Sport

Arsenal v Coventry City: Premier League – live
Posted on Friday August 21, 2026

First game of new Premier League season, 8pm kick-off
Arsenal’s opportunity | Football Daily | Mail Scott

BREAKING NEWS: Sky Sports are still using that indefensible Kasabian racket for their Premier League theme tune. Bah. Had been very much hoping they’d replace it for the new campaign. Me, I’d pop the master tapes in the nearest brazier, and instead whack on Magic Trumpet by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, last used in this specific context by Granada Television for their gloriously Soviet-branded late-60s programme FOOTBALL. Tell me this wouldn’t improve your mood at least tenfold every time you heard it.

… and now some Cov-infused build-up. That opening-weekend fever beginning to kick in now, right?

England’s bowlers tear through Pakistan to seal crushing innings victory in first Test
Posted on Friday August 21, 2026

1st Test, D3: England, 409, bt Pakistan, 171 & 135, by inns & 103
Archer, Robinson and Tongue all take three wickets

The sounds heard coming from the Headingley area at 3.38pm on Friday were not simply the belching roars of the Western Terrace as England wrapped up a one-sided victory over Pakistan. A pressure valve had also been released.

One win against a team as ragged as this Pakistan one might not have been reason for Joe Root to hang bunting off the Dickie Bird balcony at his home ground. But given events this year – events that have thrust Root back into the Test captaincy under an interim head coach – the alternative was unthinkable.

Rugby brain injury case brought back from brink of collapse after high court ruling
Posted on Friday August 21, 2026

Governing bodies had asked for ruling to end cases
Judge says claimants ‘blameless’ for missing documents

The legal action over brain injuries in rugby has been brought back from the brink of collapse after the high court ruled to give a reprieve to hundreds of claimants who had been struck out from the case.

More than 500 claimants had breached a court order by failing to disclose necessary neurological testing information to the defendants. The players’ representative, Susan Rodway KC, had said they were “staring into the precipice” at the most recent hearing, but the judge, Senior Master Cook, has now decided, with “some hesitation”, to allow all the affected claims to continue.

Uefa and Concacaf discuss joint Nations League in latest challenge to Fifa
Posted on Friday August 21, 2026

Biennial tournament could launch as early as 2028
Confederations are seeking to oust Gianni Infantino

Uefa and Concacaf have begun talks about setting up a combined Nations League tournament featuring all 96 European and North and Central American and Caribbean countries, in another direct challenge to Fifa.

The Guardian has learned that having come together to push for Gianni Infantino’s removal in the light of the World Cup sell-off controversy, the two confederations are now working on creating their own biennial tournament, which could launch as early as 2028 after the next European Championship.

Premier League 2026-27 preview No 20: Tottenham
Posted on Friday August 21, 2026

Optimism abounds that De Zerbi and new signings can lead to a big improvement after two 17th-place finishes

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 6th (NB: this is not necessarily John Brewin’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 17th

Tour of Britain Women: Kim Le Court storms to stage three win and overall lead
Posted on Friday August 21, 2026

Mauritian rider bursts clear on final climb of Great Orme
Le Court leads GC standings with two stages remaining

Mauritius’s Kim Le Court powered to victory in stage three of the Tour of Britain in Llandudno and moved top of the general classification.

The 30-year-old AG Insurance-Soudal rider attacked with 2.5km to go on the 104.7km route from Mold to cross the summit finish on Great Orme 13 seconds ahead of Germany’s Liane Lippert (Movistar).

Contenders primed to chase down Antonelli as F1 season resumes
Posted on Friday August 21, 2026

The young Italian has a substantial lead but his rivals will not see him as being out of reach going into the Dutch GP

The Dutch Grand Prix may be hosting its final meeting on the Formula One calendar this weekend but its farewell heralds the opening of a championship run-in that is far from over. Rested, reset and ready to rumble, the title contenders in Zandvoort have an anticipatory air as they enter the sharp end of a fight which, as last season demonstrated, could yet be taken to the finale.

Resuming after F1’s summer break there is, as always, a sprightly atmosphere to the sport. Team members have had time with their families and drivers have had a chance to decompress, assess, heck, even have a bit of fun, with Mercedes’s George Russell becoming engaged to his partner, Carmen Montero Mundt, and Lando Norris out and about in Ibiza with pals. Lewis Hamilton got his head down and trained hard, proclaiming himself fitter then ever, energised and refreshed, while Max Verstappen emerged at his home race to announce a new contract with his Red Bull team.