Arthur Fery grew up just a short walk away from Wimbledon but there is much more to his story than simply the confines of SW19.
The British men’s number three was born near Paris to his French parents before the family moved to Wimbledon when he was still in nappies.
After coming through the Lawn Tennis Association system, the 23-year-old then moved to Stanford University in California to study for a degree in science, technology and society – and sharpen his game in a tennis scholarship.
Now Fery is back on his doorstep and enjoying the biggest success of his career.
The world number 114 is left carrying British hopes at the All England Club this year after becoming the sole home player to reach the third round of the singles.
“I grew up coming to the tournament, watching the players and that definitely contributed to my development,” Fery told BBC Sport.
“I was trying to imitate players – like you do when you’re a kid. Now I’m here winning matches. It’s awesome.”
Fery’s mother, Olivia, is a French former Fed Cup player, who used to work for the LTA as a business development manager, while father Loic is an asset manager who owns Ligue 1 football club Lorient.
Many summer holidays were spent at the family’s second home near La Rochelle on the west coast of France, while he also spent time with other relatives near Nice – an area packed with courts and academies – to hone his tennis talent.
Fery briefly represented France when he was about 10 before starting to play for Britain shortly after.
After that, he says, there was “no question” that he would go on to represent Britain in the professional ranks.
“By that point, there was really no decision to make. I was living here, I was training at the National Tennis Centre. I was in the system here,” he said.
“I feel completely British now. Maybe 10 years ago if you’d asked me the question, it would be a bit different. Now I feel very British at heart.”
OLLY Murs left talkSPORT hosts Andy Goldstein and Gabby Agbonlahor in stitches after impersonating Ross Kemp’s emotional reaction to England playing during the World Cup.
The singer was asked if he had seen the moment EastEnders star Ross went wild watching the Three Lions play DR Congo and whether he would be willing to replicate the moment.
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Olly Murs did a hilarious impression of Ross Kemp going nuts after Harry Kane scored for England in the World CupCredit: Talk SportRoss posted a video of himself celebrating the win online which has cracked people upCredit: Instagram
The Heart Skips A Beat singer pulled out all the stops to deliver an equally passionate performance, as Andy asked: “Is there any way you could deliver us a Ross Kemp style rallying cry for England against Mexico?”
Scrunching up his face and changing his voice to sound more like Ross, Olly dived right into the task, yelling: “Come on England, we can do this.
“Stop doing this to me, stop it. I’m telling ya, we can do it. He’s coming home.”
Olly then dramatically walked out of frame, leaving Andy in stitches while asking where he had gone.
Olly gave the impersonation his all, altering his voice and pulling funny facesCredit: Talk SporttalkSPORT host Andy then jokingly told Olly he needed to do it again because the video cut outCredit: Talk Sport
Ross filmed himself wearing an England shirt in his living room, shouting at the camera: “Yes! Yes! Harry Kane! Harry Kane!
“That’s what we’re talking about. Great changes made – a massive difference. Come on, England! Close it down. Close it down!”
Punching the air in triumph, he went on: “Four minutes! Four minutes! Plus extra time!”
Looking out of breath, the actor added: “My God, why do you do this to me? Come on, England!”
He captioned the Instagram video, “Harry Kane,” with football and England flag emojis.
A slew of celebs flooded the comments with their amusement, with actor and presenter Adil Ray joking, “Watch the ticker Grant!!!!!” while presenter Rav Wilding posted, “Love you Ross!” and Sky Sports host Adam Smith commented: “Legend.”
Fans also shared their appreciation, with one asking: “Please can I come and watch the next match with you?”
“Grant Mitchell shouting down his phone has made me feel more patriotic than when I was watching the game,” someone else joked.
A third user suggested Ross should join the England coaching team, declaring: “Get him on the team as assistant manager.”
Harry scored two goals in nine minutes during Wednesday’s match, delivering England to a 2-1 win and sending the Three Lions to Mexico City.
You can listen to all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches for free on the talkSPORT app, with live commentaries via talkSPORT’s YouTube and TikTok.
On Sunday, Mexico will take on England at Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca for a round of 16 World Cup match in one of the most hotly anticipated contests of the tournament so far.
But days before anything goes down on the pitch, Mexico and England fans have already started bickering with each other online — from cheeky jabs to heated debates about which country does beans on toast better.
Joining in on the soccer smack talk are two of the biggest rock stars from the countries — Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame and Maná frontman Fher Olvera.
The “Wonderwall” singer’s prediction was so audacious that Olvera took it upon himself to publicly respond with an Instagram video Wednesday evening.
“The singer of Oasis said that Mexico will lose to England 5-0,” Olvera said in Spanish with a giant grin on his face while draped in a Mexican flag. “No way! Check yourself dude! 5 to 0? Calm down! We’ll see you Sunday to see how it goes, dude. Don’t play with me.”
By Thursday morning Gallagher amended his prediction for the match.
“[L]et me just clear someting up I was obv kidding when I said England will beat Mexico 5-0,” the English rocker wrote in an X post. “I reckon it’ll be more like 3-0 to England.”
Maná already made its mark on this year’s World Cup when it played its 1992 hit “Oye Mi Amor” at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City ahead of the Mexico-South Africa match on June 11.
Sunday’s contest between England and Mexico also marks the first time the English side will play at Estadio Azteca since the 1986 World Cup when they lost to eventual-champions Argentina in a quarterfinal game infamous for Diego Maradona‘s “Hand of God” goal.
The last time Mexico and England squared off in a World Cup setting was during the 1966 World Cup in England where the Three Lions beat El Tri 2-0 in a group stage match at Wembley Stadium.
England roared into Sunday’s T20 World Cup final against Australia with a superb 40-run victory against South Africa at The Oval.
On a brilliant night under the lights in front of a jubilant and expectant crowd, England overcame their recent struggles in pressure matches in the biggest sign of improvement under coach Charlotte Edwards to date.
They wobbled early on, faltering at 23-3 in the fourth over, but captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hit an immaculate 75 from 47 on her return from a calf injury which threatened to rule her out of the tournament.
She shared a partnership of 133 from 90 balls with England’s other wise head, Heather Knight, lifting England all of the way to 169-5. Knight, equally as impressive as Sciver-Brunt, made 58 from 47.
And while those two provided almost all of the runs, England’s excellence in the field was an all-round effort.
Their fielding – for so long a glaring weakness – was outstanding.
Sophie Ecclestone took a leaping catch to see off Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt and break an opening stand of 43, and took a second tough chance later to dismiss Sune Luus. Danni Wyatt-Hodge also ran out Sinalo Jafta with a direct hit.
As for the bowlers, Lauren Bell and Charlie Dean took two wickets apiece, Ecclestone, Linsey Smith and Freya Kemp one each, as South Africa’s hopes were snuffed out.
Their wait for a World Cup win goes on but England, though second favourites against their oldest rivals at Lord’s, have a real shot at a first trophy since 2017.
Pubs in England and Wales will now be allowed to stay open until 5am on Monday, allowing football fans to watch the Three Lions’ World Cup clash with Mexico to the final whistle.
The round-of-16 match in Mexico City kicks off at 1am UK time.
The government had initially said it would not relax licensing laws further than they already have been for the World Cup.
But Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday afternoon that pubs could stay open until the final whistle.
Monday’s match is not expected to finish until after 3am.
The government had initially decided not to extend licencing hours further, but u-turned on Thursday evening.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the decision was good news for both supporters and pubs.
“Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to,” he said.
Publicans and businesses welcomed the change. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “We all know the best place to watch the match is down the local.”
Licensing hours had already been extended for the World Cup from 11pm to 1am for games with kick-offs from 5pm up to 9pm and up until 2am for kick-offs after 9pm.
Individual pubs normally have to apply to their local council for extended opening hours, at least five working days in advance.
“The World Cup is ruining my life,” a neighbor recently said with a laugh. “I’m supposed to be working; instead I’m watching World Cup. I’m supposed to be doing chores; instead I am watching World Cup.”
I laughed in guilty recognition. We had met on the street by chance while I was walking the dog. Having just spent the last two hours watching, then celebrating Lionel Messi’s hat trick during Argentina’s first-game victory over Algeria, I had less than an hour to get back in time to watch Austria play Jordan.
That was on Day 6, and it’s only gotten worse. If I had to calculate my own ratio of work done to soccer watched … well, as I am not a sports reporter, I don’t think my editor would be thrilled. (Though I’m sure she appreciated the England/Congo updates I provided as I finished this piece.)
Like millions worldwide, my family and I have been deeply, and in our case, weirdly, engrossed in this year’s games. “Weirdly” because we do not follow men’s soccer. The World Cup is different, of course — going in, I figured I would check out the U.S., keep an eye on Messi, then tune into the final few games. Perhaps my husband would join (but only if he at least pretended to understand the offside rule), but with our two oldest children out of the house, it is, with the exception of the Super Bowl, unheard of for our family to concurrently view any sporting event in real time.
Until this World Cup. I’m not quite sure how it happened, but suddenly we’ve got game times written onto our calendar. Entire days have been spent in front of the TV with at least one child and the others watching from their homes, our family texts studded with “are you watching…?,” “did you just see that?” and, of course, “OMG MESSI!”
(I would attempt to calculate my recent ratio of chores done to Messi videos watched if I weren’t legitimately concerned that my family would have me committed.)
The fact that my son and his girlfriend live in Kansas City certainly helped spark our newfound fascination. Yes, Los Angeles is also a host city, but L.A. hosts so many things; inevitably we were mostly concerned about what it would do to the traffic. KC, on the other hand, is the smallest and most unlikely of the host cities, and over the last few years we have seen — on visits and through my son’s accounts — all the construction, effort and can-do spirit that has gone into preparing for the event.
We were thrilled when it was announced that Argentina, England, the Netherlands and Algeria would be based in or near KC. We wanted the city to shine, and it has — from nearby Lawrence’s enthusiastic adoption of Algeria to Messi’s historic hat trick at Kansas City Stadium.
Team USA defender Mark McKenzie, left, and Turkey midfielder Baris Alper Yilmaz in the World Cup match at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
But it’s more than vicarious Midwestern pride. When our older daughter began texting out missives from the earliest games and our son sent pictures of fans streaming into Kansas City Stadium, we started watching as a way to stay connected.
First, as a family, and then to our country and the rest of world.
The games have been inevitably exciting, especially as now that they’re in the knockout round, but the overall sensation was unexpected relief, a soul-soothing balm.
At a time when the news cycle seems to serve up nothing but conflict, crisis and woe, the World Cup offers shelter, a truly international event in which conflict is defined by long-term sports rivalries and questionable referee decisions.
We want our national or preferred teams to win, of course, but no matter the outcome, it’s impossible not to be thrilled by the sight of phenomenal play, underdog tenacity and so many adoring and enthusiastic fans.
Soccer is called the beautiful game for many reasons, and hours/days/weeks of sustained beauty is impossible to resist. Even social media has surrendered to spectacular highlights along with tales of Japan supporters cleaning up stadiums, fans of the victorious consoling fans of the defeated and Europeans discovering the glories of free refills and ranch dressing.
None of this changes the realities we face in America and the rest of the world. Grocery and gas prices remain catastrophically high; Iran continues to contradict U.S. claims of diplomatic resolution to an unpopular war. The unnecessarily revamped reflecting pool in Washington remains a swamp of algae and tourist arrests, as the semiquincentennial struggles under the weight of our president’s self-centered hubris.
But for a few blessed weeks, the World Cup offers inspiration, escape and cultural healing.
It has also, thus far, escaped President Trump’s so often internationally insulting social-media notice and more importantly, his presence. Historically, the leaders of host countries attend the opening match; Trump has, apparently, been too busy (including planning and attending the UFC Freedom 250 cage match recently held on the South Lawn.)
Given his tendency to suck the oxygen out of any room (like his recent reception at Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York), it’s definitely for the best. If nothing else, the World Cup has given us a chance to take a break from politics and talk instead about Messi, France’s Kylian Mbappé, England’s Harry Kane and all the amazing goalkeepers, including Cape Verde’s now-iconic Vozinha.
Never before have I so understood the therapeutic power of sport.
Who wouldn’t want to at least take a break from rising measles cases, the latest federal or Supreme Court decisions and primary tea-leaf readings to lose themselves in a game where exquisitely patient passing suddenly bursts into spectacular feats of speed and footwork? Where a well-defended ball can suddenly become a goal with a nearly undetectable flick of a foot, or a perfectly placed shot blocked by a goalie’s incredible ability to launch into space? Where an outcome that seems assured can be overturned in the final minutes to the collective roar of an international cast of thousands?
Vozinha of Cape Verde makes a save during the World Cup match between Spain and Cape Verde at Atlanta Stadium on June 15.
(Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)
Like many Americans, I have been occasionally embarrassed by the World Cup’s exposure of my world-geography ignorance — I know where Bosnia and Herzegovina lies on a map, but until recently, I couldn’t place Cape Verde, Curacao or, if I’m being completely honest, Cote d’Ivoire.
Isn’t it wonderful, though, to have a reason to reacquaint yourself with a world map that isn’t related to war, natural or man-made disaster or economic and political tension? The current U.S. administration may seem to be at odds with just about everyone, but visiting World Cup fans are here to remind us of all we share, beneath our crazy wigs and face paint, our cheers, groans and chants.
And we, as hosts, have shown them that America is so much more than the sum of our current government’s policies and posturing.
Watching all this happen, in real time, has been magical, miraculous and magnetic.
Not every moment, of course. Various visa issues created unnecessary and embarrassing drama; high ticket prices and transportation issues were blamed for empty seats at some of the early games. Members of the Iranian team and its coaching staff criticized the way they were treated (though the team left a handwritten note in the dressing room of Los Angeles Stadium, thanking L.A. for its hospitality). The controversial hydration breaks, and the extra commercials they accommodate, can be irritating (though when it’s close to 100 degrees in many stadiums, quite necessary). And though it didn’t matter in terms of standing, watching the U.S. lose to Turkey wasn’t much fun for American fans (though the Turkish exuberance was pretty infectious).
Overall, the 2026 World Cup has done exactly what it was supposed to do: create, in this country, a stage for the finest teams and players in the world’s most popular sport and, more important, carve out five weeks in which we can all spend a few hours removed from the political and cultural divisiveness that threatens to define us.
It’s space in which we can cheer, gasp and leap out of seats along with our families, friends and all the millions we will never meet but to whom we are connected all the same.
Now if you’ll excuse me, the next game is about to start.
The departure was captured in video and still images by local aviation photographers, two of whom shared their work with us. Andy Riddle told us that six B-52s left RAF Fairford today in two waves of three. The first left at 10:15 a.m. local time and the second at about 2:20 p.m., noted Riddle, whose work can be found on his @Andyyyyrrrr X account.
(Andy Riddle) (Andy Riddle)
B-52s land in the UK for Iran Ops
As we noted at the time, at least three of the bombers arrived at Fairford on March 8. It’s unclear when the others arrived. Both U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) declined comment.
In our previous reporting, we pointed out that during their time at Fairford, the B-52s operated at a high tempo, striking targets inside Iran. All told, the U.S. claims it struck 13,000 targets, though there is no way for us to know how many involved B-52s from Fairford.
You can see one of those jets leaded with stealthy JASSM cruise missiles in a photo shared with us by another local aviation photographer, who uses the @Saint1Mil X account.
B-52H Stratofortress at RAF Fairford during Epic Fury. (@Saint1Mil photo)
Meanwhile, a dozen B-1 Lancer bombers remain at the base, according to @Saint1Mil.
Since the military won’t comment, we can’t say for sure why the BUFFs left Fairford, but the move comes after both the U.S. and Iran promised to hold off on further tit-for-tat strikes after the latest round that threatened the fragile ceasefire.
The flights also took place on a day when the U.S. and Iran concluded a round of indirect talks. However, there were no signs that the parties made headway toward a lasting peace. Instead, they focused “on issues that they had supposedly resolved two weeks ago,” Reuters reported.
“Sources said negotiators for the two countries spent two days in Doha discussing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and financial incentives for Iran, two pillars of the initial agreement they signed in June, rather than more difficult topics that framework was supposed to tee up.”
The most difficult of these are the future of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its stockpile of enriched uranium.
US President Donald Trump says indirect talks with Iran in Qatar are making progress, offering a tentative sign that diplomacy is holding after recent exchanges of fire threatened efforts to end the Middle East war ➡️ https://t.co/z9d9KfHtE9pic.twitter.com/JQmtYqOYQ5
Despite the ongoing talks, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to resume bombing Iran. He also has “weighed a return to all-out war with Iran, holding multiple conversations in recent days with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine on more strikes, but has decided to stick with diplomatic talks for now,” The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials familiar with the discussion.
NEW: President Trump has weighed a return to all-out war with Iran, holding multiple conversations in recent days with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine on more strikes, but has decided to stick with diplomatic talks for now,…
The departure of the B-52s won’t preclude Trump from ordering a new round of strategic aviation attacks. Aside from the remaining B-1s, the Air Force can launch B-52s, as well as B-2 and B-1 bombers from the U.S. to strike Iran as it did during Epic Fury. However, having the B-52s stationed at a base like Fairford much closer to the action helps to cut down on flight times, wear and tear on the aircraft and crews, and increases the generation of sorties.
As we have frequently reported, given that the U.S. began building up forces in the region in January, many of the ships, aircraft and troops will have to ‘retrograde’ out of the CENTCOM area of responsibility in the coming weeks and months. We’ve already seen aircraft like A-10 Thunderbolt II close attack jets, F-22s, F-15Es and other assets return from the region. As a result, the future of the American footprint there remains a question mark even as negotiations continue. Reinstating a large force once it has been even partially drawn down, assuming there is the will to do so, would take time and would put extreme stress on a force structure that has seen constant surges of deployments over the last year.
If there were such a thing as a mid-table team at the World Cup, it would probably be Mexico. They are almost ever-present, yet no side has played as many matches at the tournament – 64 in total – without lifting the trophy.
Their supporters can be demanding but expectations were more modest this summer. However, the co-hosts ended a 40-year wait for a knockout win by beating Ecuador, so confidence will be raised for their match against England.
The failure to reach an elusive fifth game – the curse of the ‘quinto partido’ – plagued Mexico for generations. El Tri went out in the round of 16 at seven consecutive World Cups between 1994 and 2018, before ending that sequence in the worst possible way in Qatar, where they exited at the group stage.
Since then, Mexico have hired and fired two coaches before bringing back the vastly experienced Aguirre for a third spell in charge in 2024.
No stone has been left unturned in his preparations. El Tri played 22 matches over the past year before the tournament began, giving Aguirre ample scope to experiment with tactics and personnel. He used 54 players in that time, fewer than half of whom made the final squad.
Those who did are well drilled now, especially the 12 domestic-based players. Most were told to report for training on 6 May, meaning some squad members were in camp for five weeks by the start of the World Cup.
England and India are both left frustrated as the first T20 in their five match series is abandoned because of rain during the innings break, after India had set England 190 to win at Chester-le-Street.
A punishing heatwave affected many parts of the country during the last week of the month.
Published On 1 Jul 20261 Jul 2026
Last month was provisionally the warmest June in England since records began, as well as the second-warmest for the United Kingdom, according to figures published by the country’s Met Office.
Rare extreme heat warnings were issued for several days last month, with “exceptionally warm overnight temperatures”, the weather agency said on Wednesday.
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England registered an average temperature of 17.1C (62.78 degrees Fahrenheit) last month – the highest since records began in 1884.
“The exceptional warmth was driven by an intense and record-breaking heatwave at the end of the month,” the Met Office said in a statement.
The previous record of 16.9C (62.4F) was set in June 2025, nearly 3C (5.4F) above the long-term average. It means England’s top three warmest Junes since data began in 1884 have all occurred this decade, with the third being in 2023.
A punishing heatwave affected many parts of the country during the last week of the month, with temperatures topping 30C (86F) at some places in the UK for seven days in a row from June 21-27.
A peak of 37.7C (99.86F) was provisionally reached at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 26 – the highest maximum temperature ever recorded for the month.
This was more than 2C higher (3.6F) than the previous June record of 35.6C (96.08F), set in 1957 at Camden Square in London and equalled in 1976 at Mayflower Park in Southampton.
Last month also saw a provisional new June record for the highest overnight minimum, with temperatures at Cardiff Bute Park dropping no lower than 23.5C (74.3F) on June 25.
More than 1,000 schools and nurseries were closed during the heatwave, and there was disruption to public transport with overhead wires and signalling strained because of the heat.
Critics felt the country was ill-prepared to deal with the sweltering heat. Climate experts have urged the UK government to adapt its infrastructure to warming summers, with a surge in demand for fans and air conditioners, which remain rare in British homes.
The heatwave has also affected many countries in Europe, including France, Germany, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Austria and western Ukraine, with more than 1,000 deaths linked to the scorching heat reported in France alone.
A group of scientists blamed climate change for the dangerous weather blazing across Europe. In a report by the World Weather Attribution, experts warned that the phasing out of fossil fuels is essential to reverse the extreme weather trend.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been passed fit to return from injury for Thursday’s T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa.
Sciver-Brunt, 33, who has not played since England’s second match of the tournament against Ireland after a recurrence of her calf issue, batted in the nets again on Wednesday morning.
She also trained on Tuesday at Lord’s and England have deemed her fit enough to return as her side attempts to win a World Cup for the first time since 2017.
“We are confident I am fully fit,” Sciver-Brunt told BBC Test Match Special.
Batter Dunkley was seen in conversation with coach Charlotte Edwards shortly before Sciver-Brunt emerged to speak to the media.
While Sciver-Brunt batted for half an hour on Wednesday, appearing relatively free and able to come down the pitch to spinners, there are obvious risks involved.
She worked with England’s physio indoors at the start of the session but did not do any running or fielding drills outdoors.
There are less than 72 hours before Sunday’s final.
“We have tested it enough to be comfortable,” she said. “What will happen out on the pitch will happen.”
Assuming she comes through, Sciver-Brunt’s presence for the latter stages is a significant boost to England.
She is their best batter and, though Charlie Dean has stood up successfully in her absence, their captain. Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are the only players remaining from their last World Cup win.
England have lost their last two World Cup semi-finals against South Africa – at last year’s 50-over World Cup and the T20 version in 2023 – but go into Thursday’s match at The Oval as favourites, having progressed through the group stage unbeaten. They have also never lost a women’s international at The Oval.
South Africa have been unconvincing at times through this tournament but have reached the past three World Cup finals across formats as they chase their first World Cup win.
And captain Laura Wolvaardt admitted her batting line-up – blessed with powerful strokemakers such as Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp and Wolvaardt – has not been at “100%” and it has been “frustrating” they were not able to win games more comfortably.
“We have chatted about it, that if we do find ourselves in a position to kill the game earlier we are blessed with a lot of power in our line-up,” she said.
“We have that opportunity to go a bit earlier. Maybe tomorrow at The Oval suits us a bit better.”
Wolvaardt also swerved a question on whether she would be happy for Sciver-Brunt to have a substitute fielder, should the England captain injure her calf again.
Cricket’s laws state substitutes are allowed to replace players who suffer an injury during a match, rather than an issue carried in.
“As a captain it is always hard to plan for her,” Wolvaardt added.
“She is a world-class batter and is able to hit really weird areas.
“Setting a field is quite hard for her. Hopefully we are able to keep her quiet.”
After Mexico brushed aside Ecuador to reach the last 16 of the World Cup, some of their celebrating fans already had an eye on their potential next opponents.
England face a difficult test in their last-32 tie with DR Congo later on Wednesday but, should they overcome that, it will not get any easier.
That is because next up would be a match with Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium – a mouthwatering fixture for many football fans, but a daunting one for England supporters.
Mexico have never got beyond the quarter-finals of the World Cup, but their impressive displays at this tournament – four games, four wins, eight goals scored and no goals conceded – have their fans dreaming of what could be.
“England have the Ballon d’Or favourite Harry Kane leading that team,” one fan said.
“You have players like Jude Bellingham, and it is scary, but with the momentum we have there is the chance to do the impossible.”
Based on their performances at this World Cup and their record at the Azteca, Mexico going far should not feel like an impossible target.
Their competitive record at this stadium is 69 wins from 88 games, with 17 draws and only two defeats. They are also unbeaten in 10 World Cup games there.
Admittedly, the opposition they have faced at he Azteca is not always of the highest quality but, nevertheless, it will be a daunting task for whoever faces them in the last 16.
“The whole nation is behind them – we’ve seen the scenes,” former Australia and Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said on ITV.
“If it will be England going down to Mexico, it’s going to be like stepping into a different World Cup for them.”
England supporters in the United States have been praised by police for their “excellent” behaviour during the group stage of the World Cup, but domestic incidents are up on recent tournaments.
The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) says there have been no reports of any violence or disorder involving England supporters in America, with just two of five arrests coming at a World Cup match.
But there have been 463 football-related incidents in England and Wales – significantly higher than this stage in Euro 2024 (304) and the 2022 World Cup (291).
The behaviour of Scotland fans in the States has also been praised, though their figures are not included in this report.
“The behaviour of England fans – and of course the Scots – has been excellent throughout the group stages of the World Cup,” chief constable Mark Roberts, head of the UKFPU, said.
“In our pre-briefs we stressed to local law enforcement the positive record of our fans at recent World Cups, and it is great to see that continuing and the fans being policed according to their behaviour, not an outdated reputation.”
All five England supporters arrested have been released by American authorities and referred to the UKFPU.
Of the 463 football-related incidents, 162 have been in licensed premises, while 109 are classed as domestic incidents, often involving family members over the age of 16.
Eighty-eight people have been arrested, which is again up on Euro 2024 (66) and the 2022 World Cup (56).
Many football-related arrests in the UK come under the Public Order Act, including a wide variety of anti-social behaviour, such as swearing, shouting, intimidation and violence.
Before the World Cup began, 1,958 football supporters subject to football banning orders were required to surrender their passports to stop them heading to the World Cup.
THE WORLD CUP is well underway with some of England’s top stars already breaking football records – but where do these guys get to when they aren’t kicking around a ball?
Prior to the 2026 World Cup, the England head coach told the England team to head off on their post-season holidays to either the US or Caribbean so they could get used to the time zone and heat for the World Cup.
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The team jetted off to West Palm Beach in Florida and stayed at the luxury Belgrove Resort and Spa.
But each player has also been to a whole host of other spots across the globe – and you might even be surprised by some.
Harry Kane
Lapland, Finland
Over Christmas last year the England captain headed to Lapland in Finland with his family.
His wife, Katie Goodland, shared some snaps on her Instagram showing the family enjoyed dog sledding, spotting reindeer in the snow, heading on fairy light-lit walks among the trees etc.
On one night they even saw the Northern Lights and Kane’s kids enjoyed snowmobiling as well.
In addition, while in Lapland you can head off to Santa Claus Village and send postcards home.
Alternatively, families can have a go at making gingerbread.
Flights to Rovaniemi in October from £22 per way.
Jordan Pickford
Dubai, UAE
Back in January, Jordan Pickford and his wife were spotted flying back from Dubai.
The United Arab Emirates city is well known for its warm climate as well as its architecture such as the Burj Khalifa.
From the city you can also head out to the desert to try sand surfing or dune buggying.
You could fly from the UK to Dubai for £156 per way in July.
Jude Bellingham
Cannes, France
Four weeks ago, Jude posted some snaps of a lavish holiday in Cannes, France, with his 20-year-old brother, Jobe Bellingham.
The duo, along with other friends, enjoyed time on yachts as well as heading to La Mome – a fine dining restaurant that is famous for its foccacia dipped in olive oil and serving up fresh, local seafood.
One of the images appears to show Hôtel Martinez, which is a five-star Art Deco hotel on the Boulevard de la Croisette.
Inside, the hotel has yacht-inspired rooms and boasts a two-star Michelin restaurant.
Rooms cost from around £1,400 a night.
Flights to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport cost from £23 in July.
Dubai, UAE
The pro footballer also recently visited Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
In the city, make sure to visit the Dubai Frame, which is a 150-metre structure with one side framing Old Dubai and the other side framing New Dubai.
You can even walk across a glass bridge on the structure.
You could fly from the UK to Dubai for £156 per way in July.
Jordan Henderson
Lapland UK
Jordan Henderson has previously visited LaplandUK, showing fans you don’t have to travel far to have a magical time.
The midfielder at Brentford enjoyed the experience alongside his family, seeing reindeer and of course visiting Santa.
LaplandUK now has two experiences in the country, with the original in Ascot and a more recently opened site in Manchester.
Tickets to the experience tend to range between £65 and £195 per person, but included in that you get to hang out with the elves and even make your own toy.
Declan Rice
Dubai, UAE
While the pro footballer often visits Dubai for warm-weather training camps, Declan Rice also heads on holiday to the popular spot.
And over the years he has visited the city on many occasions, sometimes even with other pros such as Mason Mount.
While in Dubai, make sure to head to some of the city’s beaches such as Kite Beach which is a great spot for watersports as well as beach volleyball.
Alternatively, head to Sunset Beach, which is known for having a more relaxed vibe and being the ideal stop to watch the sunset.
You could fly from the UK to Dubai for £156 per way in July.
Marcus Rashford
Barcelona, Spain
Last year, Marcus Rashford shared a few snaps of a holiday in Barcelona.
The holiday pics make sense considering the star plays as a forward for La Liga club Barcelona.
But Barcelona is a great city to visit – you can head down the famous La Ramblas and spot human statues.
And of course, enjoy some of the local restaurants serving tapas.
The Spanish city is also home to many designs by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí, including the Sagrada Familia – the tallest church in the world, that has been built over the past century.
Flights from the UK to Barcelona cost as little as £15 one-way in July.
Bukayo Saka
Lagos, Nigeria
Saka was born in London to Nigerian parents yet often heads to Nigeria in the summer.
He has previously been seen visiting Lagos and Kwara State.
Lagos is Africa’s largest city and is home to around 24million people.
The coastal city is home to the Nike Art Gallery, which spans across five floors and is home to thousands of contemporary and traditional Nigerian artworks.
Make sure to head to the Lekki Conservation Centre too, where you will find Africa’s longest canopy walkway with wetlands home to monkeys and tropical birds.
And for a beach day, stop by Elegushi Beach where you’ll also find a number of beach clubs and oceanfront restaurants.
One-way flights to Lagos from the UK cost from £263 in July.
Ollie Watkins
Lake Como, Italy
Back in 2024, Aston Villa and England strikerOllie Watkins proposed to Ellie Alderson at the Mandarin Oriental on Lago di Como.
The five-star resort hotel can be found in the village of Blevio, which is on the eastern side of Lake Como.
Across the hotel, you will find nine villas with a total of 75 rooms and suites.
There are also two villas with balconies overlooking the lake and with views of the Alps.
The hotel also has a huge spa with an indoor pool and another infinity pool outside on the edge of the lake.
A room costs from £1,162 per night.
But there are many other nice spots to visit and stay nearby.
For example, just down the road you could stay at Casa Giulietta Caronti, which also boasts views of the lake.
The B&B even has seven new suites with hot tubs inside, costing from just £112 per night.
You’d also be just a few minutes from downtown Como and Cernobbio.
Flights to Milan cost from £15 per way in July.
Estelle Manor, The Cotswolds
Estelle Manor is a Grade II listed country estate and hotel in Oxfordshire – which Watkins recently posted a pic of himself at on Instagram.
The hotel only opened in 2023 but has become well-known for its stylish rooms and Walled Garden.
There are also four restaurants onsite, as well as a kid’s club.
Rooms at the hotel cost from £575 per night.
But if that is outside of your budget, don’t worry as the Cotswolds is home to an abundance of pretty places to stay.
For example, you could head down the road to the Artist’s Residence near South Leigh.
The pretty pub with rooms boasts a thatched roof and dates back to the 16th century.
Inside the rooms feature a whimsical vibe, with minibars and Nespresso coffee machines.
Some rooms even have vaulted ceilings and free-standing bath tubs.
And staying costs a fraction of the price compared to Estelle Manor, with rooms from £153 per night.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is the very spot Watkins got married at.
Built between 1907 and 1912, the villa is home to a massive collection of art as well nine themed gardens.
The villa was even designed to mimic the deck of a cruise ship, with visitors able to see the sea whichever side of the villa they are on.
The villa is open to the public to visit adult tickets costing €18 (£15.51) and children’s tickets costing €12 (£10.34).
Flights to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport cost from £23 per way in July.
Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy
In another Instagram post, Ollie Watkins was recently spotted in Positano on the Amalfi Coast.
The town is famous for its pastel-coloured buildings stagger across the cliffs.
When visiting you can head to a number of beach clubs as well.
Make sure to walk along the waterfront and head to the 300-metre beach to soak up the sunshine.
For a quieter spot, drop by Fornillo Beach which is a secluded pebble cove.
Flights to Naples Airport cost from £31 per way in July.
Capri, Italy
The famous footballer was also spotted staying in another luxury Italian hotel – Jumeirah Capri Palace.
Found in Anacapri on the island of Capri, the hotel boasts a unique medical spa as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant.
There are also two pools at the hotel, an outdoor terrace with panoramic views and a fancy wine cellar.
Though, it will set you back around £3,444 per night.
Instead, a short drive away you could stay at Hotel Belvedere e Tre Re, which directly looks over the beach and glistening turquoise water.
And it costs from £216 a night instead of a few grand.
It is also closer to another spot the star was spotted at as well – Da Paolino Lemontrees.
The famous restaurant is known for its tables that sit directly under hundreds of real lemon trees.
Open since the 1970s, the much-loved restaurant often attracts celebs with other notable figures that have dined there including Beyonce and Mariah Carey.
Make sure to visit the dessert room, which has an entire buffet dedicated to all things sweet including traditional Italian desserts and lemon-infused treats.
Flights to Naples Airport cost from £31 per way in July.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan says England need to change direction after a series defeat by New Zealand and believes the ECB hierarchy should approach Andy Flower to take the team forward.
England head coach Brendon McCullum says he tired to talk Ben Stokes out of his decision to retire from international cricket following the 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand.
When Stokes was away from the England team for the second Test, he played for Durham and said returning to his county rekindled a love for the game. He confirmed he will continue to play domestic cricket.
“Being back at Durham, when I wasn’t playing in the second Test, I found a new lease of life for the game, but unfortunately I just couldn’t get that feeling back this week,” said Stokes.
“I’m very excited about the next part of what I get to do. Going back to playing for my boyhood club Durham, I’m comparing this week to that week – right now I am buzzing, but there have been moments this week that have been really tough and it just adds to everything and it makes it clear that I’ve made the right decision.”
Stokes said he made the retirement decision when he was putting on his pads to prepare to bat in England’s first innings at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
He told former captain Joe Root and vice-captain Harry Brook on Saturday evening, then revealed the news to the rest of the team on Sunday morning.
“It’s been an interesting four or five weeks, maybe six months in general,” added Stokes. “There are all kinds of emotions when this day comes – relief, happiness, excitement, sadness. Everything that you go through.
“It’s the best thing that I’ve ever been asked to do, captaining England. It is the greatest honour to have on your shoulders but there is also another side to it that people don’t see, only those closest to you see it.
“My family, my wife, they see the bits where it does drain you and it does affect you negatively.”
England test captain Ben Stokes will retire from international cricket after the ongoing test match against New Zealand.
Published On 28 Jun 202628 Jun 2026
England captain Ben Stokes has made the dramatic decision to announce his imminent retirement from international cricket midway through the deciding third test against New Zealand.
“This is my last two days as your captain and my last two days representing England,” Stokes told his England teammates inside the dressing room on Sunday at the start of play at Trent Bridge on Day 4, in a video released on social media by England Cricket.
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The match is headed to a fifth and final day on Monday, with the series on the line at 1-1.
The shocking announcement came 15 minutes before the tea break. Stokes picked up a wicket moments later and was given a standing ovation as he led England off at the end of the session.
“The reasons can wait [about] why,” Stokes said in his dressing-room speech. “But I’ve had many trips to the well before for this team, and I’ve got one more trip to do.”
Stokes, 35, one of the world’s best known cricketers, has represented England for 15 years, the peak surely coming in 2019 when he starred for England in its wild win over New Zealand in the 50-over World Cup final at Lord’s.
He was also a key player in England’s T20 World Cup-winning team in 2022, the same year he became test captain.
Stokes has decided to quit international cricket during a series when he made front-page news after being dropped by England for the second test amid an investigation following a night out with teammate Gus Atkinson after the first test at Lord’s.
The two players were in a London nightclub when an England team security official was reportedly struck by a rugby player from English club Saracens.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) dropped Stokes and Atkinson, and later said they had “breached specific contractual obligations” and were given a written warning. The sport’s independent oversight panel – the Cricket Regulator body – said after its investigation that there was “insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach occurred”.
Stokes was recalled for the third test.
Stokes reacts alongside New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra [File: Andrew Boyers/Reuters]
ECB chairman Richard Thompson said Stokes is “one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation.”
“His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever,” Thompson said.
“Beyond his remarkable achievements on the field, his performances have inspired many youngsters to embrace cricket with positivity and belief. We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a talisman.”
Watch the moment former England captain Michael Vaughan finds out on Test Match Special that current England captain Ben Stokes is retiring at the end of the third and final Test match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
England captain Ben Stokes has made a stunning announcement to end his international career at the conclusion of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand.
All-rounder Stokes, one of the finest cricketers to ever play for England, was in the middle of a bowling spell at Trent Bridge when a statement was released confirming his intention to end a 15-year international career.
The 35-year-old missed England’s second Test after being involved in an incident in a London nightclub.
Before his return to the leading the team in Nottingham, he referred only to leading the team “this week”.
