- Jul 1 England bans smoking in all public indoor spaces: with the ban already in force in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, this means it is illegal to smoke in indoor public places anywhere in the UK. Australia implements a similar ban.
US Women's Golf Open
Jul 1 US Open Women's Golf, Pine Needles: American Christie Kerr wins by 2 strokes from Lorena Ochoa & Angela Park
- Jul 3 "Just Got Started Lovin' You" single released by James Otto (Billboard Song of the Year 2008)
Swiss Win America's Cup
Jul 3 America's Cup: Swiss defender Alinghi beats Team New Zealand by 1 second to take the series 5-2 off Valencia, Spain
Summorum Pontificum
Jul 7 Pope Benedict XVI issues the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum, removing restrictions on celebrating the old Tridentine Mass
- Jul 7 Sprint-Nextel and NASCAR announce NASCAR Nextel Cup Series renamed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2008
Wimbledon Women's Tennis
Jul 7 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Lowest ever seeds contest final, Venus Williams (20) beats Marion Bartoli (18) 6-4, 6-1
Live Earth Concert
Jul 7 Worldwide charity concert event "Live Earth" takes place at 12 venues on seven continents; performers include: Genesis, Keith Urban; Foo Fighters; John Legend; Melissa Etheridge; Dave Matthews Band; The Police; Roger Waters; Madonna; Alicia Keys; Garth Brooks; Crowded House; Jack Johnson; Shakira; Soweto Gospel Choir; Angélique Kidjo; UB40; Jack Johnson; Linkin Park; Rihanna; Pharrel Williams; Yusef Islam; Sarah Brightman; and Nunatak
US Senior Golf Open
Jul 8 US Senior Open Men's Golf, Whistling Straits: Brad Bryant wins by 3 strokes from Ben Crenshaw
Wimbledon Men's Tennis
Jul 8 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: Roger Federer of Switzerland wins the singles title for 5th consecutive year; beats Spaniard Rafael Nadal 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2
- Jul 10 78th All Star Baseball Game: AL wins 5-4 at AT&T Park, San Francisco
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Jul 11 "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", the 5th film based on the books by J. K. Rowling is released
- Jul 11 15th ESPY Awards: LaDainian Tomlinson, Taryne Mowatt win
- Jul 14 Russia withdraws from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
- Jul 15 Copa América Final, Maracaibo, Venezuela: Defending champions Brazil win their 8th title with a 3-0 win over Argentina
- Jul 15 MLB Philadelphia Phillies lose to visiting St. Louis Cardinals, 10-2 to become the first franchise in major American sport with 10,000 all-time losses
- Jul 16 An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 and aftershock of 6.6 occurs off the Niigata coast, Japan, killing 8 people with at least 800 injured and damaging a nuclear power plant. See 2007 Chūetsu offshore earthquake.
- Jul 17 TAM Airlines (TAM Linhas Aéreas) Flight 3054 crashes upon landing during rain in São Paulo. Brazil's deadliest aviation accident to date with estimated 199 deaths.
Mad Men Debuts
Jul 19 TV drama "Mad Men" starring Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, January Jones, and Vincent Kartheiser, debuts on cable network AMC
Final Harry Potter Book Published
Jul 21 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in the series by J. K. Rowling is published worldwide. 11 million copies sell in 24 hrs
NZ Win Tri Nations Rugby
Jul 21 New Zealand beats Australia, 26-12 at Eden Park, Auckland to win their 3rd consecutive Tri Nations Rugby Series; flyhalf Dan Carter lands 7 penalties for the All Blacks
Contract of Interest
Jul 25 Patrick Kane signs a three-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks
- Jul 25 Pratibha Patil is sworn in as India's 1st female President
- Jul 26 40th San Diego Comic-Con International opens at San Diego Convention Center
- Jul 27 Two News helicopters from Phoenix, Arizona television stations KNXV and KTVK collide over Steele Indian School Park in central Phoenix while covering a police chase; there were no survivors. Worst civil aviation incident in Phoenix history.
- Jul 29 94th Tour de France won by Alberto Contador of Spain
Senior Open Championship
Jul 29 British Senior Open Men's Golf, Muirfield: Tom Watson wins his 3rd Open Senior title by 1 shot from Mark O'Meara and Stewart Ginn
- Jul 31 Boston Celtics obtain former MVP and 10-time All-Star Kevin Garnett in a 7-for-1 deal with Minnesota Timberwolves; then the NBA's biggest ever trade for one player
- Jul 31 Operation Banner, the presence of the British Army in Northern Ireland comes to an end, longest-running British Army operation ever
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