While the World Cup dominates the global conversation, European club football is already back. The 2026/27 Champions League campaign got underway earlier this month, and this week brings the first legs of the Second Qualifying Round — the next step on the long road toward the newly expanded 36-team league phase, with the final at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid on June 5, 2027 the ultimate destination.

This stage of the competition is where the Champions Path and League Path first split, pitting domestic champions from Europe's smaller footballing nations against sides looking to punch above their coefficient. For fans of the traditional giants, these early rounds fly under the radar — but for clubs from associations further down UEFA's rankings, a two-legged tie in July can be the difference between financial security for a season and total obscurity. Every tie is played over two legs, with away goals no longer a factor under UEFA's current rules — extra time and penalties decide any tie still level after 180 minutes.

Seven places in the money-spinning league phase remain up for grabs — five through the Champions Path for smaller nations' champions, and two through the League Path for well-ranked sides who missed automatic qualification. With the second legs following on July 28 and 29, and the Third Qualifying Round draw taking place this Monday, July 20, the road to European football's top table is already taking shape.

When: First Legs Tuesday, July 21 & Wednesday, July 22 · Second Legs Tuesday, July 28 & Wednesday, July 29

The 2026 Tour de France has been turned upside down. Two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the race on the run-in to Stage 15's summit finish at Plateau de Solaison — sliding out on the exit of a roundabout roughly 19km from the line and landing hard on his shoulder. Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed their leader had suffered a fractured collarbone and multiple abrasions, with surgery recommended in the coming days. Team-mate Sepp Kuss and UAE's Isaac del Toro were also among the riders caught up in the crash, though both were able to continue.

The stage itself was won by Remco Evenepoel, who timed his effort perfectly to outsprint the yellow jersey group after comfortably matching a series of attacks from del Toro in the closing kilometres. With Vingegaard's abandonment, Evenepoel now moves up to second overall on general classification, handing the Belgian a golden opportunity to close in on race leader Tadej Pogačar as the Tour heads into its final week.

Vingegaard's exit reshapes what remains of the race entirely. UAE Team Emirates-XRG's dual threat of Pogačar and del Toro already had Visma on the back foot before the crash — now, with their talisman gone, the team's GC hopes for 2026 are over, and the remaining stages become a straight fight between Pogačar and Evenepoel for the overall title. The final week features more brutal Alpine terrain before the traditional procession into Paris and the Champs-Élysées finish on July 26.

When: Stages 16–21 running through Sunday, July 26 · Final Stage: Champs-Élysées, Paris

With Wimbledon done and the US hard-court swing still a few weeks away, the ATP Tour heads back to clay for two historic ATP 250 events running in parallel this week — perfect territory for players looking to rebuild ranking points and match sharpness after the grass-court season.

In the Austrian Alps, the Generali Open Kitzbühel returns for its 82nd edition, making it the sixth-oldest tournament on the entire ATP Tour, dating back to 1894. Defending champion Alexander Bublik returns to defend his crown as top seed, in a field also featuring Valentin Vacherot, Arthur Rinderknech, Tomás Martín Etcheverry and clay specialist Ignacio Buse. Former champion Matteo Berrettini and initial top seed Flavio Cobolli both withdrew ahead of the tournament, opening the draw up further. With several of the sport's biggest names opting to rest after Wimbledon, this year's draw at altitude — where thinner air traditionally favours aggressive, first-strike tennis — is as open as it has been in years.

Meanwhile on Portugal's Riviera, the Millennium Estoril Open returns to the ATP 250 calendar after operating as a Challenger event in 2025. Andrey Rublev and Luciano Darderi head the seedings following the late withdrawal of top seed and 2023 champion Casper Ruud, while three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has been handed a wildcard in what could be his final clay-court appearance. Home hopes rest with Nuno Borges and wildcard Jaime Faria, who will have the Cascais crowd firmly behind them all week.

Kitzbühel: Main Draw Monday, July 20 – Friday, July 24 · Final Saturday, July 25 · Tennis Stadium Kitzbühel, Austria
Estoril: Main Draw Monday, July 20 – Saturday, July 25 · Final Sunday, July 26 · Clube de Ténis do Estoril, Cascais, Portugal