The World Cup quarterfinals are set and here’s the thing nobody in golf wants to admit out loud: England might actually be good enough to make the final. And if they do, the R&A has a problem.
The Open Championship, the fourth major of the year, is scheduled for its final round on Sunday, July 19. That happens to be the same day as the World Cup final. The kickoff at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is set for 8 p.m. local time. The final pairing at Royal Birkdale typically tees off around 2:30 p.m. local, which means the trophy ceremony wraps up maybe around 6 or 7 p.m. That leaves very little time for fans to find a pub or a telly to watch England potentially play for the biggest prize in soccer.
The Sports Business Journal reported earlier this week, citing the London Times, that R&A officials have discussed starting the final round earlier than normal. The idea is to get the tournament finished with enough of a gap that golf fans can also be football fans. The R&A has not confirmed any change yet. The officials said any adjustments would be unnecessary if England loses to Norway in the quarterfinals on Saturday or gets knocked out in the semifinals.
But here’s the catch. England is playing well. Harry Kane is in form. The draw opened up in their favor. And if they beat Norway, they’d face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semifinals. That’s not a gimme, but it’s also not the nightmare bracket it could have been.
England’s run has been one of the biggest stories in European sports this summer. Every person in the UK is aware of the potential clash. The R&A is aware of it too. The statement from the R&A, as reported by the Times, put it plainly: they will consider an earlier finish if England is playing later that day. The potential for a real conflict increases if the Open goes to a playoff, which could push the finish even later.
For now, nothing is set. England plays Norway on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. If they win, expect a lot more talk about tee times and kickoff times in the days that follow.
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