Photos show the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held in Japan

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Photos show the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held in Japan

2026-09-20 01:03 Last Updated At：01:10

NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — The opening ceremony of the Asian Games has marked the official start of the 16-day event.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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Kuwait's flag bearers Sarah Alhawal and Ebrahim Alzofairi and athletes walk into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

North Korean athletes react as they march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Silhouette photo of Japanese athletes Koji Ito, left, and Akari Fujinami wave as the hold the torches before the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Performers gather in the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

A performer shows the tezutsu fireworks during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Dancers perform around a model of a Japanese castle during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Palestinian flag bearers Farah Fares and Mohammed Hamada walk with teammates into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japan's Akari Fujinami, left, and Kosuke Kitajima gesture with their torches before the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Iran athletes react as they march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Singapore athletes march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, fourth right, Empress Masako, third right, Crown Prince Akishino, second right, and Crown Princess Kiko, right, stand with officials as they attend the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Chinese athletes march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japanese flag is unfurled during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

More Images

Kuwait's flag bearers Sarah Alhawal and Ebrahim Alzofairi and athletes walk into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

North Korean athletes react as they march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Silhouette photo of Japanese athletes Koji Ito, left, and Akari Fujinami wave as the hold the torches before the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Performers gather in the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

A performer shows the tezutsu fireworks during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Dancers perform around a model of a Japanese castle during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Palestinian flag bearers Farah Fares and Mohammed Hamada walk with teammates into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japan's Akari Fujinami, left, and Kosuke Kitajima gesture with their torches before the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Iran athletes react as they march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Singapore athletes march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, fourth right, Empress Masako, third right, Crown Prince Akishino, second right, and Crown Princess Kiko, right, stand with officials as they attend the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Chinese athletes march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japanese flag is unfurled during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Arsenal loses for first time in Premier League title defense and more pain for Tottenham

Arsenal slumped to a first loss of its Premier League title defense — and it was a heavy one at Brighton.

After four straight wins for the champions, the 3-0 defeat at Amex Stadium on Saturday came somewhat out of nowhere, and conceding the third goal from a corner — typically an area of strength for Arsenal — summed up an unusually sloppy performance from Mikel Arteta’s team.

Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas scored in the first half with shots from outside the penalty area, before Chema Andres completed the win with a header at the back post from Gross’ corner.

“There are certain basics that you need to accomplish in football, especially in the Premier League, that we were very far from," said Arteta, who described it as a “big lesson.”

“The amount of technical errors that we did, and we didn’t respect any principle of play that you have to, to get out of man-to-man situations. That put us always on the back foot.”

The victory will have been especially sweet for Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, who said “only one team tried to play football” after his team’s narrow home loss to Arsenal last season.

Arsenal has often struggled against Brighton, which was the last team to inflict such a heavy defeat on the Gunners in any competition — winning 3-0 at Emirates Stadium in May 2023.

It completed a brilliant week for Brighton, which beat Coventry 5-0 in the league last weekend and came from two goals down in midweek to beat Manchester United 3-2 away in the English League Cup.

“We have to have the belief to compete with the best teams in the league,” Hurzeler said.

Manchester City — the other team to win its first four games — can now move three points clear in the standings by beating Sunderland on Sunday.

Fresh off a $400 million summer spend, Tottenham remains without a win in five league games this season after losing 3-2 at home to Aston Villa.

Johan Manzambi, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder who starred for Switzerland at the World Cup, made his first start for Villa and scored the opening goal against the run of play in first-half-stoppage time. He set up another for fellow new signing Nicolas Jackson, before Emi Buendia’s long-range strike in the 79th sent Villa on its way to a first league win of the campaign.

Conor Gallagher and Jan Paul van Hecke grabbed late consolations for Spurs — its first league goals this season — but it is now two losses and three defeats in the league for Roberto De Zerbi's team, which also lost in the English League Cup this week.

After back-to-back 17th-place finishes in the 20-team Premier League, Tottenham’s leadership oversaw a huge squad rebuild in the offseason in a show of confidence in De Zerbi.

There’s been no payback so far in terms of results and De Zerbi — a combustible Italian coach — is under growing pressure heading into a long international break.

To make matters worse for Tottenham, World Cup-winning Spain right back Pedro Porro was forced off midway through the first half with an injury.

Fast starts helped Newcastle and Everton claim wins over promoted teams.

Newcastle scored twice in the first seven minutes — through Lewis Hall and Joe Willock — to set up a 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten Hull.

Thierno Barry's 11th-minute goal was enough for Everton to beat Ipswich 1-0.

Nottingham Forest hosted Coventry later.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Photos show the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held in Japan

Photos show the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held in Japan

Kuwait's flag bearers Sarah Alhawal and Ebrahim Alzofairi and athletes walk into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

North Korean athletes react as they march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Silhouette photo of Japanese athletes Koji Ito, left, and Akari Fujinami wave as the hold the torches before the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Performers gather in the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

A performer shows the tezutsu fireworks during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Dancers perform around a model of a Japanese castle during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Palestinian flag bearers Farah Fares and Mohammed Hamada walk with teammates into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japan's Akari Fujinami, left, and Kosuke Kitajima gesture with their torches before the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Iran athletes react as they march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Singapore athletes march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, fourth right, Empress Masako, third right, Crown Prince Akishino, second right, and Crown Princess Kiko, right, stand with officials as they attend the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Chinese athletes march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japanese flag is unfurled during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Kuwait's flag bearers Sarah Alhawal and Ebrahim Alzofairi and athletes walk into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

North Korean athletes react as they march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Silhouette photo of Japanese athletes Koji Ito, left, and Akari Fujinami wave as the hold the torches before the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Performers gather in the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

A performer shows the tezutsu fireworks during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Dancers perform around a model of a Japanese castle during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Palestinian flag bearers Farah Fares and Mohammed Hamada walk with teammates into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japan's Akari Fujinami, left, and Kosuke Kitajima gesture with their torches before the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Iran athletes react as they march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Singapore athletes march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, fourth right, Empress Masako, third right, Crown Prince Akishino, second right, and Crown Princess Kiko, right, stand with officials as they attend the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Chinese athletes march into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Japanese flag is unfurled during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

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