Ben Collins

Rui Oliveira won the final stage of the Volta a Portugal in Porto and dedicated the victory to the family, friends and teammates of 19-year-old British rider Finlay Tarling, who died after an accident during stage eight. The race's final two stages proceeded with Tarling's family's blessing, while his team, NSN Development, withdrew. France's Alexis Guerin retained the race lead to win the overall title, and Oliveira secured his first professional road victory in his home city.

Mexico defeated Great Britain 20-19 in the women's bronze-medal game at the 2026 Flag Football World Championships in Düsseldorf, securing qualification for the sport's Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. Great Britain recovered from a 13-0 deficit and briefly took the lead late in the game, but Emily Kemp's potential winning catch was ruled out of bounds. Canada beat the USA in the final to win the women's world title, while the USA qualified as hosts alongside Canada and Mexico. Great Britain's men finished 13th, and the USA won the men's championship.

Great Britain’s women’s flag football team defeated Panama 26–20 to reach the World Championship semi-finals, where they surrendered a 21–7 lead and lost 27–21 to defending champions the United States. Because the USA qualifies automatically for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as host, Great Britain can still secure the remaining Olympic place by beating Mexico in Sunday’s bronze-medal game. The men’s team will play Brazil for 13th place after splitting two ranking matches.

American swimmer Kate Douglass broke the women's 50m freestyle world record twice in one day at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, winning the final in 23.19 seconds after setting a 23.49 mark in the heats. Gretchen Walsh finished second and Australia's Meg Harris third. At the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, Germany's 19-year-old Johannes Liebmann broke the men's 1500m freestyle record by nearly four seconds, becoming the first swimmer to finish the event in under 14 minutes 30 seconds.

Tennessee Titans cornerback Nazeeh Johnson says fertility medication led to a positive test for a banned performance-enhancing substance, resulting in a six-game unpaid NFL suspension. Johnson, who says he and his wife recently lost a baby during fertility treatment, stated that he was unaware the medication contained a banned substance and urged players to obtain approval before taking any medication. He can participate in preseason activities, with his suspension beginning on 30 August and eligibility for reinstatement on 19 October.

The Rugby Football Union has postponed the start of England’s community rugby season from 5 September to the week beginning 21 September because drought conditions have made many pitches unsafe for full-contact activity. With 71.3% of England in drought and July the driest since records began, the RFU says the delay prioritizes player welfare and gives clubs, schools and colleges greater certainty.

Adam Ramsay-Peaty failed to reach the European Aquatics Championships 50m breaststroke semi-finals after finishing eighth in his heat and 20th overall in 27.34 seconds. The result extends a difficult run for the former Olympic and world champion, whose European unbeaten streak ended earlier in the week after fifth place in the 100m breaststroke and fourth in the mixed medley relay. Ramsay-Peaty, who has been working with coach Lisa Bates to improve his dive, said he was confused and frustrated by his performances. Fellow Briton Filip Nowacki also missed the semi-finals after finishing 18th in the heats.

Jan Choinski and Jack Draper exited the Cincinnati Open in the first round, with Choinski losing a nearly three-hour triple tie-break battle to Thiago Agustin Tirante and Draper falling to Martin Landaluce after failing to convert six set points. Cameron Norrie recovered from a slow start to defeat Dino Prizmic and set up a second-round meeting with Alexander Zverev. Draper's latest defeat came during his difficult return from a persistent arm and shoulder injury, which has caused a steep ranking decline and undermined his confidence. He is working with biomechanics expert Carlos Cano in an effort to resolve the problem.

Demi Vollering won the final 99.2km mountain stage in Nice to secure her second Tour de France Femmes title, becoming the race's first two-time champion. The FDJ-Suez rider attacked on the final ascent of the Col d'Eze and finished more than a minute ahead of her rivals, extending her overall advantage over Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney to 1 minute 18 seconds. Niewiadoma-Phinney retained second place, while Elisa Longo Borghini finished third overall. The race was marked by a late rivalry between Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney after an incident involving FDJ-Suez team-mate Celia Gery, but Vollering said her emphatic win demonstrated that her team deserved the title. Marlen Reusser's crash ended her hopes of a podium finish.

Demi Vollering won stage eight of the Tour de France Femmes after attacking on the final climb into Nice, taking the yellow jersey with one stage remaining. She finished 17 seconds ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini and Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney, and holds an eight-second overall lead over the 2024 champion. Marlen Reusser is third, 1 minute 12 seconds behind, while defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot withdrew through illness. The race concludes with a 99.2km mountain stage in Nice.

Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent, has died aged 68 in a hospital in Rosario after a long illness. He supported Lionel from his early days at Newell’s Old Boys through his move to Barcelona and subsequent career, including Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory and eight Ballon d’Or wins. Newell’s Old Boys, Barcelona and the Argentine Football Association paid tribute, while the family had previously criticized insensitive speculation about Jorge’s health.

Coventry City have signed 20-year-old Ghana midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi from Nordsjaelland for a reported club-record fee of €27m, potentially rising by a further €3m in add-ons. Yirenkyi has signed a long-term contract after an impressive season in Denmark and a breakthrough international campaign that included a World Cup goal. The versatile midfielder, who has also played at right-back, becomes Coventry's fifth summer signing following their return to the Premier League under Frank Lampard. Danish journalist Nicklas Degn described him as one of the Superliga's best players and a highly promising, tactically mature talent.

Alexandra Eala defeated top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in a weather-delayed Washington Open final to become the first Filipino to win a WTA singles title. The 21-year-old’s victory, her fifth consecutive win over a top-10 opponent, will lift her from 28th to a career-high 20th in the world rankings. Taylor Fritz won the men’s final against Spain’s Rafael Jodar to claim his 11th ATP title.

Emma Raducanu will miss the 2026 US Open while recovering from a stress fracture in her right lower leg. The British player withdrew late from Wimbledon after sustaining the injury and only recently returned to court wearing a protective boot. Her decision followed consultations with her medical team, extending a difficult year marked by persistent physical problems and illness. Raducanu has not played since reaching the Queen’s Club final in June.

Eddie Howe has stepped down as Newcastle United head coach after nearly five years, following a disappointing Premier League season in which the club finished 12th and failed to qualify for Europe. Howe leaves a strong record that includes two Champions League qualifications and Newcastle’s first domestic trophy in 70 years, the 2024-25 Carabao Cup. His coaching staff and head of performance will also depart, while Newcastle says the recruitment of a successor is at an advanced stage, with Matthias Jaissle the reported favourite. The club is also dealing with major squad changes, including the departures of Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, and possible interest from Arsenal in Bruno Guimaraes.

Lucas Herbert won the LIV UK event at the JCB Golf and Country Club in Staffordshire by six shots, shooting a final-round 62 to finish at 30 under par. Tyrrell Hatton was second and Bryson DeChambeau third. Herbert’s score was the lowest in LIV Golf’s five-year history and marked his second victory on the tour in 2026, following his win in Virginia. Hatton said he had hoped to win in front of home fans but praised Herbert’s performance.

England women defeated France 38-4 in Toulouse, overcoming an early deficit from two converted French penalties. Ellise Derbyshire and Lucy Murray each scored twice, while Ella Donnelly, Eva Hunter and Jenna Foubister also crossed for England. Izzy Rowe converted five of seven attempts, helping England lead 28-4 at half-time and preserve their unbeaten record against France. The match was England’s first of 2026 ahead of the men’s and women’s World Cups in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Cassandre Beaugrand and Matt Hauser won the women’s and men’s races respectively at the World Triathlon Championship Series event in London, each claiming a third victory in the three 2026 races they have contested. Hauser beat Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca by three seconds in a sprint finish, while Beaugrand overcame a poor swim to defeat Germany’s Lisa Tertsch by five seconds. British hopes were affected by bike crashes involving Tilly Anema and Alex Yee; Beth Potter and Georgia Taylor-Brown were the leading British women. With two races remaining before the grand final, Potter leads the women’s standings and Vilaca leads the men’s rankings.

Security intervened during a heated media day in New York after Conor Benn attempted to confront Ryan Garcia as the fighters exchanged insults ahead of their 12 September bout. Benn criticised Garcia’s temperament and questioned his toughness, while Garcia dismissed Benn’s chances and vowed to stop him early. The confrontation escalated with verbal taunts and posturing before security and Dana White separated the fighters. Benn’s father, Nigel Benn, joined in the exchange as both camps intensified the rivalry leading into the Las Vegas fight.

American boxer Hannah Rapp died after a car reversed into her while she was cycling in Texas, leading to the driver’s arrest on a manslaughter charge. The 26‑year‑old, who recently challenged Tiara Brown for the WBC featherweight title, was remembered by Brown, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman and her promoter for her talent, character and impact on the boxing community. Rapp had turned professional in 2024 while working full‑time as a fire and life safety inspector.

Ben Askren ended his athletic career with a points loss to Belal Muhammad in a wrestling match held a year after a life-threatening illness. The bout, organized by Real American Freestyle in Milwaukee, marked the end of his return following a double lung transplant and significant recovery. Muhammad praised Askren’s resilience and influence. Elsewhere, Christian Leroy Duncan secured his fifth consecutive UFC win, while other MMA events included defeats for Kamaru Usman and Lewis McGrillen, and a competitive loss for Caolan Loughran.

FIFA reports a sharp rise in harmful online content during the 2026 World Cup, identifying and removing more than seven million abusive posts, far exceeding levels seen in 2022. Over 200,000 posts were classified as abusive or threatening, and more than 1,000 serious threats were referred to authorities. The organisation’s social media protection service moderated over 53 million posts, with AI flagging more than half a million messages directed at individuals across teams, coaching staff and officials.

NFL players are urging the league to adopt more permanent natural grass fields after seven venues installed grass for the World Cup. The NFL Players Association argues that artificial turf increases injury risk and says players overwhelmingly prefer grass. Players shared messages with the hashtag #WorthTheCost, calling for stadiums to prioritize safety. The NFLPA says proven technology and resources exist to maintain high-quality grass and that players deserve the same standards provided for international competitions.

The halftime of the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain is expected to last 20 to 25 minutes due to an 11‑minute Super Bowl–style show at MetLife Stadium. FIFA is considering either fitting the performance within the regular 15‑minute break or extending the pause to about 26 minutes, the latter being more likely. The lineup includes Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy and others, with the event raising funds for FIFA’s Global Citizenship Education Fund. A large closing ceremony featuring several international artists is also planned before kickoff.

The half-time break for the 2026 World Cup final in New York New Jersey Stadium is expected to extend to 20–25 minutes to accommodate an 11‑minute Super Bowl‑style show featuring major artists. Fifa is considering either lengthening the standard interval or adding the performance after the usual 15‑minute break. Previous Fifa events have already included extended half-time shows. The final will also feature a large-scale closing ceremony ahead of kick‑off, with multiple high-profile performers scheduled. Spain has reached the final and will face the winner of England versus Argentina.

Joe Joyce’s comeback ended with an 11th‑round stoppage loss to undefeated Russian heavyweight Artem Suslenkov in Moscow after Joyce appeared to signal he no longer wished to continue. The defeat adds to a difficult run in which five of Joyce’s last six fights have ended in losses, raising concerns about his future in the sport. The event took place on the undercard of Murat Gassiev’s WBA heavyweight title defence, with several boxing figures reacting to Joyce’s performance and possible retirement trajectory.

Tim Merlier secured consecutive Tour de France stage wins with a powerful late sprint in Bergerac, overcoming poor positioning in the final 500 metres to beat Biniam Girmay and Olav Kooij. The victory brought him within 15 points of Mads Pedersen in the green jersey standings. Tadej Pogacar retained the overall lead ahead of Jonas Vingegaard after the largely flat 180.4km stage. A breakaway effort by Liam Slock was neutralised shortly before the finish. Organisers reduced the length of the upcoming ninth stage due to an intense heatwave in the Corrèze region.

Haeran Ryu surged into a three-shot lead at the Evian Championship with a record-setting 11‑under‑par 60, the lowest round in major championship history. The South Korean climbed to 19 under and remains on track for a second consecutive major title. Overnight leader Lottie Woad slipped to a tie for sixth after a one‑over 72. Akie Iwai sits three shots behind Ryu, while Mao Saigo and Brooke Henderson trail further back. Ryu’s round included nine birdies and an eagle as she moved within reach of another major victory.

Real Madrid signed Dutch right-back Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan on a four-year contract after activating his €20m release clause. The 30-year-old becomes the club’s fourth summer arrival and will provide competition for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Dumfries arrives after a successful spell at Inter, where he won multiple domestic titles and made over 200 appearances. The signing aligns with president Florentino Perez’s commitment to strengthen the defense following a trophyless season and the return of Jose Mourinho as manager.

Babar Azam has been reinstated as Pakistan’s Test captain ahead of tours to the West Indies and England, replacing Shan Masood after a period of poor team results. Selector Aaqib Javed said the committee chose Azam as the best leadership option following Masood’s difficult run. Several squad changes were made, including the omission of fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali and the inclusion of uncapped players Ubaid Shah, Awais Zafar and Ali Usman.

Mexico’s national football team returned Rolex watches gifted by YouTuber Stephen Deleonardis after determining the gesture violated FIFA ethics rules restricting non‑symbolic gifts. The squad stated the decision was mutual and clarified the gift was made independently by the creator. The incident occurred ahead of Mexico’s World Cup match against England as the team aims for its first quarter‑final appearance since 1986.

England’s arrival in Mexico City for their World Cup last‑16 match against Mexico drew boos from hundreds of local fans outside their hotel, prompting heightened security involving police and National Guard personnel. The team’s location became public despite attempts at secrecy following Ecuador’s complaint that Mexico fans had previously disrupted their sleep before a match. England’s preparations were further unsettled when FIFA briefly considered moving the match time due to expected storms, a proposal opposed by both England’s FA and Mexico’s federation. The match will proceed at the original time, with England also facing the challenge of competing at Mexico City’s high altitude.

Germany’s football federation accepted Julian Nagelsmann’s resignation after the national team’s early World Cup exit and plans to open negotiations with Jurgen Klopp, who has signaled readiness in principle to take over. Leadership figures described the team’s performance as below expectations and called for a full review. Klopp, currently serving as Red Bull’s global football director, is seen as a favored candidate despite the financial cost, following his successful period at Liverpool and high public profile during the World Cup. The federation seeks to rebuild the team and restore its competitiveness ahead of Euro 2028, with further organizational changes anticipated.

Real Madrid denied reports that they intend to sign Enzo Fernandez, stating they have made no direct or indirect efforts to secure the Chelsea midfielder. Chelsea have received no approach and would retain him despite valuing him at £120m. Fernandez is reported to be open to a move following Chelsea’s failure to qualify for Europe, but Real emphasised respect for both player and club while criticising unfounded speculation. The midfielder remains a key figure for both Chelsea and Argentina, while Real have already completed the signing of Marc Cucurella this summer.

Tottenham is undertaking a major overhaul of its squad and structure, breaking transfer records and pushing summer spending to £237m with the potential to rise by another £250m. Leadership changes, new financial rules, increased revenue from the stadium and ownership cash injections have enabled a more aggressive transfer policy. Roberto de Zerbi has gained greater influence over recruitment, with several experienced signings already completed and more planned. The club’s strengthened wage capacity and strategic sales further support its rebuild as it aims to re-establish itself among the Premier League’s top sides.

The US homeland security chief celebrated Iran’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup, saying the team had been difficult to manage due to stringent visa and travel restrictions imposed amid geopolitical tensions. Iran’s coach and captain criticised their treatment, arguing limited preparation time and constant travel disrupted their tournament. Iran were eliminated after Algeria and Austria drew, despite maintaining a chance to qualify as a third-placed team.

Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland will decide the Travelers Championship in a Monday play-off after matching scores of 21 under, following a storm delay that pushed the finish to the next day. Hovland missed a birdie chance on the 18th to win outright, while Scheffler saved par to force extra holes. Collin Morikawa surged with a nine-under 61 to finish third, with Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick also posting strong rounds. Wyndham Clark and Robert MacIntyre secured top-10 finishes as the leaderboard tightened late in the final round.