Sport in 2026: Premier League, FIFA World Cup, Lando Norris defends F1…

Sport in 2026: Premier League, FIFA World Cup, Lando Norris defends F1…

2026 guarantees to be another thrilling 12 months in the world of sport, with loads of drama anticipated and World Cups in soccer and cricket. From title races in the Premier League, Formula 1, darts and NFL, this is a style of what is to return in the 12 months ahead…

Arsenal to end 22-year Premier League drought?

Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to 3 consecutive runner-up finishes in the Premier League however now faces the challenge of turning a strong start to this 12 months’s campaign right into a first title since 2003-04.

Summer signings included Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Martin Zubimendi have added depth to an already strong squad, while Declan Rice continues to play an integral position since becoming a member of the club in 2023.

Defending champions Liverpool have been a shadow of last season’s title-winning facet, although Manchester City have began to indicate indicators of consistency seen in earlier runs to the top spot.

If Arteta’s Arsenal can keep above City, they are going to be agency favourites for Premier League glory.

60 years of damage to end in North America?

Thomas Tuchel has been tasked with main England to their first World Cup victory since their 1966 success, having seen his facet breeze by means of qualification with a 100 per cent file and without conceding a aim.

England have reached the quarter-finals or better in each of their last 4 major tournaments, including runner-up finishes in the last two European Championship, leaving them again among the favourites to carry the Jules Rimet Trophy.

An expanded 48-team tournament will present an additional round to barter, however the strength in depth at Tuchel’s disposal and the past experience most of his core squad has in major tournaments can function two big benefits.

Can Littler continue darting dominance?

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Two years on from Luke Littler’s World Darts Championship debut, Sky Sports News explores the impression the new primary has had on the game in this new documentary.

Luke Littler finishing his aim of successful every PDC ranked TV tournament during his profession is a sensible risk in 2026, with ‘The Nuke’ closing in on ticking off every potential accolade there may be to win off his darting CV.

Littler is considered one of only 5 gamers to have lifted the World Darts Championship, World Matchplay and Premier League in his profession, while the teenage sensation gained the UK Open, World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals titles during a rare 2025.

He now just must win the World Masters in January and European Championship in the autumn to have gained every PDC TV major, which is exceptional when you think about he would not even flip 19 until January 21.

Losses to Luke Humphries in the Premier League final, Michael van Gerwen in the World Series of Darts Finals and Gian van Veen in the World Youth Championship semi-final over the past 12 months will gasoline Littler, who retains seeking to create more darting historical past.

Norris defends crown as Formula 1 fires up engines

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Lando Norris celebrates changing into World Champion with tears, doughnuts and hugs!

The start of any Formula 1 season is one thing to savour, however when it is time to go, go, go in 2026 – we have now a new team becoming a member of us in Cadillac and a British champion defending his crown in Lando Norris.

Not just that, however there’s a complete raft of regulation adjustments that means issues might look very different to the last few years and it could possibly be very thrilling to see who embraces the change best. Can Max Verstappen climb again to the summit of the sport? Or can Oscar Piastri get the better of his team-mate this time?

So a lot British curiosity too! Adrian Newey is in cost at Aston Martin, there’s another Brit on the grid in Arvid Lindblad, Lewis Hamilton will try and resurrect his profession at Ferrari after failing to complete on the podium last season and George Russell will consider that he can doubtlessly challenge if Mercedes can get their package deal proper.

As the nice Murray Walker used to say, something can occur in Formula 1 – and it often does!

From Ashes woe to World Cup glory for England males?

England headed to Australia with their best hopes of an away Ashes win in a era, yet they misplaced the sequence in 11 days of cricket amid a sea of rash strokes, some wayward bowling and a streamlined preparation that was panned by pundits.

The T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka across February and March provides the facet an opportunity to bounce again, albeit in a different format, and also you sense if it goes fallacious, it could possibly be curtains for coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key with strain already on them after the Ashes defeat.

England’s fall from grace in white-ball cricket has been well-documented – they held each World Cup titles concurrently after their T20 triumph in 2022 before fading.

But that drop-off has largely come in ODIs, with the team making the T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2024 and slamming 300 in a bonkers game at residence to South Africa during the 2025 summer time.

With Harry Brook, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt among the exhausting hitters, plus the abilities of seamer Jofra Archer and spinner Adil Rashid with the ball, England ought to show a pressure to be reckoned with.

Can McIlroy build on Masters? Will Scheffler be a part of Grand Slam club?

Rory McIlroy grew to become the first participant since Tiger Woods to finish the profession Grand Slam by successful The Masters last April, however Scottie Scheffler can be a part of golf’s most exclusive club by successful the US Open this summer time.

Scheffler just must win at Shinnecock Hills – the place the final round takes place on his thirtieth birthday – to have gained all 4 majors and full {golfing} greatness, having already outshone McIlroy to dominate the top of the males’s game in latest seasons.

McIlroy himself is just one major away from matching Sir Nick Faldo’s file of six major wins and one Race to Dubai from equalling Colin Montgomerie’s tally of Order of Merit titles on the DP World Tour. He stays the man most more likely to challenge Scheffler’s stint as world No 1.

Home success for England at Women’s T20 World Cup?

England haven’t gained the Women’s T20 World Cup since the inaugural version in 2009 – however that was also the last time they hosted the event so maybe historical past will repeat itself?

Charlotte Edwards was captain when England lifted the trophy at Lord’s 17 years in the past and is now head coach, with the team displaying indicators of enchancment since she took over from Jon Lewis following a 16-0 Ashes whitewash and back-to-back disappointing T20 World Cup exits.

The 50-over World Cup in the autumn of 2025 noticed a group-stage win over eventual champions India as England triumphed under strain, a trait that often eluded them pre-Edwards.

A semi-final thumping by South Africa confirmed there may be still work to do and they’re going to should be at their best to topple an ever-improving India, benchmark facet Australia and others this summer time.

Most wide-open NFL playoffs in a era

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Jalen Hurts celebrates with the Lombardi Trophy

After 10 consecutive postseason appearances, 9 straight AFC West division titles, seven straight AFC Championship Game appearances and a visit to 5 of the last six Super Bowls, the Kansas City Chiefs is not going to feature in the NFL playoffs on the street to Super Bowl LX. Andy Reid’s dynasty team have gained three titles since 2019 however miss out after a disappointing 2025 campaign. The door is extensive open in the AFC.

It would beckon as a golden alternative for Josh Allen’s nearly-men Buffalo Bills to end their agonising wait to achieve a Super Bowl after seeing their acquainted foes eradicated. But they are not alone, with Bo Nix’s Denver Broncos, Drake Maye’s New England Patriots and Trevor Lawrence’s Jacksonville Jaguars all springing into shock competition at the top of the seedings.

Elsewhere in the NFC, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles could have punched their ticket again to the playoffs however have flattered to deceive behind considered one of the worst offenses in soccer 11 months since dominating the Chiefs in New Orleans. The NFC West boasts three Championship-calibre groups in Sam Darnold’s Seattle Seahawks, Brock Purdy’s San Francisco 49ers and Matthew Stafford’s Los Angeles Rams, while Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson have ignited a contemporary chapter for the Chicago Bears as considered one of the most harmful groups in soccer.

There is a Lombardi Trophy up for grabs.

Alcaraz and Sinner vie for calendar slam as rivalry develops

Since the big 4 period ended, males’s tennis had been devoid of a particularly dominant rivalry. But it was not lengthy before Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz stepped as much as the challenge.

In 2025, just one other participant, Alexander Zverev, made it to a Grand Slam final attributable to this pair dominating the season.

Winning two Slams apiece in 2025 can have left each gamers determined to achieve the edge over the other in a rivalry that has reignited males’s tennis, with each eyeing a calendar Grand Slam.

Starting with the Australian Open in January, world No 1 Alcaraz will look to start his 12 months on a strong be aware after being knocked out in the quarter-finals in Melbourne by Novak Djokovic in 2025.

Sinner, meanwhile, will probably be aiming to turn into just the second man to win the Australian Open three years operating, becoming a member of Djokovic, who has achieved a trio of triumphs twice.

Can England attain Grand Slam decider before Springboks acid check?

If 2025 noticed England flip the narrative under Steve Borthwick with victory over the All Blacks and an 11‑game successful streak, then 2026 will probably be the 12 months in which those foundations are examined to see whether or not they’re sound.

The first measure of England’s progress comes in the Six Nations, the place residence fixtures against Wales and Ireland, together with journeys to Scotland and Italy in their first 4 matches, depart one apparent goal: establishing a round‑5 Grand Slam decider against defending champions France.

There can be no disgrace in dropping to France, however England must arrive at that game with the prospect of securing a first Grand Slam in a decade still alive. Achieve that, and it will prolong their successful run to 16 games – just two shy of the file 18 set under Borthwick’s predecessor Eddie Jones between October 2015 and March 2017.

The inaugural Nations Championship gives a further measure of progress, starting with rugby’s acid check: South Africa, in South Africa. The Springboks stay the sport’s dominant pressure, however with the 2027 Rugby World Cup a 12 months away, England have a chance to put down a marker – though that is less complicated said than performed.

Can Team Europe declare Solheim Cup glory?

If the 2026 Solheim Cup – live on Sky Sports – matches anyplace close to the drama of latest contests held on European soil, then count on another tight contest in the Netherlands.

Anna Nordqvist has been tasked with regaining the trophy for Team Europe at Bernardus Golf this September, having featured as a participant during their 2024 loss to Team USA, with the Swede having a number of star names at her disposal.

European stalwart Charley Hull will play a key position and Lottie Woad is about to make her rookie look having excelled during her maiden season as knowledgeable, while Maja Stark, Celine Boutier and Linn Grant are all more likely to return.

Team Europe snatched a one-point win on residence soil in 2019 and a dramatic tie to retain the trophy during the 2023 version in Spain, so count on another shut event when Team USA try a historic title defence.

A complete reset for F1?

The big change in F1 will probably be a whole overhaul of the technical laws that sees major adjustments to the energy unit, chassis and aerodynamic guidelines. The automobiles will probably be very different, to say the least.

New automobile design guidelines virtually actually result in a shake-up to the pecking order and Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle has described the new laws as the “biggest changes ever” in the sport.

The groups have been engaged on their 2026 automobiles for over a 12 months already because the laws are scheduled to be in place for 5 seasons. Being fast from this 12 months will set you as much as be competitive for the seasons to return.

Mercedes’ dominance in 2014, for instance, lasted until 2016 before they had been lastly caught by Ferrari and Red Bull.

There will probably be no more DRS, instead we are going to “Overtake Mode” the place the drivers can use more energy on designated straights if they’re within one second of another automobile, while we are going to also see “Active Aero” which suggests the entrance and rear wings will probably be transferring before and after corners.

It’s anticipated the automobiles will be capable of comply with each other more intently, so there will probably be more overtaking alternatives.

Can Draper take seat at Grand Slam desk?

Britain’s tennis star has been struck by a string of accidents not just in 2025 however for years it appears, and yet again he has needed to withdraw from the Australian Open attributable to an arm injury sustained in August.

Despite these setbacks, the British No 1 made an impression on the global stage and enters 2026 tenth in the world, his highest-ever year-end ATP ranking.

Having reached his first Grand Slam semi-final in 2024, and two round-of-16s in 2025, Draper will probably be hopeful of going even additional this season, together with his favorite tournament, Wimbledon, an apparent aim.

Rising challengers goal to dethrone OKC Thunder

Defending NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder have a cheat code to the league for the next few years.

As effectively as boasting the current league MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – who’s also very a lot in the operating as soon as again this 12 months – they’re stashed full of draft picks to make sure they’ll continue to evolve the roster even as other groups enhance year-on-year.

But they’ll have to take action, because Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are rising as a pressure in the West and the rivalry between either side is growing right into a heated one.

Although the Thunder have the higher hand in latest clashes, the French phenom is placing all of it together in his third 12 months in the league and is now surrounded by sparky guards with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, his successor as rookie of the 12 months, working in tandem round him.

The Spurs consider they’ve the potential to challenge for the NBA crown, and with the New York Knicks seeking to live as much as their potential and the Detroit Pistons rising as a pressure in the East, the potential for a altering of the guard is actually there.

Can England crack Commonwealth Games netball code?

In 2022, England had just their second probability to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games on residence soil.

The first alternative, in Manchester in 2002, noticed them narrowly lose the bronze‑medal match to Jamaica. The second, in Birmingham in 2022, ended in another painful defeat in the third‑place match, this time to New Zealand.

Their misfortune appears to cross borders, too: in 2014, the Vitality Roses misplaced to Jamaica yet again in another bronze‑medal match. However, the 2018 Commonwealth champions head into this 12 months on a high after sweeping a two‑game sequence against Jamaica.

England face South Africa in January, a facet that helps shift the dialog round netball’s top groups from a top 4 to a top 5.

The Roses’ depth in squad choice units them up effectively for a possible redemption arc. Three gamers from the 2018-winning facet stay in competition for Commonwealth choice: Helen Housby, Natalie Metcalf, and Beth Cobden.

They are joined by a number of proficient gamers who impressed in the worldwide sequence against New Zealand and Jamaica. Recent debutant Jaz Brown significantly stood out and is a strong pressure in defence.

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