Sports

Liverpool completed the signing of France winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain on 31 August 2026, one day before the Premier League's official transfer deadline, for a guaranteed fee of £106 million with up to £17 million in conditional add-ons. The five-year deal ranks as Liverpool's second-largest transfer on record, behind the £125 million paid for Alexander Isak in 2025. Barcola's eligibility for immediate Premier League matches remained unconfirmed at the time of the announcement, pending international clearance.

Thailand defeated host nation China 3-2 in the 2026 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship final in Tianjin on 30 August, claiming the direct Asian qualification berth for the LA28 Olympic Games. The victory marks Thailand's first-ever Olympic qualification in women's volleyball and their fourth continental title, following previous wins in 2009, 2013, and 2023. Thailand and China also secured two of three available AVC places for the 2027 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Cup.

The USTA and Kalshi have signed a confirmed multi-year agreement making Kalshi the US Open's Official Prediction Market Partner beginning with the 2026 singles main draw, with on-court signage and digital platform placement included. Reported venue and ESPN advertising exclusivity come from a single unnamed-source report and have not been officially confirmed by the USTA, Kalshi, or ESPN. The deal lands amid a live federal circuit split: the Third Circuit has preliminarily blocked New Jersey from restricting Kalshi's sports contracts, while the Ninth Circuit ruled days before the announcement that Nevada's gaming laws likely apply to those same contracts.