Get ready to combat the World Cup withdrawals

Come Monday morning, we're going to have a problem.

After about five weeks of near-constant, world-class soccer action, suddenly the days are going to seem very empty, and the withdrawal symptoms will start to kick in hard.

Admittedly, there are positives. We won't have to listen to that Oasispenned dirge Wonderwall anymore, and, maybe, some of those newly minted feuds in the family group chat over selection disagreements and VAR controversies will start to repair themselves.

However, that itch for sporting excellence will still need scratching. And, with NFL preseason still a way off, and the NBA transfer market hardly a riveting watch, there's little to satiate those cravings.

Well, if you're not suffering from "football fatigue", there's the 2026 Footgolf Scottish Open at MacDonald Cardrona Resort in Peebles, Scotland, to get the juices flowing. Set against the scenic mountains of the Scottish Borders, the 54 hole competition will take place from July 24-26.

As the name suggests, this is golf played with a soccer ball on a specially designed course. Last year's event was an international extravaganza, with top players from England, Scotland, Wales, Norway, Hungary, the Netherlands and Turkiye battling for top honors. The videos online might help fill the hole left by the World Cup.

Perhaps, for those who are missing the incisiveness of Jude Bellingham, the instinctive sharpness of Lionel Messi or the pinpoint accuracy of Kylian Mbappe, axe throwing will hit the spot.

The World Axe Throwing League is already underway, and most tournaments are streamed live online through platforms like YouTube and Facebook.

The next event is set for Billings, Montana, on July 26, when Ox Indoor Axe Throwing hosts the third annual "Axe Out Cancer" tournament, complete with cosmic targets and black lights. Half of all registration fees from the tourney will be donated to help support the fight against cancer, so you can feel good about sitting in front of the laptop in your boxer shorts in the early hours of the morning watching people hurl hatchets at neon targets.

If, though, you're missing the golden retriever energy of Erling Haaland, and if you can wait just a couple more weeks, Aug 1 marks the start of the 2026 World Dog Surfing Championship. The annual event at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, California, gathers the top canine wave-riders from around the globe. Cacao, a chocolate Labrador from Brazil, won last year's event, while dog surfing pioneer and veteran of 13 years on the breakers, a pit bull named Faith, rode in at third place.

"But, James," you say, "it absolutely has to be competitive soccer."

Well, you're in luck, because you can still watch what vaguely passes for that in the United States and China.

With no real jeopardy to speak of, after a swath of points deductions before the season began that ensured it was already a done deal 10 games in, the Chinese Super League continues to run its course.

While the stakes are now incredibly low, there are still games to get riled up about. On July 25, there's a very tasty clash — the big Shanghai derby between Port and Shenhua, respectively last season's champion and runner-up.

The following day, champion-elect with 11 games remaining, Chengdu Rongcheng welcomes Beijing Guo'an, last season's CFA Cup champion. The latter will be looking to exact some revenge for a late, two-goal defeat back in April.

In the US, the MLS has already resumed following its midseason break to accommodate the World Cup.

On Saturday, if you're not interested in France and England's third-place playoff, the Los Angeles "El Trafico" derby between LA Galaxy and LAFC could be the first chance to see LAFC's Son Heungmin in action following South Korea's limp group stage exit at the World Cup.

And, on July 23, Messi's Inter Miami takes on Chicago Fire, which now features the scorching right foot of Poland great Robert Lewandowski.

That should just about carry us all through to the early August club friendlies, which will provide a perfect aperitif to the start of the real league action.

Contact the writer at mccarthy@chinadaily.com.cn