Timelines
How the main stories unfold, day after day: each timeline gathers the articles about one event, with a summary.
- Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency
Ramon Vega, a former Tottenham defender and Switzerland international, has confirmed his plan to challenge Gianni Infantino in next year's FIFA presidential election, becoming Infantino's first presidential rival. Vega, a treble winner with Celtic, played for the club during Martin O'Neill's first spell.
- Jon Rahm quits LIV Golf, which has filed for bankruptcy after Saudi Arabia's PIF withdrew funding
Former world number one Jon Rahm has quit LIV Golf ahead of the breakaway series' relaunch, after an offer described as 'unacceptable', and will not be part of LIV 2.0, leaving his playing future uncertain. The two-time major winner is reportedly owed more than £100m by LIV, which has filed for bankruptcy after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund withdrew funding.
- Lionel Messi scores in his last match for Argentina
Lionel Messi, 39, played his last match for Argentina, a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, and ended his international career with a goal in a 3-0 win. The country's all-time top scorer was involved in all three goals, with a penalty and two assists, and leaves with a World Cup medal and 126 goals in 208 caps. He described playing for Argentina as 'the most wonderful thing that can happen to you'.
- Referee confirmed for Liverpool vs Manchester City Anfield match
Chris Kavanagh, from Greater Manchester and one of England's elite match officials, will referee Liverpool against Manchester City in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday. It will be City's first outing since they were found guilty of breaching financial rules over a nine-season period.
- Carlos Alcaraz wins first title in eight months after injury hell
Carlos Alcaraz beat Jiri Lehecka in the Japan Open final to win his first title since February, in his first final since returning from a right wrist injury that kept him out for a significant part of the season.
- Coco Gauff faces racist abuse after China Open incident
Coco Gauff said she received an 'insane' wave of racist abuse on social media after a disputed point in her 7-5, 6-1 third-round win over home player Sun Xinran at the China Open. Gauff stopped a rally late in the first set after the electronic advertising boards around the court flickered. Sun, 16, who recently won the US Open junior title, was distraught after the defeat.
- Saints suffer loss on 20th Domecoming anniversary
A day of festivities marking the 20th anniversary of the Superdome's reopening after Hurricane Katrina, one of the most triumphant moments in New Orleans Saints history, ended with a lopsided defeat. Bijan Robinson stole the show for the opposition, and the 'embarrassing' loss drew boos and early exits from Saints fans.
- Luke Littler loses in semi-finals of World Youth Championship
Luke Littler was defeated in the semi-finals of the World Youth Championship. He lost to Cam Crabtree, another English player, in Wigan. The match took place on October 5, 2026. The outcome ended Littler's chances of progressing further in the tournament. The result was reported by multiple outlets, including Sky Sports and The Independent.
- Medvedev disqualified for hitting spectator during Djokovic match
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic in Beijing on 5 October after hitting a spectator in the face with a ball. The world No 5, trailing 7-5, 5-3 and one game from defeat, struck a rebounding ball into the crowd. Djokovic, whose record at the China Open is now 33-0, faces Alex de Minaur in the final and is one win away from his first title of 2026.
- Erling Haaland limps off as Norway lose to Portugal in Nations League match
Norway lost 2-1 to Portugal in a Nations League match. Erling Haaland was seen limping off the pitch during the game. Portugal secured their place in the quarter-finals with the win. The match took place on 2026-10-04. Haaland's condition remains unclear following the incident.
- Sale overcome Jacques Vermeulen's red card to defeat Saracens
Sale defeated Saracens 21-17 in a match marked by Jacques Vermeulen's first-half red card. Despite the disadvantage, Sale showed strong performance in the second half to secure the win. Multiple players contributed to the victory, including Nathan Jibulu, Tom O'Flaherty, and Ben Bamber. Tom O'Flaherty was highlighted as a standout performer. The match took place at StoneX Stadium.
- Britain’s Elfyn Evans wins first World Rally Championship ending years of heartache
Elfyn Evans, a Welsh driver, has won the World Rally Championship for the first time, ending a long period of near misses. He secured the title after a dramatic final day in which his competitor, Oliver Solberg, crashed two corners from the finish. Evans had previously been runner-up five times in the last six years. This victory marks the first British win in the championship since Richard Burns in 2001. The win comes after years of competition and close calls for Evans.
- Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix, held in Malaysia, as George Russell retires late
Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix, held this year in Malaysia, after a chaotic start in difficult conditions. It was his first win of the year. Late in the race, George Russell was forced to retire, a heavy blow to his title bid.
- Wakefield defeat Warrington in Grand Final
Wakefield Trinity defeated Warrington Wolves in the Super League Grand Final to win their first title since 1968. The match took place on 2026-10-03, with Wakefield leading 19-0 at halftime before securing the victory. This marked a historic achievement for Wakefield, completing a fairytale triumph. The result was reported by multiple outlets, highlighting the significance of the win. The final score was Warrington 10-23 Wakefield.
- Bristol Bears defeat Northampton Saints in Premiership
Bristol Bears secured a 41-26 victory over Northampton Saints in the Premiership. Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit contributed significantly, scoring twice in the match. The win marks a strong start to the season for Bristol Bears, who now have two wins from their first two games.
- Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying Session in Malaysia
The Bahrain Grand Prix moved to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia due to conflict in the Middle East. Qualifying sessions began with live updates provided by Billy Munday. The event attracted attention as a major shift in the Formula One calendar.
- Andy Murray returns to tennis with televised match against Rafael Nadal
Andy Murray has returned to professional tennis for a televised match against Rafael Nadal. The event is part of a celebratory 'Rafa Nadal Academy Slam' and will be broadcast globally on The Tennis Channel. Murray, who had retired from the sport, is participating in the match as part of a special tennis event. The match details, including start time and how to watch, were confirmed by multiple outlets ahead of the event.
- Bath secure top spot with Finn Russell's try against Exeter
Bath moved to the top of the Gallagher Premiership after defeating Exeter Chiefs 40-34 in a high-scoring derby match. Finn Russell scored a try that was central to Bath's victory, helping the team secure the lead in the league table. The game was marked by intense competition and a large number of points scored by both teams. The result solidified Bath's position at the top of the standings.
- Ireland confirms second football match against Israel will proceed
The Republic of Ireland has confirmed that its second football match against Israel in the Nations League will take place. The match was initially scheduled following the teams' first encounter last weekend. The Irish team's manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson, has stated that the team will focus on football and will participate in the second fixture. No changes have been made to the match schedule, and no alternative arrangements have been announced. The match is set to occur on the originally planned date.
- Great Britain lose to Czechia in Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals
Great Britain lost to Czechia in the quarter-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup. The match took place in Shenzhen, and the British team was defeated 2-0. Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter suffered individual losses, which led to the team's elimination. Czechia, the tournament favourites, advanced to the next round. The British men's team will compete against Germany in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.