World Cup 2026 betting tips: England to march past Mexico, Gordon to provide tonic; USA to beat Belgium
“Now look some of you lads on fifty grand a week. These fellas, they get a pocket full of pesetas and a funny hat.”
This remains one of my favourite cinematic lines, uttered by the inimitable Mike Bassett: England Manager as he laid into the Three Lions during a crunch clash with Mexico.
It’s England vs Mexico for real in the wee small hours of Monday morning, in a fascinating clash that reeks of drama.
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from the last 16 of World Cup 2026 – including the big one at the Azteca – courtesy of Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher.
Is the World Cup helping to drive a new era for sports games?
When the World Cup is on, it does something remarkable: it turns the entire planet into football fans. But in 2026, the tournament’s influence stretches far beyond the terraces and TV screens.
From console titles to mobile apps and slots, sports games of all kinds are experiencing a surge in popularity, and the World Cup is driving the charge.
Racketeer and Playtomic unite to shape the future of the padel community
Racketeer and Playtomic, the world’s largest racket sports booking and community platform, have officially launched their partnership with The Greatest Padel Party Ever, an immersive event that brought together hundreds of players for an evening built around one simple idea: the future of padel is community.
Held at Racketeer Club North Acton, the event marked the first activation of a partnership between two brands that share the ambition of making padel more social, more connected and more accessible.
As part of this partnership, the Racketeer club is now available on Playtomic, enabling players to discover and book Racketeer courts directly through the platform while connecting with a wider community of players.
Manchester United missing out on Mateus Fernandes is a bigger warning sign than it looks
Manchester United’s failure to land Mateus Fernandes has sparked frustration among supporters who feel the club is repeating old mistakes.
Tottenham Hotspur have stepped in and agreed a deal, leaving United once again empty-handed in a key midfield chase.
The situation has quickly become about more than one transfer. It is now being seen as a wider reflection of how the club is being run.
Sports News Blitz writer Noah Ngcobo delves into why this particular miss could carry more weight than it first appears.
Rounders news: Horsforth Hawks Reds dig deep to win in grim conditions
Sports News Blitz sponsor the Horsforth Hawks Reds rounders team, who are flying high in first place in division four of the West Yorkshire league.
They have won five of their six games so far - but had to dig deep on Tuesday night, when they played in appalling conditions but managed to secure a hard-fought victory.
Padel news: London to host the first Clash of the Coaches organised by World Padel Network
A new tournament specifically for padel coaches is to be held in London this summer.
The Clash of the Coaches, organised by World Padel Network, will be held at Racketeer and will bring together padel coaches from across the UK and Europe to compete, connect, and celebrate their role in the sport. The tournament will be held on Friday August 7 with the action starting at 12pm (BST).
World Cup 2026: England vs DR Congo Round of 32 preview - Statement victory needed for Three Lions
England topped Group L of the World Cup 2026 following the 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday, June 27, ensuring they would be favourably placed as a third-placed team in the first knockout round.
In facing DR Congo, England are presented with another opportunity to prove themselves as a force to be reckoned with, if they can defeat their respective lesser opposition resoundingly.
Sports News Blitz’s Johnny Jones looks ahead to England’s knockout showdown, and how the Three Lions can address supporters’ concerns.
Toto Wolff questions Ferrari's aggressive upgrade strategy amid F1 development race
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has questioned how Ferrari have been able to introduce so many upgrades to their 2026 Formula 1 car, suggesting the Italian team could soon reach the limits of the sport's cost cap.
With Formula 1's new regulations creating one of the most intense development races in recent memory, teams have been bringing new parts almost every race in an attempt to gain an advantage.
F1 news: Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton heads to Silverstone with renewed belief as Jenson Button predicts British GP breakthrough
Lewis Hamilton arrives at Silverstone with growing confidence after a strong run of form in his early Ferrari career.
Former team-mate Jenson Button believes the seven-time world champion is well positioned to challenge for victory at his home Grand Prix.
With momentum building after recent podiums and a breakthrough win in Barcelona, Hamilton’s weekend carries real significance for his season, writes Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo.
How live interactive events are changing social casino entertainment
Social casino platforms have evolved far beyond simple slot-style experiences. Today's users increasingly seek interactive entertainment that combines competition, community engagement and real-time participation.
Live events have become one of the fastest-growing features within the social casino industry. Through tournaments, limited-time challenges and community competitions, platforms can create experiences that feel closer to live entertainment than traditional mobile gaming.
Cricket analysis: Ben Stokes retires - Five of the England star’s greatest Test moments
England captain Ben Stokes announced his retirement from Test cricket in typically dramatic fashion during England’s defeat to New Zealand in the final Test match of the series.
The announcement came whilst England were fielding on day four, with Stokes taking a wicket the ball after it was made public.
The modern day great retires with 122 Test caps and is only the second man to score more than 7000 Test runs and take over 250 Test wickets, alongside South Africa’s Jacques Kallis.
A man who isn’t just known for his numbers, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Hibbert takes a look at five moments from his Test career that have made him one of the greatest all-rounders to play the game.
ATP grass court season, week three: A trio of Brits qualify for Wimbledon, new names on the trophy at Eastbourne and Mallorca
For the four nations which host a grand slam event – the UK, the USA, France and Australia – handing wild cards to promising home players can pay dividends if some of those players advance into the main draw.
Indeed, qualifying draws can sometimes showcase the talent of a future star to full effect.
At other times, a local player’s overwhelming desire to compete in a tournament comfortably outweighs their actual ability.
This year at Wimbledon, three British competitors successfully qualified for the ongoing men's singles event.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and tennis fan AJ Becker takes a closer look at their journeys, as the highlight of the grass court calendar gets underway.
Northern Ireland to host record UK padel field
The strongest player field ever assembled for a UK padel tournament will compete in Northern Ireland this week as the FIP Silver R3 Bullpadel Cup - NI Open gets underway at Padel54 in Moira.
Running from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 July, the tournament marks the first time Northern Ireland has hosted a professional padel event and, by attracting the strongest field ever assembled for a UK tournament, represents the highest level of professional padel yet staged on the island of Ireland.
Part of the official CUPRA FIP Tour sanctioned by the International Padel Federation (FIP), the event has attracted more current and former world top-25 players than any previous UK tournament. Both the men's and women's draws also feature more players ranked inside the world's top 100 than any other tournament previously held in the UK.
F1 news: Five takeaways from Ferrari’s Austrian Grand Prix as progress tempered by frustration
Scuderia Ferrari arrived in the Styrian hills after the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix full of momentum and with the addition of a new, more powerful power unit. Whilst both Ferraris performed well across the first part of the race weekend, especially in qualifying, their Sunday was awful.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and Ferrari fan Luca Salmasi takes a look at five key takeaways for Ferrari.
Cricket betting tips: Best bets for England vs India T20Is and Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals
A blockbuster week of T20 cricket features the start of the England vs India series and the Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals.
Here, Sports News Blitz cricket expert Himanshu Sharma breaks down the best bets, value plays, and key betting angles for this week’s fixtures.
Wimbledon 2026 preview: Jannik Sinner's title defence, Williams sisters' return and more
The 2026 Wimbledon Championships begin on Monday, June 29, and conclude on Sunday, July 12.
The tournament was founded in 1877, making it the oldest Grand Slam event in tennis.
Wimbledon remains one of the most prestigious tournaments in the sport, renowned for its rich history, traditions and iconic status.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jack George outlines the key storylines heading into Wimbledon 2026.
Five eye-catching first-round matches at Wimbledon 2026: Serena Williams, Jannik Sinner and more
Wimbledon 2026 commences in only three days, spanning from June 29 to July 12. The draw for both the gentlemen's and women's tournament was drawn on Friday, June 26 – and it has produced the possibility of some blockbuster showdowns and surprise exits.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jack George highlights the fixtures you won't want to miss.
World Cup 2026: Why England need to make a statement against Panama
After early signs of promise in their first game versus Croatia, England were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Ghana on Tuesday, June 23.
They meet Panama on Saturday, June 25, in a game where they can’t do anything else but win.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Hibbert looks at why Thomas Tuchel’s team have to get it right.
Soccer opinion: What's next for West Ham? Ownership changes, transfers and more
Following the disastrous season of 2025/26, which saw West Ham get relegated in 18th place, lasting change is desperately needed.
Relegation from the Premier League means the Hammers will play in the EFL Championship next season, for the first time since the 2011/12 season.
The relegation came as a huge disappointment, especially as West Ham had won the UEFA Conference League only three years ago.
Sports News Blitz writer and West Ham fan Jack George dissects what the future holds for West Ham United.
Cricket betting tips: Best bets for England vs New Zealand and Ireland vs India
England and New Zealand meet in a series-deciding third Test at Trent Bridge, while India begin their two-match T20I series against Ireland in Belfast.
Here, Sports News Blitz cricket expert Himanshu Sharma breaks down the best bets, value plays, and key betting angles for this week’s fixtures.