Manchester United’s 2026 preparations continue this weekend against La Liga side Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, Sweden

Manchester United’s preparations for the new season are set to step up a notch this week when they take on Atletico Madrid. So far, it has been a mixed bag of results for the Reds as they embark on their pre-season fixtures. They began their friendlies with a low-key 1-0 defeat to Wrexham.

However, United shook off the cobwebs on Friday night as they thrashed Rosenborg 5-0. This week, the Reds will be back at Carrington to undertake more training sessions before jetting off to Sweden’s capital Stockholm for their toughest test yet on August 1.

Ivory Coast international Amad is one of a few senior players expected to return to Carrington this week, following his round of 32 exit. As those returnees get up to speed, United could hand out three debuts in Scandinavia. MEN Sport has taken a look at who could be in line for their first appearances for the club.

JJ Gabriel

He has been the talk of United since his exceptional season for the academy. The 15-year-old scored 29 goals in all competitions and regardless of the age group, those figures will get people talking. The fact Gabriel was a regular for the U18s last season has only added to the excitement.

On Friday night, Gabriel was included in the squad for the trip to Trondheim. He was one of just three players not to feature, but the forward took it in his stride. The teenager is expected to train with the first-team again this week ahead of the travelling squad announcement on Friday.

There has been a suggestion Gabriel will get minutes this summer, especially with the current lack of options. So perhaps Saturday will mark his senior debut.

Tynan Thompson

Some transfers are completed because an unexpected opportunity arises. Thompson’s arrival from Tottenham fits that category.

Family reasons meant Thompson wanted to move away from north London and so, United have managed to pick up a quality player. At 18, the winger has already shown signs of his potential.

He scored goals for fun in the UEFA Youth League last season and even made it onto the bench in the Champions League. Upon his arrival at United, the club informed him that senior opportunities are there to be earned immediately. A debut against Atleti would see the Reds keep their end of the bargain.

Karl Darlow

Many will have expected to see the former Leeds goalkeeper in action already. However, a minor, pre-existing issue has meant the Reds have been careful with his workload.

The Wales international has not yet joined a travelling squad this pre-season but United will hope he has recovered sufficiently to feature against Atletico Madrid.

Radek Vitek is edging closer to an exit and with Senne Lammens still on his post-World Cup break, this should be the perfect time for Darlow to get minutes in the tank.

Andrea Pirlo was expected to be appointed as Italy’s new head coach following their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

However, there is serious doubt after scrutiny over his commercial ties to Russia triggered a political storm.

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According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Paolo Maldini’s position within the Italian Football Federation is also reportedly at risk.

Pirlo had emerged as the overwhelming choice to replace Luciano Spalletti following an extensive search led by newly-appointed technical director Maldini.

Alongside advisor Leonardo, Maldini viewed the former Juventus boss as the ideal candidate to spearhead a long-term rebuild of the Azzurri.

However, what initially appeared to be a straightforward appointment has become increasingly complicated due to Pirlo’s connections with Russian betting company Fonbet.

He serves as a global ambassador, and his association with United FC president Sergey Lomakin is under the microscope.

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The controversy has reportedly escalated beyond the football scene, creating a political headache for newly elected FIGC president Giovanni Malago.

The growing backlash has raised doubts over whether Pirlo’s appointment can proceed despite receiving the backing of the federation’s football department.

There is a growing belief that concerns surrounding Pirlo’s Russian links could be used as justification to overturn Maldini’s recommendation in favour of a more established figure.

Malago is understood to have explored alternative options, including Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte, but Maldini reportedly rejected both.

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He sees Conte as a short-term appointment whose projects rarely extend beyond two seasons, while doubts remain after Mancini’s controversial departure from the national team in 2023.

The situation has also cast uncertainty over Maldini’s own future.

The former AC Milan director only accepted the technical director role after being assured he would have significant influence over selecting Italy’s next manager.

Should that authority be undermined, reports suggest he could consider stepping away from the project altogether.

Former Milan executive Leonardo could now be tasked with easing tensions between Maldini and the federation if Pirlo’s candidacy ultimately collapses.

After both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury won their respective interim fights this weekend, they are expected to push ahead with a long-awaited all-British heavyweight clash.

Fury stopped Maurisz Wach in seven rounds on Friday night in Pattaya, Thailand. The next day, ‘AJ’ took on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Twenty seconds in, he was on the canvas.

Albania’s Prenga scored another knockdown before the first round was finished, but came out in the second much more tentative, allowing the recovered Joshua to snatch back control and produce a knockout and save the Fury fight plans.

Despite the victory, the performance perhaps asked more questions of ‘AJ’ than it answered, who was returning to the ring for the first time since a traumatic car crash in Nigeria in which two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

Speaking to Boxing King Media post-fight, Prenga praised Joshua for the win.

“I’m glad I shared the ring with him. He’s a legend, a great fighter. Congratulations to him and I wish him good luck if he fights Fury.”

Asked how he thinks his rival now fares against Fury, Prenga predicted another ‘AJ’ KO.

“I think AJ is gonna win. Knockout.”

The fight may be finalised and announced as early as next week, but the location is reportedly still up in the air. It is also unclear whether or not Fury or Joshua, following their action this weekend, remain happy with a target date of November.

If and when it does happen, it is widely accepted that both men are past their best. Joshua, however, has dismissed any questions raised about his punch resistance.

Galway Races begin on Monday evening as the 53-race seven-day festival, worth €2.2 million in prize money, gets underway at Ballybrit.

There will be four evening starts this week – Monday (5.10pm), Tuesday (4.40pm), Wednesday (5.05pm) and Friday (5pm).

The cards on Thursday (2.10pm), Saturday (2pm) and Sunday (2pm) will all begin in the early afternoon.

The Tote Galway Plate on Wednesday, worth €270,000, and the Guinness Galway Hurdle on Thursday(Ladies’ Day) are the week’s features. The latter, at €300,000, is the richest hurdle race run in Ireland in the season.

Monday evening’s feature contest is the €110,000 Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap, won last year by Alan O’Sullivan aboard Filey Bay for trainer Emmet Mullins.

Colm Quinn BMW is the main sponsor on Tuesday, with the €120,000 Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap, won by Dunum for Natalia Luipini and Séamie Heffernan, the second day feature on an all-flat card.

The Grade 3 Tote Galway Plate, a race Closutton handler Willie Mullins has won nine times in the past twelve years, will highlight a mixed flat/jumps card.

Thursday is Ladies’ Day

Ladies’ Day on Thursday, one of the busiest racing days in Ireland each year, will feature the €300,000 Guinness Galway Hurdle. Willie Mullins has taken the Grade 3 contest five times in the last dozen years, while Tony Martin has been the winning trainer four times in that period, most recently when Tudor City won for a second time in 2022.

The €110,000 Guinness Handicap over a mile and a half on Friday evening has seen seven different winning trainers in the past seven years.

The Weekender

Boyle Sports sponsor the featured Handicap Hurdle on Saturday afternoon. This Listed race has been claimed by Willie Mullins on four occasions in the past 10 years, and twice by his great rival Gordon Elliott.

On Mad Hatters Fun Day (Sunday) – the final day of the 2026 festival, the Irish Stallion Farms DBF Ahonoora Handicap over seven furlongs is the closing-day feature.

Ado McGuinness trained horses are usually worth watching in this as the Lusk handler has been triumphant three times in the last decade – each time with Current Option (2020-’23).

Various ticket options and packages are still available for each of the seven days.

Further ticket information is available on the Galway Races website.

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Athletics campaign begins with high hopes

India’s athletics challenge officially begins on Monday, with several top names entering the fray.

Sprint specialist Gurindervir Singh will be the first Indian track athlete in action in the men’s 100m heats, while Murali Sreeshankar and Lokesh Satyanathan will compete in the men’s long jump qualification.

Attention will then shift to Tejas Shirse, who begins his campaign in the men’s 110m hurdles heats. Should he qualify, he will return later in the night for the medal race.

The marquee athletics event for India, however, will be the men’s high jump final, where Tejaswin Shankar, Sarvesh Anil Kushare, and J Aadarsh Ram will all be aiming for podium finishes.

Weightlifting looks to continue medal surge

Weightlifting has already delivered two medals for India, and Monday presents three more opportunities to add to that tally.

Gyaneshwari Yadav opens India’s challenge in the women’s 53kg final before experienced lifter Bindyarani Devi competes in the women’s 58kg category.

The day’s weightlifting action concludes with V Ajaya Babu in the men’s 79kg final, where another podium finish will be on India’s radar.

Protistha Samanta targets gymnastics medal

One of India’s brightest gymnastics prospects, Protistha Samanta, will compete in the women’s vault final after an impressive qualification campaign.

Samanta had finished among the leading qualifiers after producing strong vaults despite competing with a heavily strapped leg. She will now look to convert that form into a Commonwealth Games medal.

Busy day in the boxing ring

India’s boxing squad will have four representatives in action.

Sachin Siwach continues his campaign in the men’s 60kg category after winning his opening bout, while Ankush, Sakshi Choudhary and Sumit Kundu begin their respective Commonwealth Games campaigns in the Round of 16.

Swimming and bowls continue

Veteran swimmer Sajan Prakash begins his campaign in the men’s 200m butterfly heats. If he advances, he will return later in the night for the final.

In lawn bowls, Putul Sonowal resumes his men’s singles sectional campaign against Kenya’s Anwar Hamada, knowing every match is crucial in the race for qualification.

Para athletics and wheelchair basketball also in focus

India will also compete in two para athletics medal events.

Sharmila Dhankar and Shilpa K Shyla will feature in the women’s shot put F57 final, while Rakeshbhai Bhatt and Shreyansh Trivedi contest the men’s 100m T38 final.

At just 21 years old, and only 24 days as a professional golfer, Jackson Koivun can call himself a PGA Tour winner.

And he held off Scottie Scheffler, the world No.1 golfer, to do it at the 3M Open on TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota on Sunday.

Koivun shot 5-under in his final round to shoot 25-under to win the tournament, while Scheffler’s 8-under final round wasn’t enough as he finished three strokes behind a golfer that could become a household name quite soon.

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Jackson Koivun of the United States plays a shot from the second tee during the final round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 26, 2026, in Blaine, Minn. (Getty Images)

Koivun propelled himself into prime position to win the tournament when he posted a 10-under 61 on Saturday in Round 3 to move to 20-under for the tournament. It was a tournament record during the round, too, as his 28 on the back-nine was the best score ever posted in those holes.

It was clear he was focused on winning it all during his final round, especially after going 3-under through his first six holes on the day.

MICHAEL KIM NAILS DRAMATIC BIRDIE ON THE 18TH TO MAKE PGA TOUR SCORING HISTORY AT 3M OPEN

Koivun would post two birdies on the back-nine, and finish with a bogey-free final round to put the icing on his breakout tournament of his very early PGA Tour career.

Now, after becoming a pro earlier this month, Koivun just cashed a $1.584 million check for winning what he hopes will be the first of many PGA Tour events.

Jackson Koivun of the United States walks to the 18th green during the final round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn., on July 26, 2026. (Getty Images)

“All throughout the crowd, I kept hearing, ‘Scottie’s coming, Scottie’s coming,’” Koivun admitted after his victory on the CBS broadcast. “I just tried to tone that out and keep playing the golf I knew I could.”

It’s hard to block out when Scheffler’s climbing a leaderboard because it usually ends in his favor. After going 3-under on the front nine, Scheffler turned his putter into final-round gold on the turn, draining birdie putts on the first three holes of the back-nine. He cooled off, if you wish to call it that, before birdying two of his final three holes to give himself a chance.

Koivun didn’t blink, scoring par on his final two holes including the Hole 18 par-5, where he understandably pumped his fist after draining a final par putt to seal victory.

Jackson Koivun of the United States acknowledges the crowd after making birdie on the fourth green during the final round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 26, 2026, in Blaine, Minn. (Getty Images)

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Winning isn’t anything new for the now-former top amateur in the world, but it’s a different feeling when it’s on the PGA Tour for the first time.

“I just love this game. I love golf, it’s everything I do. I have a tough time getting away from it,” he explained. “…It’s been love at first sight.”

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