Sports sector update: Argentina reach World Cup final as Open Championship begins
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler faces a field with no first-time Claret Jug winner in 12 years, while MLB and NBA Summer League action resumes.
Argentina have secured a place in the World Cup final following a dramatic comeback, according to the latest report from CBS Sports. The update, published on July 16, 2026, highlights the football team’s progression as a key development in the ongoing tournament.
Concurrently, The Open Championship has commenced, with defending champion Scottie Scheffler attempting to retain the Claret Jug. CBS Sports notes that there has been a first-time winner of the trophy in 12 consecutive tournaments, creating a statistical context for Scheffler’s bid to flip the narrative of his 2026 season.
Patrick McDonald has identified nine golfers as the most likely candidates to win the title. The newsletter suggests that potential winners can be identified through a process of elimination or by examining the field directly, as McDonald did in his analysis. Coverage of the tournament, which began on a Thursday, is available via live blog and early morning broadcasts in America.
In Major League Baseball, the post-All-Star break period kicks off on Thursday with a matchup between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Red Sox have been highlighted in MLB Power Rankings as a team capable of a significant turnaround after a poor start to the season. Bold predictions for the second half of the season include potential history for Shohei Ohtani and a blockbuster trade.
The NBA Summer League is also underway, featuring several scheduled games. Matchups include the Mavericks versus the Thunder and the Lakers versus the Bulls. Additional games feature the Warriors against the Knicks, the Raptors against the Heat, and the Trail Blazers against the Nuggets, with WNBA fixtures also scheduled.
