Man United suffered a chastening opening-day defeat at Hull City and Michael Carrick will have some big selection decisions to make against Ipswich Town this weekend.

It was always expected to be something of a rollercoaster campaign with a new midfield, a new permanent manager and Champions League football back on the agenda. Manchester United will hope they have already endured their 2026/27 nadir.

The announcement that trains from Hull to Manchester had been cancelled only served to rub salt into already stinging wounds for the travelling army of United fans. There have been lower lows for United over the past few years, but Saturday was as seismic as they come in terms of reality checks.

Momentum has been slowly building at Old Trafford since Carrick’s return to the dugout. A patient approach to the transfer window has threatened to pour cold water on soaring expectations, but the business United have done has been solid and a flurry of activity is possible in the final week of the window. It would take a very special arrival for fans to forget about Saturday’s mauling.

United were both out-thought and outfought on Humberside. Hull’s set-piece planning worked a treat and in Oli McBurnie they had the focal point that United were lacking. When Bruno Fernandes is taking pot shots from 30 yards out and Harry Maguire is embarking on marauding runs to try and add some urgency to your play, you know something has gone wrong.

For all Michael Carrick was keen to stress he saw “a lot of good things” from his team, it was difficult to pick out too many positives. But Marcus Rashford’s return to competitive United action did offer a slight glimmer of light.

The former Barcelona loanee was introduced at half-time after a lethargic first-half showing from United. Carrick defended his call to hook Patrick Dorgu in place of Rashford, explaining he was “trying to do something a little bit different”, but Rashford undoubtedly added more impetus to United’s play.

Not only did Rashford look more threatening than Dorgu had, his link-up play with Luke Shaw represented United’s best opportunity of getting back into the game.

The two struck up an excellent partnership on the left before Rashford was axed from the squad by Ruben Amorim, and you’d be forgiven for forgetting they hadn’t played together in a competitive game for 20 months on Saturday’s showing. Of course Rashford can bring a different type of threat to United’s front line, but his ability to bring the best out of Shaw in an attacking sense shouldn’t be overlooked.

There is still a chance Rashford could be playing his football away from Old Trafford by the time the transfer window closes, but you get the sense nobody in the dressing room, including Carrick, wants that to happen. With the iconic No.9 shirt on his back, Rashford looks ready to make his mark back at his boyhood club.

Serena Williams, of the United States, reacts to a winning point during a women’s doubles match against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, of the United States, at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)

NEW YORK — Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz will have to wait a little longer to learn their first opponent in the US Open mixed doubles championship.

Williams and Alcaraz were drawn Sunday to face one of the teams that advances from the eight-team qualifying tournament that will be played Monday.

Williams will be returning to the US Open for the first time since 2022. The six-time singles champion and Alcaraz, who has won the men’s title twice, were awarded a wild card into the 16-team tournament Saturday.

READ: Serena Williams joins Carlos Alcaraz for US Open mixed doubles

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz gestures after the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament final tennis match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)

The first round and quarterfinals of the mixed doubles are Tuesday, with the semifinals and final on Wednesday. The winning team shares $1 million.

Facing one of the qualifiers will be a tough assignment, because most of the players in the qualifying tournament are doubles specialists. The qualifying tournament was added this year to give those types of players a chance to compete after they were almost entirely shut out last year when the U.S. Tennis Association, seeking more star power, revamped the mixed doubles and based direct entry on the players’ rankings in singles.

Two-time defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka and 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic earned the No. 1 seed after having the lowest combined singles ranking among the teams. They will face the pair of Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe in their first match.

READ: Alex Eala, Auger-Aliassime get US Open mixed doubles wild card

Americans Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz are seeded No. 2 and will open against Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud. Ruud was scheduled to play again with Iga Swiatek, after they reached the final in 2025. But Swiatek withdrew and Schnaider needed a partner after Daniil Medvedev pulled out.

The other first-round matches: Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, who are married, vs. Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime; Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli vs. Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev; Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik vs. the other team from the qualifying tournament; Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul vs. Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien; Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev vs. two-time defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori; and Shnaider and Ruud vs. Pegula and Fritz.

An ambitious strategy has paid dividends for connections of Prima Bella, the in-form mare who claimed the Toy Show Quality at Randwick by overcoming two notable rivals.

Trainer Matthew Smith elected to step up the six-year-old to Group 3 company after she had strung together consecutive benchmark wins at Flemington and Randwick, uncertain if the mare was ready for the challenge.

Prima Bella ($5.50) proved her worth, sitting just off the pace and finding the necessary determination in the straight to secure victory by a long head over Stardom ($16). The Flight Stakes winner, Apocalyptic ($2.50 favourite), put in a late effort to finish third, another three-quarters of a length behind. Observers noting the best horse racing betting sites witnessed Prima Bella defy the short-priced favourite.

Smith lauded jockey Kerrin McEvoy’s positive ride, highlighting how the mare’s substantial weight advantage over Group 1 performers Apocalyptic and Savvy Hallie, the latter finishing last and proving the race’s disappointment, was expertly used.

“Kerrin took the initiative and took luck out of it,” McEvoy said.

“You just had to make it run so the better horses were vulnerable with the weight. That’s how you had to run it, and Kerrin rode it beautifully.”

This was Prima Bella’s sixth start of a campaign that began in May, but Smith has employed a strategy of interspersed short spells in the paddock and plans to continue this approach.

While not looking beyond Saturday’s Toy Show Quality (1100m), he is keen for the mare to maintain her racing career while she is performing so strongly.

“No. That was it. I didn’t go any further. This was her grand final so it’s bloody great it has worked out,” Smith said.

“She will go up to the farm on Monday, she’ll be out in a paddock and work on a sand track up there for a week like she did this time. Nothing special, just keep her ticking over.

“Until she puts her flag up and says, I’ve had enough, we’ll keep going.”

Nash Rawiller commented that Savvy Hallie did not display her typical fighting qualities and suggested there would be a genuine reason for her below-par performance.

“Just concerning she was the first horse beaten,” Rawiller said.

“The first thing that came to my mind was that it might be atrial fibrillation.”

Tommy Berry advised punters not to discount Apocalyptic, explaining that the fast sectional times recorded by the on-pace runners made it exceptionally difficult for those from behind to make up ground.

“They ran home in 33.7 (seconds) so it is very hard to catch them when they’re doing that. She’s done a good job,” Berry said.

Compare racing odds at online bookmakers.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have found their starting quarterback: Nebraska has named quarterback Anthony Colandrea as its starter for Week 1 against Ohio, head coach Matt Rhule announced Saturday. 

Colandrea transferred to Nebraska after one season with UNLV and two with Virginia. Colandrea led the Rebels to a 10-4 overall and 6-2 Mountain West record and finished the year with 3,459 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He also finished the year as Mountain West Player of the Year. 

(Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

The Cornhuskers finished the year 7-6 overall and 4-5 in conference play. Now, the Cornhuskers look to bounce back with Colandrea and key transfers like wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer from UCLA, who led the Bruins in receiving with 50 receptions, 535 receiving yards and four touchdowns. 

For the Cornhuskers, the addition of Colandrea was a massive benefit to Rhule, who lost quarterback starting Dylan Raiola to the Oregon Ducks. While Colandrea competed against quarterbacks TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin in the offseason, Rhule made it clear that he was the clear choice as Nebraska’s QB1. 

“Anthony would play for us right now,” Rhule told reporters on Saturday. “All the quarterbacks have done a nice job. Anthony, I think the biggest thing is he’s very competitive, very fiery. He expects to win every play. He does a nice job disciplining himself to also take what’s there and makes nice checks in the run/pass game, and can throw the ball deep.”

Lateef took over for Raiola after he suffered a season-ending injury in week 9 against USC, and finished 1-3 as starting quarterback.

What Rhule also gets in Colandrea is a dual-threat quarterback, as he put up 649 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Especially as the Cornhuskers lose Emmett Johnson to the NFL Draft, Colandrea’s talent on the ground will make up for Johnson’s production last season. 

Colandrea will lead the Cornhuskers starting Week 1 against Ohio at home on Saturday, Sept. 5.

FIFA banned three Argentina players on Friday, including a 10-match suspension for midfielder Leandro Paredes, for striking Spain opponents after losing the World Cup final.

The ban for Paredes – who grabbed Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat and pushed Gavi to the ground – ranks with the FIFA sanctions for Uruguay forward Luis Suarez in 2014 as among the most severe in World Cup history.

Argentina defender Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-game ban while Thiago Almada was given a one-game suspension. FIFA imposed fines of $90,000 on Paredes and Molina, and $30,000 for Almada.

The ban for Paredes is effectively a one-year expulsion from the Argentina team as the FIFA calendar for national team schedules includes 10 games through June 2027.

All of those games could be friendlies with no competitive games currently scheduled.

Spain’s Gavi also banned for game vs England 
Gavi also was banned for one game, which is a Nations League match for Spain against England at Wembley on Sept. 26.

An Argentina coach, Roberto Ayala, also got a three-game ban and $30,000 fine.

The Argentine Football Association was fined $110,000 for a range of incidents during the World Cup including players carrying a political banner about the Falkland Islands after the semifinal win against England, and discriminatory chants by fans.

AFA also was ordered by FIFA to spend $100,000 on anti-racism projects. Argentina received $34 million in World Cup prize money from FIFA.

Argentina expected to appeal 
AFA can appeal the longer sanctions and fines to FIFA, and likely after at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“The AFA legal department will, in a timely manner, request from FIFA the grounds for the reviewable rulings in order to file appeals with the governing body’s appeal committee, while retaining the future option of appealing to the CAS as a final recourse,” the federation said in a statement.

Suarez and Simunic cases 
In 2014, Suarez was banned from all soccer for four months, including for his new club Barcelona, and eight more competition games for Uruguay for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in a World Cup group stage game in Brazil.

Paredes’ 10-game ban equals that in 2013 for Josip Simunic of Croatia after winning a World Cup qualifying playoff. Simunic used a megaphone to lead fans chanting a slogan used by the country’s pro-Nazi regime during World War II.

The on-field clashes at last month’s final in East Rutherford, New Jersey – which were charged by FIFA as assault cases – came after Argentina lost a testy final to Spain where it was mostly outplayed and barely created a scoring chance.

Spain forward Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the second period of extra time, after Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off.

FIFA disciplinary judges also ordered Argentina to play its next home game in a stadium limited to 50% of capacity. FIFA deferred a second stadium sanction and a $100,000 for probationary periods.

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai insisted that his side “should have won” against Newcastle United despite needing a 99th-minute penalty to salvage a draw.

The Reds began a new era in the Premier League under manager Andoni Iraola, though they found themselves a goal behind within five minutes after Anthony Elanga raced clear and slid past Alisson.

It was an end-to-end game at St James’ Park and neither side was able to wrestle control, though Liverpool found themselves level after a speculative drive from Cody Gakpo found the far corner.

The visitors weren’t level for long though, Yoane Wissa playing it to Joe Willock before the midfielder curled a superb finish past Alisson for 2-1.

And though Newcastle looked for a while like they might earn a superb three points in Matthias Jaissle’s first game in charge, there was a late mistake from Lewis Hall as he clipped Victor Munoz in the area with almost the final action of the game.

Szoboszlai stepped up to rifle a brilliant penalty into the top corner with the final kick of the game, with Newcastle deflated and Liverpool having snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat.

“If I am honest, we should have won. But that’s football,” said Szoboszlai after full-time.

“You don’t win easy in the Premier League – doesn’t matter who you play against. We have to be aware of that and we need to take care in the next game. We will never give up. I can guarantee you that. We have to fight every time – all day long for 90 minutes.

“Everybody who came off the bench also made an impact as well today. We need the whole squad and we need to be ready,” he added.

New Liverpool boss Iraola agreed that his side deserved more, saying that it was “difficult to express the feeling”.

“It’s probably not the result you want when you come in before the game but we definitely deserve this point and even more,” said the Spaniard.

“The team has never given up and we’ve recovered one point and probably the taste is better because we score in the last minute. I think it has been a difficult game in terms of starting to lose the game with this atmosphere and I think we have done enough,” he added.

The result takes Liverpool into ninth in the league after the first round of games, with the Reds’ second game of the new season coming next week as they face Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s early kick-off.

First Published: Aug 23 2026 | 10:51 AM IST

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama met Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic for another exhibition game on Sunday. The NBA stars led their respective men’s national basketball teams, France and Serbia, to prepare for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers this summer.

Early in the game, Wembanyama established his defensive presence, swatting away Jokic’s shot attempts. The Spurs star blocked the three-time MVP in one possession, not once, but twice. It was like a replay of their first friendly game of the offseason.

Their first meeting this summer was on Thursday, with Jokic leading Serbia to a 90-87 win. In that game, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year rejected a dunk attempt from the Serbian star.

It was a replay of how Jokic tried to score over Wembanyama on Sunday.

NBA fans were in disbelief online following Wembanyama’s defensive possession.

“Wemby lapped jokic so fast,” a fan said.

“He looks like role player bro he overrated,” another fan commented.

“Wemby versus Jokic could become the NBA’s most fascinating big-man matchup for years,” one fan said.

More fans celebrated Wembanyama’s defensive play.

“i’ve seen enough. Wemby is gonna win the WIN MVP and back to back DPOY 🏆” someone commented.

“No joke this is probably the best defense he’s ever played on Jokic, and that’s saying a lot,” a comment read.

“My boy said he was rusty last game. He coming back😈👌🏾🔥 👽” one fan commented.

The rematch was one of the best international games this summer. Nikola Jokic finished the game with 34 points and 13 rebounds, recording a strong double-double. Victor Wembanyama, meanwhile, had 18 points, five rebounds and two blocks.

France also bounced back and had a 91-90 win.

Victor Wembanyama is Learning From Playing Against Nikola Jokic

In Victor Wembanyama’s second friendly game against Nikola Jokic, he admitted that he’s gradually learning a lot from the Nuggets star.

“Of course you always learn when you play against Jokic. You always catch some stuff and smarter moves on the court in those duels with him,” Wembanyama said.

Jokic is one of the most established stars in the NBA. Not only is he recognized as a star in the league, but he’s also considered one of the best international players. He always gives it his all for his native Serbia.

Additionally, he is not the most athletic basketball player, so in order to play and score against more athletic opponents, he must possess intelligence. Victor Wembanyama’s game may grow in the future if he learns from Jokic.

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