The FIFA World Cup is almost run and done.If only there was another global sporting event to fill the void.Luckily, the 2026 Commonwealth Games get under way in Glasgow from Thursday, July 23 where 74 nations and territories will compete for a spot on the podium.Scotland salvaged the Games after they were abandoned by Victoria midway through 2023, but that means they’re operating on a reduced program.Unfortunately, rugby sevens, hockey, cricket, beach volleyball and table tennis are among the sports that haven’t made the cut. But swimming, athletics, lawn bowls and netball are some of the crowd favourites to return for the 10-sport program.Australia topped the medal tally at Birmingham 2022, but they’ll be without two of their most notable gold medal winners – Ariarne Titmus, who retired from professional swimming, and Kaylee McKeown, who has withdrawn due to illness.Here are some of the events and storylines to keep an eye on away from the track and the pool.Bodybuilder, actor and debutantIt’s not every day an actor makes their Commonwealth Games debut, but Australian Daniel Bos is about to do just that.You might recognise the 29-year-old from Avatar: Fire and Ash or Spartacus: House of Ashur, but when he’s not on set he’s in the gym. Bos is a bodybuilder and Australian para-powerlifter.Bos will compete in the men’s lightweight event, which begins on July 24 from 10pm AEST.“I’m a bodybuilder by trade, as I like to say,” Bos told Paralympics Australia last year.“But strength training has always fed into my physique goals and vice versa. You can’t stay shredded all year, so having something else to chase, like a lifting number instead of a measurement, is helping to keep me very motivated.”The grudge race Australia must watchDoes the name Matthew Richardson ring any bells?Here’s a refresher. Richardson was the Australian who won silver in the sprint and the keirin at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He also won gold in the sprint and team sprint at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.Richardson will be racing in Glasgow. But this time, it won’t be for Australia. He controversially changed his allegiance from Australia to the United Kingdom following the 2024 Olympics, and he copped quite a bit of criticism for it.Richardson representing Australia at the 2024 Olympic in Paris.Getty ImagesSafe to say, things could get a little heated by time velodrome actions rolls around.Australia is sending a team of 25 cyclists to Glasgow, and Leigh Hoffman – who won gold in the team sprint alongside Richardson – along with Daniel Barber, Ryan Elliott and Tayte Ryan – will be among the athletes to compete against Richardson.An entrance fit for a King ... and QueenThe 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony will be held at The Hydro in Glasgow – a 13,000 capacity arena just off the River Clyde in the heart of the city.The ceremony will take place at 5am AEST on Friday July 24, and King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend.King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend the opening ceremony in Glasgow.Getty ImagesKing Charles will read aloud a message he wrote and placed inside the King’s Baton on Commonwealth Day at Buckingham Palace back in March 2025. The baton has travelled across all 74 Commonwealth countries since then.Scottish singer KT Tunstall (most famous for her song Suddenly I See for all The Devil Wears Prada lovers out there) will also perform at the opening ceremony along with Nathan Evans and Saint PHNX, Callum Beattie and Nina Nesbitt.Diamonds are Australia’s best friendThere are events where Australia wants gold, and then there are events where Australia expects gold. Netball is one of the latter.It’s fair enough; the Diamonds are one of Australia’s most successful sporting teams and they are the reigning Commonwealth Games champions after downing Jamaica 55-51 in the 2022 final.Australia is the most successful netball nation at the Games, and coach Stacey Marinkovich is taking a combination of team veterans and rising stars to defend their gold medal from Birmingham, with Liz Watson as captain and Kate Moloney as vice-captain.Australia are in pool A along with England, South Africa, Malawi, Tonga and Northern Ireland. Their campaign begins against Tonga at 6pm on Saturday, July 25.Australian Netball Team – Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth GamesKiera Austin (NSW), Courtney Bruce (WA), Sophie Dwyer (NSW)*, Sophie Garbin (WA)*, Matilda Garrett (VIC)*, Georgie Horjus (SA)*, Sarah Klau (SA), Cara Koenen (QLD), Kate Moloney (VIC), Jamie-Lee Price (NSW)*, Liz Watson (VIC), Jo Weston (VIC)*Commonwealth Games debutRESERVES: Jessie Grenvold (SA), Amy Parmenter (NSW), Donnell Wallam (WA)Godwin returns to international stageAustralian gymnast Georgia Godwin has the chance to make history in Glasgow.The eight-time Commonwealth Games medallist could become Australia’s most decorated female gymnast in Games history if she wins one gold in Glasgow.Georgia Godwin competes in the women’s balance beam final at the 2022 Games in Birmingham.GettyThat record is currently held by Allana Slater, who won three golds, four silvers and one bronze across the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur and 2002 Games in Manchester.Getting to the Games is an incredible achievement in itself for the 28-year-old, who suffered an Achilles injury less than three months out from the 2024 Olympics in Paris.Now, Godwin makes her return to the international Games stage in Glasgow where she will be defending her 2022 all-around and vault gold medals.“To be named to my third Commonwealth Games team is incredibly special,” Godwin said.“I’m really proud to represent Australia again, especially after everything it’s taken to get back here.”Eight debutants step into the ringFor the first time since the 2002 Games in Manchester, Australia will field a boxing team made up completely of debutants.Among the team of eight is Emma-Sue Greentree – the world No.3 in the 75 kilogram division – who formerly represented NSW in athletics.Greentree’s switch came almost a decade ago when all of her opponents were getting better while her results were staying the same. Fed up with being left behind, she gave boxing a try only to find she was a natural.She takes to the ring from 8pm on July 24, where her eyes are firmly set on the gold medal. None of the boxers who are ranked higher than Greentree in the world rankings compete for Commonwealth countries, which means she’s the favourite heading to Glasgow.Lawn bowls’ disco momentWhen Australians think about lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games, it’s likely one very specific moment that comes to mind. That is Aaron “Disco” Wilson pulling his shirt off, tossing it into the home crowd and whizzing around the bowls green, fist pumping the air.That was Wilson’s response to winning gold at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast. And then, he went back-to-back, defending his gold with victory in 2022.Aaron Wilson celebrates without a shirt on after his victory at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.Jono SearleSo, the question is, can Wilson get the three-peat?“To have the chance to chase a third straight Commonwealth Games gold medal is something really special,” Wilson told Commonwealth Games Australia this year.“Winning in Gold Coast and defending the title in Birmingham are moments I’ll never forget, but I’m still hungry for more.“The standard keeps rising, and that’s exactly what drives me; I want to keep pushing myself and do everything I can to bring home another gold for Australia in Glasgow.”Is the three-peat on for Cikamatana? At 26 years old, weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana is chasing history.Having won back-to-back gold at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast and 2022 Games in Birmigham, Cikamatana is going for the three-peat in Glasgow. Eileen Cikamatana competes for Australia at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.Getty ImagesHowever, she hasn’t always competed for Australia. When she won in 2018 she was representing Fiji before she switched allegiances – making her the first woman to win individual gold medals for two different countries at a Commonwealth Games.“It’s always an honour to wear the green and gold. Defending my title in Glasgow is a huge motivation, and I’m ready to do the work and give everything for Australia,” Cikamatana told Commonwealth Games Australia earlier this year.She will compete from July 26.Family affair in the dojoAustralia’s judo team will include not one, but two pairs of siblings.2022 gold medallist Aoife Coughlan will be joined by her sister Maeve at these Games, while Vas and Saya Middleton are making their debuts together.“Winning gold in Birmingham was a memorable moment in my career and I look forward to the opportunity to defend my title,” Aoife Coughlan told Commonwealth Games Australia earlier this year.“To be able to share this experience with Maeve makes it even more special.”Judo will take place from 8pm on July 31st, with the medal event to take place from 1am on August 1.You can watch the Commonwealth Games action on Seven, with events running from July 23 to August 2.TV screen to DJ decksAny Outlander fans out there? Well, actor Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser in the TV show, will be performing in Glasgow, but not in an acting capacity. Instead, he’ll be hitting the DJ decks.Yeah, you read that right.Outlander actor Sam Heughan (left) will be performing in Glasgow.AP/Sony/Ed MillerHeughen is the official DJ of the 2022 Commonwealth Games (who knew that was a job), and his debut set will be on July 24 at the para powerlifting.Follow our live coverage of the Games from 6pm AEST daily, beginning Friday July 24, and come back next week to get the details on the best action from the pool and the track.News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.