England’s World Cup fixtures changed overnight after FIFA shake-up

England’s rivals in the round of 32 at the World Cup have been officially confirmed following the end of the group stages. The Three Lions will face DR Congo in the first knockout round of the tournament as they continue with their bid for silverware.

Thomas Tuchel’s men enjoyed an unbeaten group stage, topping Group L with seven points after a draw with Ghana and victories against Croatia and Panama. A 2-0 triumph over Panama in their final group match sealed their place at the top of Group L.

Attention will now turn to their next game against DR Congo, which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1. The fixture will be played in Atlanta with a 5pm UK time kick-off confirmed.

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Senegal had appeared likely to be England’s next opponents. But FIFA’s rule change for the 2026 World Cup means there are so many moving parts with only eight of the 12 third-placed teams progressing.

Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa scored twice as DR Congo beat Uzbekistan to progress to the knockout rounds and they will now face the Three Lions instead of Senegal.

England’s fixture is not the only one to have been confirmed, with all 16 round of 32 matches now finalised following the conclusion of the group stages.

A number of ties had already been rubber-stamped in the days prior to Saturday night’s fixtures, with co-hosts the United States set to come up against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Several other high-profile clashes are also on the horizon in the next round. These include Brazil vs Japan, France vs Sweden and the Netherlands vs Morocco.

Defending champions Argentina will go up against Cape Verde, while the Ivory Coast are set to take on Norway in the opening knockout round of the competition. England’s draw also sets up a potential last-16 encounter with the winners of the Mexico-Ecuador match, provided they progress past DR Congo.

There is also the possibility of a quarter-final showdown against Brazil, Ivory Coast, Japan or Norway.

Should Tuchel’s side advance that far, the Three Lions would then face a semi-final tie against one of Argentina, Cape Verde, Australia, Egypt, Switzerland, Algeria, Colombia or Ghana.

The full World Cup round of 32 draw

1. South Africa vs Canada
2. Germany vs Paraguay
3. Netherlands vs Morocco
4. Brazil vs Japan
5. France vs Sweden
6. Ivory Coast vs Norway
7. Mexico vs Ecuador
8. England vs DR Congo
9. USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
10. Belgium vs Senegal
11. Portugal vs Croatia
12. Spain vs Austria
13. Switzerland vs Algeria
14. Argentina vs Cape Verde
15. Colombia vs Ghana
16. Australia vs Egypt

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Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.

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Lozan Barbers, on Edgmont Avenue, has been shortlisted for The Bolton News Best Barber Shop Award 2026.

Owner Mahmod Omar opened the business in March 2002 after completing a business management course through Bolton Enterprise Service.

Mahmod said: “Yes, I feel very well, very good. It means a lot.

Poster (Image: NQ)

“I proudly opened Lozan Barbers, a venture that has since become a cornerstone of the local community.

“Over the years, I have navigated numerous challenges and opportunities, always conducting my business legally and with the utmost professionalism.

“I have maintained an impeccable record, with no legal or regulatory issues, and have earned the trust and respect of my clients and neighbors alike.”

The barber shop has welcomed customers from across Bolton since opening, and Mahmod has remained its owner throughout.

Mahmod loves his barbershop (Image: Mahmod Omar)

In his finalist application, Mahmod said he has also mentored aspiring entrepreneurs and taught barbering skills to students, with many going on to open their own businesses.

Mahmod added: “It’s customers, all different, different customers, all Asian, English, any Kurdish, all different, different people.

“I’m happy with my job.

“I am passionate about giving back. I have volunteered extensively, mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs and teaching barbering skills to students.

“Many of these individuals have gone on to open their own shops and establish thriving businesses, a testament to the effectiveness of our community-focused approach.

“Lozan Barbers is more than just a barbershop; it is a welcoming space where everyone feels valued and respected.”

Mahmod said he has worked as a barber since 1995.

In his application, he described Lozan Barbers as a cornerstone of the local community and said he has always aimed to create a welcoming space where everyone feels valued and respected.

Readers can vote for their favourite finalist by picking up a copy of today’s Bolton News.

A force spokesperson said: “Due to the nature of the incident, local officers were in contact with officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London as they conducted their initial enquiries. While investigators are keeping an open mind as to any potential motive, the incident is not being treated as terrorism.”

England’s opponents for the round of 32 stage at the World Cup have been confirmed

England’s opponents in the round of 32 at the World Cup have been officially confirmed following the conclusion of the group stages. The Three Lions are set to face DR Congo in the first knockout round of the tournament as they continue their campaign across the Atlantic.

Thomas Tuchel’s side enjoyed a successful group-stage, finishing top of Group L with seven points after victories over Croatia and Panama, plus a draw with Ghana. England sealed a 2-0 win over Panama in their final group fixture on Saturday night, which confirmed their position at the top of Group L.

Now, they will turn their attention to the next round and a meeting with DR Congo. The clash is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1 in Atlanta, with a 5pm kick-off (BST).

Senegal had appeared likely to be England’s next opponents. But overnight results have since determined that the Three Lions will instead face DR Congo. after they stunning Uzbekistan 3-1 in the 3am kick-off, with Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa scoring twice.

Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!

It is not only England’s fixture that has been confirmed, with all 16 round-of-32 ties now set following the conclusion of the group stages. A number of matches had already been confirmed in the days prior to Saturday night’s fixtures, with co-hosts the United States due to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Several other eye-catching ties are scheduled for the next round including Brazil vs Japan, France vs Sweden and the Netherlands vs Morocco. Defending champions Argentina will face off against Cape Verde, while the Ivory Coast will go up against Norway in the first knockout round of the tournament.

The draw also presents England with a potential last-16 clash against the winners of Mexico and Ecuador, should they progress past DR Congo. There is also the possibility of a quarter-final encounter against either Brazil, Ivory Coast, Japan or Norway.

Should the Three Lions advance that far, a semi-final berth would pit them against one of Argentina, Cape Verde, Australia, Egypt, Switzerland, Algeria, Colombia or Ghana.

The full World Cup round of 32 draw

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1. South Africa vs Canada
2. Germany vs Paraguay
3. Netherlands vs Morocco
4. Brazil vs Japan
5. France vs Sweden
6. Ivory Coast vs Norway
7. Mexico vs Ecuador
8. England vs DR Congo
9. USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
10. Belgium vs Senegal
11. Portugal vs Croatia
12. Spain vs Austria
13. Switzerland vs Algeria
14. Argentina vs Cape Verde
15. Colombia vs Ghana
16. Australia vs Egypt

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The incident took place at Catterick Garrison at about 2.15pm on June 4, when a man drove off without paying for fuel.

Officers are appealing for help to identify the person pictured in the CCTV still as they may have information that could help the investigation.

Email mark.burrows@northyorkshire.police.uk if you know who they are.

Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.

Quote reference number 12260102948 when contacting police about this crime.

It has been listed as an Asset of Community Value

A Cambridgeshire town community centre could soon be put up for sale. Fenland District Council has confirmed that the owner of Whittlesey Youth and Community Centre in Scaldgate intends to sell the property.

The community centre has been listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). This means the building’s main use has recently been or is presently used for the local community and could do so in the future.

Due to this, an interim moratorium period has been triggered and will last until July 29, 2026. During this time, community interest groups can bid for ownership of the group centre.

In a statement, Fenland District Council said: “During this period, a community interest group may request in writing (in the format specified by the relevant legislation) to be treated as a potential bidder for the asset.

“Should such an application be received (which complied with the legislative requirements) the full moratorium period specified by the legislation will expire on 28 November, 2026.”

A Community Interest Company, Phoenix Youth Provision said they “don’t want the council to sell it for housing, we want it to return to its original purpose, a youth centre for our young people”.

If no bids or expressions of interest are submitted by the deadline, the ACV will not stop the sale and the owner can look to sell the property on the open market.

The University of York has applied to install 198 solar panels on the roof of the sports centre in its Heslington campus.

Its application lodged with City of York Council stated the panels would generate an estimated roughly 91 kilowatt-peak (kWp) in power.

Solar panels would be installed on the roof of York Sports Centre, in James Way, if the council approves them.

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They would mostly be flat and would sit at 25cm above the roof at their highest point.

The panels would feature anti-reflective coating to help increase the amount of light absorbed into the cells.

Each bifacial double glass module solar panel would be capable of generating up to 590W.

Plans for the panels follow a separate application from the university to install eight welcome signs at key locations across its West and East campuses.

Plans showing solar panels of the roof of York Sports Centre, in James Way, at the University of York’s Campus West in Heslington (Image: University of York/City of York Council planning portal)

The university stated the signs were designed to reinforce campus identity and improve wayfinding but its plans have been withdrawn following their submission in January.

Council planning officers stated in early June they would take no further action on the plans.

An application lodged by the university to install a sculpture by a 20th Century British artist in its grounds was approved in April.

The university applied to put Michael Kenny’s work Original Sin in its campus grounds between Derwent College and Heslington Hall.

BEAVER, Utah (AP) — Wildfire activity has intensified across the western United States, as consecutive days of hot, dry and windy weather have fueled flames in Utah, Arizona and elsewhere as new fires popped up across the region.

The largest blaze, the Cottonwood Fire, was burning in rugged terrain in southwest Utah. It ballooned Saturday to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) after marching through canyons and mountainsides, destroying part of a ski resort and other summer cabins along the way.

Authorities in Beaver County began working with fire teams on Saturday to assess the extent of the damage, but no estimates were immediately available. Gov. Spencer Cox in a post on social media called it bleak, but he thanked crews for what he called “several miraculous stops and saves.”

The cliffs and steep slopes have made the job even harder, said Alyssa Mason, a spokesperson assigned to the fire.

“It’s hard to get dozers and other heavy equipment into that. It’s hard to get engines into that,” she said. “It doesn’t make it impossible to firefight, but it does just kind of slow things down.”

Hundreds of firefighters have been arriving in the arid state to battle new starts as well as those that have been growing because of what forecasters called critical fire weather — dangerously low humidity levels, warm temperatures and gusty winds.

The danger is even higher this year because of Utah’s record-low snowpack and its warmest winter on record. Much of the West is grappling with similar conditions, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

From Alaska to Florida, crews worked Saturday to corral dozens of fires, including three dozen that were classified as large and uncontained.

Nationally, nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) have burned since the start of the year. That is more than the 10-year average.

The conditions in Utah were critical enough for Gov. Spencer Cox to declare an emergency earlier this week and clear the way for the state to ban fireworks ahead of the July Fourth holiday. The order comes as Utah is experiencing one of the most severe wildfire seasons in recent history, fueled by historic drought conditions.