The 2026 college football season is right around the corner, with the Oregon Ducks set to take on Boise State in their season opener at Autzen Stadium Sept. 5. On the heels of back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances and a trip to the semifinals a year ago, the Ducks and fifth-year coach Dan Lanning will look to take the next step this fall and win the program's first national championship with a deep run into January. With players like Dante Moore, Evan Stewart, Iapani Laloulu and Matayo Uiagalelei opting to forgo last year's NFL Draft and return to Eugene, the Ducks are viewed as a consensus top-10 team in the country and are one of the favorites to compete for a national title this season. SHOP: 2026 Oregon Ducks football ticketsTo get there, the Ducks will have to beat several teams that also will likely be ranked, including a showdown in Columbus against Ohio State in November and a rivalry matchup against USC in Los Angeles in September.Looking to buy tickets to any of Oregon's home or road games? See below for up-to-date ticket prices and times for the Ducks' 2026 schedule. Shop Oregon Ducks football ticketsOregon Ducks 2026 college football ticketsEvery Oregon Ducks home game will be played at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, with tickets available now for both home and away games.Oregon football home opponentsOregon will host seven teams during the 2026 college football regular season, including:Boise State - Shop ticketsPortland State - Shop ticketsUCLA - Shop ticketsNebraska - Shop ticketsNorthwestern - Shop ticketsMichigan - Shop ticketsWashington - Shop ticketsOregon football road opponentsOregon will be on the road for five games in 2026, including the following:Oklahoma State - Shop ticketsUSC - Shop ticketsIllinois - Shop ticketsOhio State - Shop ticketsMichigan State - Shop ticketsShop Oregon football ticketsWhen is Oregon's first football home game?Oregon's first home game is its season opener against Boise State on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET.Tickets are available for less than $100.When is Oregon vs. Ohio State football?Oregon travels to play Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Ducks last played the Buckeyes in 2024, where Oregon lost in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. When does Oregon play Washington in football?The annual Oregon vs. Washington rivalry game is set for the last week of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 28. Oregon has won the last two head-to-head matchups. Oregon 2026 football scheduleSaturday, Sept. 5 - Oregon vs. Boise State - Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. at 3:30 p.m. ET - Tickets starting at $92Saturday, Sept. 12 - Oregon at Oklahoma State - Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. at 12 p.m. ET - Tickets starting at $199Friday, Sept. 18 - Oregon vs. Portland State - Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. at 10:30 p.m. ET - Tickets starting at $13Saturday, Sept. 26 - Oregon at USC - LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles at TBD - Tickets starting at $140Saturday, Oct. 10 - Oregon vs. UCLA - Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. at TBD - Tickets starting at $69Saturday, Oct. 17 - Oregon vs. Nebraska - Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. at TBD - Tickets starting at $134Saturday, Oct. 24 - Oregon at Illinois - Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. at TBD - Tickets starting at $59Saturday, Oct. 31 - Oregon vs. Northwestern - Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. at TBD - Tickets starting at $43Saturday, Nov. 7 - Oregon at Ohio State - Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio at TBD - Tickets starting at $303Saturday, Nov. 14 - Oregon vs. Michigan - Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. at TBD - Tickets starting at $694Friday, Nov. 20 - Oregon at Michigan State - Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich. at 8 p.m. ET - Tickets starting at $42Saturday, Nov. 28 - Oregon vs. Washington - Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. at TBD - Tickets starting at $109Shop 2026 Oregon ticketsCheapest Oregon football ticketsAs of publication, the cheapest home game for the Oregon Ducks is only $13 against Portland State on Friday, Sept. 18.Oregon's road game against Michigan State on Friday, Nov. 20 starts at only $42.Oregon football preseason rankingAn official preseason ranking hasn't been released yet, however, a recent ranking from ESPN listed Oregon as the No. 2 ranked team in the country entering this season.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to buy Oregon Ducks college football tickets, see full schedule

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal knows the trade questions will keep coming. That doesn't mean he has to like answering them."That's so out of my control," he said about trade speculation before the series opener against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, July 23. "I just want to start and go out there competing and trying to win as many baseball games for the Detroit Tigers. That's my focus."With the Aug. 3 trade deadline fast approaching, and Skubal topping the list of potential trade targets perhaps as the most coveted deadline target in years it's not a surprise that people keep wondering how the Tigers will handle a potential deal with the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner. After all, the Tigers could keep Skubal for the rest of the 2026 season instead of trading him, which Skubal on Thursday reiterated would be his preference."I think we have a chance to win a World Series. I've had that thought since spring training. That has never changed," he said. "Throughout the season, we put ourselves in a tough situation. But I think we've come out of that tough situation playing really good baseball."Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who arguably faces even more questions about a potential Skubal trade than Skubal himself, seemed equally unwilling on Thursday to acknowledge the possibility of playing the last two months of the season without his ace pitcher."I just don't spend my time wrapping my head around it," he said. "There's a lot of intrigue around him, and the reason is because he's really good. He can really impact the team, and he's ours. And I think for this team to try to continue to take one step forward and not get consumed by it has been a real challenge, and I think our team has responded really well based on how we're playing."If the Tigers want to keep Skubal, they'll need to continue playing well and stacking wins. Detroit is fourth in the AL Central standings and likely won't catch the first-place Chicago White Sox by the trade deadline. The Tigers have a smaller deficit to overcome in the AL wild-card standings but more teams to hop, with the FanGraphs playoff odds giving the Tigers a slightly better chance to win the division than clinch a wild-card spot as of Thursday.ROSTER MOVES: Detroit Tigers release veteran catcher Toms Nido from Triple-A ToledoBut it wouldn't take much losing for the Tigers to fall further from contention during this end-of-July stretch, which would only ramp up speculation that Skubal's final start with Detroit is fast approaching.Skubal has said he wants to stay with the Tigers, but a trade away from Detroit could potentially land him on a contender with a better chance of winning the World Series than the Tigers do (at 2.6% as of Thursday per those FanGraphs odds). Though Skubal acknowledges that reality, he has already been in situations where the Tigers have overcome long odds most recently with the 2024 Tigers team that mounted a historic late-season comeback to make the postseason."I don't know if I believe in the odds," he said. "I've been on a team where we had a 0.2% chance to make the playoffs, and we did it. So I'm not going to speculate on percentages. I think once we get there, it's really hard to win a World Series. You just gotta get in [to the playoffs], and I think this team has all the pieces to be able to do that."Javier Bez, Jackson Jobe injury updatesThe Tigers are closer to getting back two key players, with shortstop Javier Bez playing in a rehab game in Low-A Lakeland on Thursday with plans for him to play for Triple-A Toledo over the weekend, per Hinch. Bez has been out since April 28 with an ankle injury after being carted off the field in a 5-2 loss against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in AtlantaAdditionally, starting pitcher Jackson Jobe will get a rehab start for Double-A Erie over the weekend. Jobe has made three rehab starts in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, most recently pitching three innings for Erie on July 19. The Tigers drafted Jobe at the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, with the righty entering the 2025 season as the No. 3 overall prospect in baseball, per Baseball America. His rookie season was short-lived, however, with Jobe pitching to a 4.22 ERA over 49 innings in 2025 before being shut down for the rest of the season in early June.Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break?Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletterto get daily summaries of Detroit sports!You can reach Christian atcromo@freepress.com.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal says he'd prefer to stay with Tigers past trade deadline

It is tough to sweep a four-game series, unless you are the impossibly hot Boston Red Sox. Perhaps Shane Bieber took it upon himself to make Kyle Snyder, Kevin Cash, and the front office beliebers and effort to acquire him before the August 3rd deadline. Bieber had his second consecutive fantastic outing since the break with seven innings of one-run baseball allowing just three baserunners before handing it over to the A-pen to finish the game.This was the type of game Toronto envisioned this winter, but has rarely been able to put together throguhout this frustrating season. The three runs scored today was the most runs the team has scored in their last six games, but it was the pitching that was story of the game and why the Rays offense was mostly lifeless today.Bieber himself had just 8 swings and misses on 39 pitches, but he did a fantastic job working an extremely liberal strike zone to his advantage for seven innings:The zone was questionable all day, but it was not until the 7th inning that any Rays batter challenged a pitch. Jonny DeLuca challenged a first pitch cutter that was well off the plate and had it overturned:There were not many pitches more aggregiously wrong than this one, but Bieber certainly enjoyed a fair number of favorable strike calls in this contest yet the Rays were stubborn in using their challenges until DeLuca apparently had enough in the 7th inning:The Rays sole run nearly did not happen because Hunter Feduccia nearly had his own J.T. Realmuto moment as he appeared to believe Yandy Diazs single had been caught because he first stopped running, then momentarily started back to third base, before hurrying home:View LinkIt is said a picture can say a thousand words, and since the highlight video cut off this moment, I will simply share this picture and let you use your imagination as to what Cash was thinking:The lack of offense wasted what was a solid outing by the combination of Casey Legumina and Ian Seymour. They struck out 9 while wakling three batters and the only egregious run was the third run of the game when Myle Straw easily stole second base on a play which was two parts a bad throw by Feduccia and one part an inattentive hold of Straw by Seymour. Straw would come around to score on an RBI single by Vladimir Guerrero Jr, which could have been a very close play at the plate with a more accurage throw by Victor Mesa Jr:View LinkThe Rays will bring home a two-game lead to Tropican Field where they open with a homestand against a fully healthy Cleveland club while the Rays leverage their top three pitchers in the series.Credit to Bieber for using the zone afforded to him and showing a potential new employer what he could bring to the team down the stretch when everything is working.

The Cleveland Browns will be without starting defensive tackle Maliek Collins at the start of training camp with rookies reporting to Berea today.The veteran defensive tackle suffered a season-ending quad injury in Week 13 a year ago. This injury required surgery as the defensive starter was in the midst of a strong individual season that could have landed him in the Pro Bowl. Prior to his injury, Collins had racked up a career-high 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss through just 11 full games.He is still recovering from that injury and will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.Looking at the Browns' depth chart without CollinsAnticipating a massive year-two jump from 2025 NFL Draft fifth overall pick, Mason Graham, he is expected to once again headline the defensive tackle room under first-year defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg. Former second rounder Mike Hall Jr. also enters a make-or-break season with the Browns after a disappointing sophomore season.Free agent addition Kalia Davis, undrafted standout from last year Adin Huntington, and long-time practice squad player Sam Kamara round out the defensive tackle room at the start of training camp. Let's hope Collins is recovered and ready to roll by Week 1. His talent and veteran presence in an otherwise young defensive tackle room is needed.This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns defensive starter starts training camp on injured list

These Games are the first with King Charles as Head of the Commonwealth [Getty Images]King Charles III, the Loch Ness Monster and thousands of athletes and Para-athletes took centre stage as the 2026 Commonwealth Games officially began with the opening ceremony.King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived into Glasgow's Hydro Arena in Doctor Who's Tardis a reference to the blue police boxes seen around the city.After taking their seats alongside new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who was attending his first major engagement since replacing Sir Keir Starmer, athletes from the 74 competing nations and territories entered the arena.Those from Botswana were the first to emerge, with athletes dressed in the colours of their nations, including Ghana's red, green, yellow and black stripes, South Africa in Springbok-style rugby jerseys, and Barbados in blue and yellow combined with tartan scarves.The ceremony's stage was shaped to represent a Celtic knot [Getty Images]One of the louder cheers came for the Falklands Islands in the news recently following Argentina's victory over England in the football World Cup semi-finals and another followed when the Samoa team emerged and performed a haka in front of the dignitaries in the Royal Box.But nothing compared to the noise which greeted the arrival of the Scotland team, who entered the arena last in their white shirts and kilts and lifted many in the capacity crowd from their seats.A large Loch Ness Monster representation then emerged, before, backed by bagpipers and drummers, a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland followed.The next section of the evening featured theatrical performances a show billed as "a love letter to Glasgow and the Commonwealth".It began with a performance by Scottish folk and country singer Nathan Evans and a dance under a replica of Glasgow Central Station's iconic clock.The saying "Meet me under the clock" is famous in these parts.Singer Callum Beattie's rendition of Baccara's Yes Sir, I Can Boogie the 1970s disco tune recently adopted as Scotland's unofficial anthem - had the Scottish athletes dancing in their seats.Held indoors in front of about 10,000 people, this was a more intimate ceremony than the last time Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games, when a 40,000-strong crowd witnessed the opening of the Games in 2014 at Celtic Park.There was a point, after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as hosts in 2023, when some thought these Games would not happen. Glasgow stepped in at short notice to ensure otherwise.There are eight fewer sports involved compared to 2014, given the short build-up, and venues from 12 years ago have been repurposed.But Commonwealth Sport president Donald Rukare, wearing a tartan kilt in the colours of his home country Uganda, said this edition has been made possible by the "extraordinary legacy of 2014 and by a city that once again welcomes us with warm hearts and open arms".As it happened: Dancing, teacakes & King Charles star in vibrant opening ceremonyActor Sam Heughan was part of a segment featuring the Loch Ness Monster [Getty Images]George Black, chair of Glasgow 2026, added: "When the future of these Games was uncertain, Glasgow didn't ask: 'Can we?'"We asked: 'When do we get started?'"People across this city should be incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the past 18 months."Venues opened their doors. Communities opened their hearts."Businesses, artists, schools, volunteers, partners, neighbours and the people of Glasgow came together with one shared belief: that the Commonwealth Games matter and that the world deserves to experience them."Scottish singer KT Tunstall's rendition of No Scotland No Party another anthem of the Tartan Army this summer later in the evening was fitting on this occasion.Prior to that, the King's Baton was brought into the arena while singer Nina Nesbitt performed another Scottish classic, the Proclaimers' classic I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles).The King used his speech to stress the importance of preventing plastic pollution in oceans and waterways."I extend my warmest gratitude to the city of Glasgow and all those have made this event possible," he said."As we share our love of sport and our planet, let us build a harmonious future for our families and each other."The sporting action runs across the next 10 days before the Games conclude with the closing ceremony on Sunday, 2 August, back at the Hydro.The first medals are set to be won in Para-powerlifting in the early evening of Friday.Over 3,000 athletes are set to take part in this year's Commonwealth Games [Getty Images]Hundreds of dancers and musicians were part of the opening ceremony [Getty Images]King Charles said the Games are a reminder the Commonwealth is a "unique and extraordinary family of nations" [Getty Images]Is 2026 the Commonwealth Games' last dance or a future-proofing revamp?All you need to know about Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth GamesIs Glasgow ready for the Commonwealth Games - and does the city care?

A month after the whirlwind series of events that led to Dusty May becoming the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, new Michigan head coach Mike Boynton Jr. is speaking on how things went down.In an interview with the Field of 68 on Thursday, Boynton said that he knew that May was considering leaving following the Wolverines' victory in the NCAA championship, but that the two of them didn't have a conversation about next steps until the day before May took the job. May's hire was officially announced by Dallas on Tuesday, June 23.Boynton said that they'd had an inkling that there would be a leadership change at Michigan, as May's "name came up for pretty much every job, all spring, at every level," Boynton said. That included then-open positions at North Carolina, the Chicago Bulls and the Orlando Magic, which were all subsequently filled.Boynton, who spent seven seasons as the head coach at Oklahoma State, added that he was "sensitive" about trying to pry into what was going on with May."I really didn't know, and I really wasn't all that interested in finding out, because I didn't want him to feel like I was just another guy trying to seek information," Boynton said.He added that he and May had talked after the coach had returned from a visit with the Mavericks."Dusty and I had a conversation I think Sunday, after he returned from visiting with them, that he was really contemplating whether he would take it or not," he continued. "And part of the conversation was what would that mean for me and whether I wanted to try to take this thing over and continue it, or maybe even perhaps join him in Dallas. It was a conversation that was brief, but because of the briefness of the conversation I didn't have a whole lot of time to process, if it happened, what would be next."The next morning, May and Boynton were running Michigan's camp when Boynton heard the official news not from May, but from a tweet from ESPN insider Shams Charania. That led to a meeting with Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel."Literally as I'm walking out of opening camp, I get a notification from Shams that Dusty's taken the Mavericks job," Boynton said, "and Dusty had asked if I would go to Warde's office and meet with him to figure out, you know, at least for that day, what it needed to look like."Since all of the players were there when the news dropped, Boynton said, they needed to do something akin to damage control."We needed to at least coalesce those guys around a message about staying together and continuing this," Boynton said. "And from there on, man, it's been like drinking out of a fire hydrant."Boynton said that his early duties as the then-interim head coach included talking to all of the players, as well as the players' families and players' agents."It's been like 24 hours in a day hasn't been enough. I need like five more hours in this day," Boynton joked.But Boynton, whose career at OSU ended on a strained note, said that he didn't necessarily know if he would be at the helm of a major program again, and that he was "grateful" for the chance."My history's well-documented. Two years ago, it was even less likely that I would be in this position now. But I'm very thankful," Boynton said.Boynton officially became the Wolverines' full-fledged head coach earlier this month, losing the "interim" tag after just two weeks.

Mike Evans gives the San Francisco 49ers a legitimate No. 1 receiver for the first time in years, but Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr believes the move addresses two problems that go beyond the receiver room.The first is Christian McCaffrey's rushing efficiency. San Francisco finished 30th in yards per carry last season the first time a Kyle Shanahan-called offense has finished outside the top 10 in that stat since 2021. Orr connects that decline directly to how defenses have treated McCaffrey, who saw nearly 30% of his carries against eight-man boxes last year, one of the highest rates in the league.Evans, Orr argues, should change that math. The 30-year-old drew double coverage on 35% of his routes last season, sixth-most among receivers league-wide. That kind of attention typically pulls a safety out of the box and Orr believes teams have instead been shifting that extra defender toward stopping McCaffrey.The idea is straightforward: if Evans forces a safety into coverage, the box in front of McCaffrey gets lighter, and the 49ers' rushing attack long a staple of Shanahan's offense gets back to functioning the way it has for most of his tenure.The second point Orr raises is about time. The 49ers have the second-oldest roster in the NFL with the inclusion of Evans, so Orr suggested the signing means the 49ers think their championship window is closing at the same rate as the Los Angeles Rams', who went all-in this offseason with trades for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie.It's hard to imagine Kyle Shanahan getting more juice out of George Kittle, Trent Williams, Evans and Kyle Juszczyk than he will this season.That's a notable statement given how the "championship window" conversation has evolved around the NFL, with several quarterbacks playing at a high level well into their late 30s. But Orr's point isn't really about age it's about the specific combination of players San Francisco has right now. Kittle, Williams and Juszczyk are all past 30, and asking them to be this productive for another full season, let alone multiple, is a bet the 49ers may not want to make twice.Add Evans to that mix, and the read from Orr is less about building for the future and more about maximizing what's left of the present. The rushing dynamics might improve immediately, but Evans also gives what is already an aging core of players another piece to push for a title.This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Analyst reveals deeper motives behind 49ers' Mike Evans signing

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) The quarterback who could get picked first in next year's NFL draft isn't going to lose focus thinking about what looks like a bright 2027. And he sure isn't going to waste a lot of time worrying about his less-than-perfect 2025.Arch Manning of Texas, the latest in the long line of football's royal family of quarterbacking, took 20 minutes worth of questions Thursday to close out SEC Media Days. He mostly spoke about 2026. I'm not worried about anything in the future right now, he said. Im worried about getting through this interview."He did just fine. Sporting a burnt-orange necktie and a Longhorn pin on his lapel, the son of Cooper, nephew of Peyton and Eli, and grandson of Archie ran the gantlet with reporters lined up three-deep to speak with him.How does it feel to be compared to others, both in and out of your family? Im trying to do better not comparing myself to others. They say comparison is the defeat of joy.Is he looking forward to leading the Longhorns into Uncle Peytons old stomping grounds, Neyland Stadium at Tennessee? Theyve got a good coach and good players. Were excited to go. Im not going to make it about me.Whats his favorite hobby? Answer: golf. I broke 80 for the first time last week. Well, pretty much. I gave myself a putt.Certainly, there's still work to do for the 22-year-old junior-to-be, whose body and reputation took a beating with the Longhorns over a tumultuous, 10-3 season in 2025. Heading into his second season as the starter, Manning insists he tries to minimize the expectations that have been heaped on him since he emerged in high school as a surefire star-to-be or the criticism from those who said his 3-2 start last year that dropped him down those NFL draft boards made him one of the biggest busts in college football history. Everyone has an opinion and people get paid to talk in the media, so there's really nothing you can do, he said. I'm trying to control the controllables.He got sacked 23 times last season and was under pressure more than that. Because he's a Manning, everything from his reactions after bad plays to his release time somewhere around 3.2 seconds got dissected way more than would those of a typical above-average college QB. Texas opened last season with a 14-7 loss to Ohio State and followed that five weeks later with a six-sack, 29-21 loss to a Florida team that turned out to not be very good. Standing out in the loss to the Gators was the image of Manning virtually folded in half, sandwiched by a pair of Gator linebackers, after one of the six sacks. And a video of him plopping down on the bench, dejected, after one of his two interceptions that day. That he came back from that game to go 7-1, throw 20 touchdowns and get the 'Horns back in the playoff conversation sometimes gets overlooked. Texas plays both teams again this year, starting with the Buckeyes on Sept. 14. The Longhorns brought in receiver Cam Coleman from Auburn and a pair of running backs, Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and Raleek Brown (Arizona State), to help their star QB.I think what he got put through probably would have melted or destroyed 99% of people in his shoes, coach Steve Sarkisian said. All he did was stay consistent and true to who he was, which was to continue to work hard, continue to be a great teammate, try to get better, and he did.And that, Manning said, is pretty much the goal again for 2026.If he lives up to expectations, then it would be no big surprise to hear his name called first come draft day. He is scheduled to graduate in December. Neither that nor any conversation about his family, his future or his place in the game are going to shift his focus. I just want to be remembered as a good teammate and someone who did whatever it took to help the team win and help the team get closer, he said. I'm not really worried about my legacy. I just want to win games and have a good time.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

[PA Media]King Charles and Queen Camilla emerged from a Tardis at the start of a spectacular Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow.The royal couple drew gasps and cheers from the audience at the Hydro as they appeared on a stage that had been turned into a giant garden.Flags from 74 nations and territories were carried into the arena during the event, which also featured the Loch Ness monster and performances from Nathan Evans, Tom Walker and KT Tunstall. The show celebrated the story of Glasgow - from its industrial past to its vibrant nigh life - ahead of a Games that will see 215 medals awarded across 10 sports.Alex Marshall led Team Scotland into the arena [PA Media]Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney and First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth were among the dignitaries in the royal box for a show that lasted two hours and 20 minutes.Glasgow, which hosted the event in 2014, stepped in to stage it for a second time after the Australian city of Victoria pulled out due to soaring costs.Although on a smaller scale to previous editions, the 23rd Games will see a record 47 para-sports events. The stage was transformed into a magical Scottish garden [Reuters]In a spectacular opening scene, six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy and actor Greg McHugh emerged from the Tardis to cheers before they were, to the audience's surprise, followed by the King and Queen.After the royal couple took their seats an 18-strong Royal Scottish National Orchestra Youth Chorus entered, stood among the garden paths, and sang God Save The King.King Charles, Queen Camilla & PM Burnham watch athletes parade at Commonwealth GamesGlasgow set to welcome the world for scaled-back Commonwealth GamesThen, for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, the athletes took centre stage by parading into the arena before the ceremony fully got under way.The African nations led the way with Botswana the first to enter the Hydro.The segment was titled Ceud Mle Filte - Scottish-Gaelic for "a hundred thousand welcomes". Outlander star Sam Heughan posed with a giant model of the Loch Ness Monster [PA Media]This year there was no baton relay across the Commonwealth but each of the 74 nations and territories was given a wooden baton to decorate.As they entered, the team's baton bearer handed the baton to one of three gardeners on stage.It is was then planted on stage to create a colourful garden. The soundtrack, by Skye-based Valstos, fused trad and electronic music and mixed in samples from the country's musical traditions.Organisers said it was designed to be "a symbol of common ground, bringing a piece of every nation and territory into a shared celebration of the natural world that connects us all."The last baton was brought in by Team Scotland, who received the loudest cheer of the night as they were led in by Alex Marshall - who has won five Commonwealth gold medals in bowls - and judo champion Sarah Adlington.The team from Samoa roared onto the stage [PA Media]After the parade, a piper appeared in a spotlight and played a single note. The Loch Ness monster appeared on screen before being magically coaxed on to the stage by Outlander star Sam Heughan.Pipers and drummers, including in the upper decks of the arena, delivered a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland.The focus then switched to a day in the life of the host city, with a dance section featuring the famous Glasgow Central Station clock.People mimicked the 10 sports that will be played during the Games.Singer Callum Beattie was one of the stars of the night [PA Media]Nathan Evans - who shot to fame with his sea shanty Wellerman in 2021 - entered and began to sing with the Saint PHNX Band.The song took over the station scene like a flash mob and unleashed the joy of the song's message: Scotland is a place called home.Three city guides then told the story of Glasgow, using staging inspired by Scotland's pioneering textile industry and the River Clyde's shipbuilding heritage.The city's legendary nightlife was celebrated with a section that paid tribute to venues such as the Barrowland Ballroom and the Sub Club.Singer Callum Beattie then appeared - flanked by dancing silver unicorns and stars - and sang Scotland's unofficial football anthem, Yes Sir, I Can Boogie by Baccara.Team Scotland got to their feet and soon athletes from every nation were showing off their best dance moves in a moment to remember.Team England enjoyed their entrance [PA Media]The mood became more sombre as the Commonwealth Sport flag was raised after a procession involving members of the armed forces.Three Team Scotland representatives - Paul Foster (bowls), Robyn Love (3x3 Wheelchair Basketball) and former athletics manager Leslie Roy - then took the Commonwealth oath.The King and Queen watched on with Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney [PA Media]Dr Donald Rukare, president of Commonwealth Sport, told the audience the "extraordinary legacy" of Glasgow 2014 had made the "reimagined Games" possible.The Ugandan - who was wearing a Wallace tartan kilt in his country's colours - thanked those who had made the multi-sports event possible.He added: "For the next 11 days, 74 nations and territories, thousands of athletes and supporters, and countless cultures and stories come together, united by one simple idea: that sport has the power to bring people together."In a world that can sometimes feel divided, that matters more than ever."It was all smiles from Team Wales [PA Media]George Black, chair of Glasgow 2026, said the city made "extraordinary things happen".He told the audience: "When the future of these Games was uncertain, Glasgow didn't ask, 'Can we?' We asked, 'When do we get started?'"Black concluded by telling the assembled athletes: "This is your time."Smiles all round from the athletes from Northern Ireland [PA Media]After the speeches, a choir hummed a stripped-back arrangement of The Proclaimers' anthem I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) as footage of the King's Baton Relay was shown on the giant screen.Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt then performed an acoustic version of the famous track as phones lit up the arena.The King's Baton was then paraded around the Hydro by swimmer Hannah Miley and para-cycling great Neil Fachie.The athletes from Malaysia were as colourful as any who took part [PA Media]The baton was finally passed to professional basketball player Kieron Achara, who handed it to the King.The monarch opened then read aloud a message he had placed in the baton in March last year - 500 days before the start of the Games.King Charles said a key theme of the relay had been raising awareness of plastic pollution and the damage it causes to marine life.He told the audience: "I extend my warmest gratitude to the city of Glasgow, all the athletes, organisers, volunteers and all those who have made this event possible."Dancers wore star outfits in tribute to Glasgow's famous Barrowlands Ballroom [Reuters]The final chapter of the ceremony featured a rousing musical section, which was kicked off by Tom Walker singing his international hit Leave the Light On.Scotland's own KT Tunstall then performed two of her greatest hits, Black Horse & the Cherry Tree and Suddenly I See.KT Tunstall got the crowd going [PA Media]In between, she channelled the energy of the Tartan Army from the World Cup by leading the crowd in a a chant of "No Scotland No Party".Nathan Evans and the Saint PHNX Band then replayed the beat of their hit Home, as they returned to the stage.A giant teacake was lowered from above the stage in one of the closing performances [Reuters]The finale involved a giant pyrotechnic Teacake taking off from the centre of the stage.This was a nod to the dancing Teacakes which provided one of the most memorable moments of the 2014 opening ceremony at Celtic Park.As one of the biggest global gatherings the city has seen came to end, it was impossible not to feel uplifted.The hope for these Games is that the best is yet to come.Is Glasgow ready for the Commonwealth Games - and does the city care?Five big names to look out for at Glasgow 2026

Luka Modric won the 2018 Ballon d'Or (Kamil Krzaczynski)Croatian veteran Luka Modric has extended his contract with AC Milan by one season, the Serie A club announced on Thursday.The midfielder will turn 41 in less than two months' time but has committed to Milan until June 30, 2027.Modric joined the Italian heavyweights in 2025, scoring two goals in 37 matches last season."One of the finest and most iconic players in world football, the Croatian will continue his journey in the Rossoneri shirt," AC Milan said in a statement.Modric was a finalist at the 2018 World Cup with Croatia, also picking up that year's Ballon d'Or, and won six Champions League titles while playing for Real Madrid between 2012 to 2025.At this summer's World Cup, he led Croatia to the round of 32, where they suffered a dramatic elimination at the hands of Portugal.Having finished fifth in Serie A following a disappointing season, AC Milan have changed their coach, with former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim taking over from Massimiliano Allegri.They have also signed Portuguese centre-forward Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain for over 70 million euros ($80 million), as well as Spanish defender Mario Gila from Lazio for 30 million euros, according to specialist football website Transfermarkt.dar/nf/ach