A major French city at the Rhône–Saône confluence
Crystal Palace has appointed Pierre Sage as head coach after Oliver Glasner’s departure. Sage signs a three-year deal, aiming to continue Palace’s winning approach as they enter another European campaign.
A string of Portugal’s Fishermen’s Trail coastal sections is drawing hikers to remote beaches and cliff-top scenery along the Algarve and the Atlantic coast. From Lagos to Sagres, walkers are finding serene coves, rugged paths and local seafood, while towns like Salema and Sagres offer base camps for weekend treks.
France is honoring Marc Bloch, the Jewish historian and World War II resistance fighter, at Paris's Panthéon. The ceremony underscores Bloch’s courage and his role in preserving republican values and secularism, as Macron frames his legacy amid a polarized political landscape.
France endures its hottest day on record as a Europe-wide heat wave triggers power outages in Brittany, with 100k+ customers affected. Crews are restoring supply and warnings persist about continued extreme temperatures.
The IOC has reset the timetable for future Olympic bids under president Kirsty Coventry, signaling a return to competitive shortlists after Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane (2032) were chosen years in advance. Paris (2024) was selected seven years ahead, shaping a new cadence for bidding, with a potential eight bidders in the mix and a late-2028 targeted dialogue phase.
Public Health France has recorded 5,764 excess deaths between 17 June and 2 July during an exceptional June heatwave, the highest heat-related excess mortality since 2003. France recorded 21,674 deaths against 15,910 expected; two-thirds of the excess were people aged 75 and older and more than half occurred between 25–27 June.
Parliament has urged the IOC to recognize Greenland and the Faroe Islands as independent National Olympic Committees, enabling participation under their own flags. Copenhagen’s move follows a new Danish coalition government and comes amid a debate over the IOC’s independence criteria and geopolitical sensitivities.
Belgium has rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time, with Lukaku and Tielemans scoring late to force extra time and Tielemans sealing the win from the spot in the 125th minute. The turnaround sets up a clash with the United States in Seattle.
Newcastle United faces continued pressure as Bruno Guimarães pushes for a move to Arsenal, while the club pursues replacements after high-profile summer exits. Bazoumana Touré has joined for £43m, with Sean Steur set to arrive from Ajax; the squad rebuild accelerates as tensions rise over player departures and strategic direction.
Ukrainian club were in fourth tier in 2021 but, despite war with Russia, will contest European qualifiers for first time
Wildfires larger than four times Paris have driven 220,000 people from their homes and hit tourist hubs across Bordeaux. Local leaders warn the fires threaten a fragile economy already squeezed by energy costs, inflation, and geopolitical tensions, with tourism and wine sectors facing a downturn.
Celtic faces LASK in a two-legged Europa League play-off-style path for a place in the Champions League groups. First legs are scheduled for Aug. 18-19 with the return a week later. LASK won the Austrian Bundesliga last season and has a track record against Scottish sides; Celtic aims to advance after last season’s exit at this stage.
Marlen Reusser has claimed the stage four time trial at the Tour de France Femmes, extending her overall lead to 14 seconds over Demi Vollering. Vollering finished second, with Niewiadoma third, as the race moves into mid-stage mountains.
Dutch rider Demi Vollering has seized the yellow jersey on the Tour de France Femmes stage to Mont Ventoux, stretching her overall lead. Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney and Elisa Longo Borghini chased, but Vollering pulled clear on the final climb and finished first, with Longo Borghini second and Niewiadoma-Phinney third. Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot has withdrawn due to illness.
A series of reports shows Colorado marmots fattening up for winter as Fat Marmot Week launches to raise funds for long-running marmot research amid federal funding cuts. Last winter’s low snowpack increased marmot deaths and shifting social dynamics are visible in alpine colonies across the region.
Fifa has shelved the Forward Enterprise plan amid fierce opposition from UEFA and other bodies. Ceferin calls for Infantino to quit; EU associations warn against selling football to private investors. The plan is dead, but governance tensions persist as Infantino seeks support ahead of a potential fourth term.
The Champions League league-phase draw has placed PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid and others into eight-match groups for the 2026–27 campaign, with fixtures kicking off in September 2026 and Madrid hosting the final on 5 June 2027. Arsenal and Liverpool face stern tests as they bid to advance to the knockout rounds.
Bournemouth will play in Europe for the first time, hosting Milan and facing a slate of European heavyweights. Sunderland travels to San Siro as both clubs begin their continental campaigns, with full schedules announced for Group-stage fixtures across Europe.