heart of the debate a decade ago.

British respondents said leaving had hit their main priorities: the cost of living (66%), the economy (65%), youth opportunity (57%), illegal immigration (56%) and trade (56%). Even most leave voters (58%) said Brexit had made illegal immigration worse.

Asked to identify the primary benefits of Brexit, the most common response, by a wide margin, was “don’t know”, followed closely by “none of the above” – suggesting most British voters now feel Brexit did real damage for no apparent upside.

That overwhelmingly negative verdict on the decision to leave translates into a strong desire for a closer relationship with the bloc: 75% of UK respondents were in favour. Asked about trade and economic ties, 66% said they should be very or slightly closer.

Perhaps most strikingly, a large majority (63%) of respondents – including 57% of those who voted leave in 2016 – said they would now accept freedom of movement in exchange for closer trading ties, with only 18% rejecting it.

Even among voters who said their top concern was immigration, 44% said they would back freedom of movement as part of a closer economic relationship, suggesting one of the core drivers of the Brexit vote is no longer central to the UK debate.

The report’s author, Mark Leonard, the director of the ECFR, said the polling showed the EU was open to the UK’s return and that the British public had fundamentally moved on from 2016 – meaning Europe was now a political opportunity for the UK government.

“Brexit was the insurgent vehicle for a nation rejecting the status quo,” he said. “A decade on, Brits realise their hopes for a better life outside the EU are unfulfilled and Brexit is undermining the UK’s ability to manage the issues they care about most.”

Leonard added that the data showed the “vast majority of citizens are open to a closer relationship”, revealing the existence of a “very broad permissive consensus for going far beyond the government’s current reset”.

The report identified three main voter camps in the UK: “optimists” (28%) who view European alignment as a geopolitical necessity; “realists” (35%) who support closer ties but still value US ties; and “loners” (27%) who still prioritise national sovereignty.

Overall, the survey found British voters favoured Europe over the US as a preferred security partner, with just 18% now viewing the US as an ally and 58% favouring closer defensive relations with Europe, compared with 19% for the US.

A majority of British voters do not want to buy more weapons from the US, while more than 60% would prefer to follow a “buy European” policy. Almost two-thirds (63%) also want the UK to participate in developing an alternative European nuclear deterrent.

This article was amended on 21 June 2026. Owing to confusion over supplied information, an earlier version said that 66% of polled EU citizens felt UK membership in the EU was a “very good”, “good” or “neither good nor bad” idea. In fact, it was 67% who felt this way, and the intended reference was to 66% of respondents who “strongly supported” or “tended to support” UK membership. A graphic referring to the former poll has been removed.