When you conjure an image of Tahiti, likely it will be of a tropical paradise with dazzling beaches and stunning azure waters where thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean lie between you and the cares of your daily life. However, from a footballing perspective, it can be something of a headache being located so far from the rest of the world.

Take the case of Tahiti United, the only team in the world that skips a day forward in time every time it travels to play a match. And then, when it returns home, it arrives back yesterday.

The Tahitians, representing the largest island of French Polynesia, are making their bow in the inaugural OFC Pro League, Oceania’s first professional football competition. They are pitted against seven other teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu — all of which are located to the west of Tahiti, on the other side of the International Date Line.

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The line, which appears on maps running between the North and South Pole at roughly 180 degrees longitude (save for a few conspicuous kinks along the way to avoid passing directly through inhabited territories) is used globally to mark the point where one day ends and the next begins. Fiji, for example, is a little more than 2,000 miles away from Tahiti — about the same distance as New York City is from Phoenix — but it is 22 hours ahead.

Due to the substantial distances and travel costs involved, the games take place in circuits where the teams come together to play two fixtures each. For 2026, those circuits are being hosted in and around Auckland, Fiji, Honiara, Melbourne and Port Moresby.

This arrangement means that Tahiti United don’t have any home fixtures, leading to them racking up a prodigious number of air miles and multiple moves back and forth in the calendar. For those cheering them on from back home, each Tahiti United game as they follow it is being played tomorrow.

Teams from Tahiti are no stranger to long journeys. Clubs from French overseas departments and territories are allowed to enter the Coupe de France each year, creating some monumental away days. AS Vénus made a 20,000-mile round trip to face French fourth-tier side Trelissac FC in 2021, only to lose 2-0.

Despite the daunting schedule, the presence of Tahiti United in the OFC Pro League has given a huge boost to those in French Polynesia. Competing in a fully professional structure has fundamentally changed Tahiti’s relationship to the beautiful game.

“The logistical challenge is significant,” Tahiti United general manager Temaui Crolas told ESPN. “Squad management, training and travel coordination become more complex when you are constantly moving. You always have to think beyond the match itself.

“But this project is very important for Tahitian football and the professionalization of sports in Tahiti as a whole. We are the first Tahitian professional team in any sport, and we are showing that football here can be part of the biggest stage.”

For the players, the shift to full-time football has come with significant sacrifices. Some have had to quit jobs and leave behind the security of an alternative career outside the sport. All have had to accept long periods on the road and away from their loved ones.

“There is a human cost,” Crolas said. “The players have had to make a sporting transition but also a lifestyle change, moving away from work, family life and routines to meet the demands of professional football.”

Tahiti‘s national football team represents all of French Polynesia — an area of over 2,200 square miles, of which Tahiti is the most populous one of 75 inhabited islands and atolls. On the international stage, Tahiti have fared well in the Oceania Football Confederation and won the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, becoming the first team other than Australia and New Zealand to claim that accolade. In the process Tahiti qualified for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where they lined up against the giants of Spain, Nigeria and Uruguay.

However, when Tahiti United secured their first win of the OFC Pro League season, a 1-0 win over Fiji’s Bula FC, it was a special and important moment. As a new club, Tahiti United have to build a fanbase from scratch and to convince those back home, watching in newly created fan zones in cafés, that they can succeed.

“Winning a match in a professional competition in Oceania is historic,” coach Samuel Garcia, who previously served as Tahiti’s national team boss for six years, told ESPN via email. “The response from home was overwhelmingly positive. For our supporters, our families, and everyone who has always believed in us, this victory was exceptional. More than anything, it confirmed the progress that we are making and that we’re going in the right direction.”

Garcia also pointed out that while the travel can be a challenge, the club knew this was what they signed up for and prepared accordingly.

By the end of the season, Tahiti United’s players and staff will have clocked somewhere in the region of 30,000 miles’ worth of travel and have spent close to an entire week in transit on their round-trips between circuit locations and home. With five circuits and then the final playoff round in May, that’s up to 12 jetlag-inducing journeys forward and back in time across the International Date Line over the course of the four-month campaign.

For Tahiti’s promising players, the OFC Pro League represents an exciting new chance to develop into a professional; something that has been hard to achieve until now.

“Tahiti United also offers a new pathway for young Polynesian players,” Garcia said. “Many families make significant sacrifices to send their children to Europe, but success rates are extremely low. Young players can now aspire to become professionals without leaving their home environment.”

A second win, 2-1 over PNG Hekari of Papua New Guinea, has helped lift Tahiti United away from the bottom of the OFC Pro League table. Club captain and Tahitian football legend Teaonui Tehau believes his side is settling into the new routine.

“Playing all our matches away and travelling for every round naturally has an impact on the group,” he told ESPN via email. “For many players, this is a completely new experience, and they are not used to this type of regular travel.

“Many did not expect us to perform at the level we have but our wins highlighted the strength and solidity of the team, which meant a lot to us. We are embracing the experience and adapting well. It’s strengthening us as a team.”

There are hopes that one day Tahiti United will finally get to be the hosts rather than the away side, but they may have to wait a while for their OFC Pro League home debut.

Tahiti is hosting the 2027 Pacific Games — a multisport event for athletes from all over Oceania. Football will be included, giving Tahiti a chance at glory if they can overcome the likes of New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, but it will have an impact on Tahiti United’s plans.

“We want to host an OFC Pro League circuit in the future, but it is difficult because of the Pacific Games,” Crolas said. “Our home stadium is one of the grounds for that event, so for our first two OFC Pro League campaigns it won’t be possible. Our target is 2028 for our first home game.”

Tehau said: “Personally, I would love to play Pro League matches one day in Tahiti and finish my career at home, in front of our supporters.”

For now, Tahiti United’s supporters will have to settle for watching from afar. But while the International Date Line means Tahiti’s fans are forever in the past, they can look forward to their heroes’ homecoming somewhere in the future.

Heavyweight Tyrell Fortune rose through the professional MMA ranks roughly a decade ago. It took until Saturday for him to secure his first UFC victory, though it did not come without drama.

Fourteen years after being pronounced dead during a weight cut, Fortune now also adds a UFC win to his comeback.

Fortune initially beat Marcin Tybura by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night, receiving judges scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. However, cage announcer Bruce Buffer caused confusion by reading the scores incorrectly, announcing totals that favored Fortune’s opponent.

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The error went unnoticed until Fortune had exited the octagon and headed toward the tunnel. Officials brought him back, where he was officially declared the winner.

“I was so upset with myself,” Fortune said as he evaluated his performance. “I felt I didn’t do enough. I was just upset. With two weeks’ notice, I feel like I did a good job, but I also need to come with a better performance next time.”

The former NCAA Division II wrestling champion’s path to Saturday’s victory includes a 2012 weight-cut incident that left him pronounced dead before he made a full recovery.

Tyrell Fortune prepares to face Marcin Tybura of Poland in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.  (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

He recalled the experience, saying it still doesn’t feel real years later. “I tried to forget about it for so long … because it seemed so far-fetched. Like, “Man. I died. Everything was over for a second, and I came back to life,'” Fortune told ESPN.

“And it really changed my perspective of life in general and how I view just living life on a day-to-day basis. When you’re in a situation like that, you really start to look at your values as a person, and you see what’s important to you, because it was all self-inflicted.”

Marcin Tybura (red gloves) fights Tyrell Fortune (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)

“It was just after my junior-college season, and I wasn’t a big heavyweight. I averaged around 220, 230 pounds. That’s in the middle of two weight categories. International weight classes are 211 and 265 pounds. I’m at 230. I’m like, ‘I can either give up this 30 to 40 pounds, or I can cut weight and be bigger than everybody at 211.’ So that’s what led to the decision to cut weight.”

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Fortune stepped in to fight Tybura on Saturday on two weeks’ notice after an injury withdrawal.

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Saud Shakeel-led Quetta Gladiators claimed their first Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 triumph as they defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by 40 runs at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing 175, Kingsmen were restricted to 134-8 in their allotted 20 overs, courtesy of an exceptional bowling performance by Gladiators’ bowling attack.

Saim Ayub was the first to fall after smashing back-to-back fours in the opening over. He scored eight off four deliveries before being undone by a sharp, unplayable bouncer from Alzarri Joseph.

In the following over, second opener Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for a second-ball duck by Abrar Ahmed, leaving the side reeling at 17-2 in 1.2 overs.Kingsmen failed to build momentum and lost their third wicket inside the powerplay as Abrar struck again, dismissing Usman Khan cheaply for 14 off 18 balls, including two fours.Saad Ali and Marnus Labuschagne then attempted to stabilise the innings, adding crucial runs to take the total past the 50-run mark.

However, Usman Tariq made an immediate impact in his first over, removing Saad Ali for seven off 12 deliveries as Kingsmen slipped to 51-4 in nine overs.

Skipper Saud Shakeel then chipped in with the ball and struck in his first over, claiming the key wicket of Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 23 off 21 balls, including three fours, reducing Kingsmen to 57-5 in 9.4 overs.Irfan Khan Niazi and Hassan Khan then put together a decent partnership, keeping the scoreboard ticking and guiding the total past the 100-run mark.The 48-run stand was eventually broken when Ahmed Daniyal dismissed Hassan Khan, who had played a fine knock of 31 off 19 deliveries, including three fours and a six, leaving Kingsmen under pressure at 105-6 in 15 overs.

Abrar struck again to hand Kingsmen another blow, dismissing Irfan Khan for 33 off 25 deliveries, including two fours and two sixes. Ahmed Daniyal then joined the attack and removed Hammad Azam for six off eight balls, adding further pressure on the side.Hyderabad ended their innings losing eight wickets, falling short of the target, with Maheesh Theekshana unbeaten on two and Riley Meredith scoring three runs.Batting first, the Gladiators notched up 174-8 in their allotted 20 overs after going off to a decent start as their openers, skipper Saud and Shamyl, began adding runs from the outset.

However, Riley Meredith struck on the final delivery of the second over, dismissing Saud after he had scored a run-a-ball four, giving his side the early advantage as the Gladiators were reduced to 21-1.

In the fourth over, Meredith struck again, providing another crucial breakthrough by dismissing Rilee Rossouw for a five-ball duck.

Shamyl Hussain then joined forces with Hassan Nawaz, as the pair aimed to stabilise the innings, taking the team past the 50-run mark.

Their partnership of 50 runs eased the pressure, allowing them to score at regular intervals and put pressure on the Kingsmen’s bowling attack.

Shamyl was in fine form, raising his bat for back-to-back fifties in PSL 11.

However, the 89-run stand was broken when Meredith struck yet again, dismissing Shamyl Hussain after an exceptional knock of 54 off 41 balls, which included three fours and three sixes.

Hassan continued to pile on the runs, reaching his fourth PSL fifty, with Khawaja Nafay joining him at the crease.

However, Maheesh Theekshana turned the game with his bowling in the 15th over, claiming two quick wickets.

He dismissed Nafay for six off four deliveries, including one four, and followed it up by sending wicketkeeper-batter Ben McDermott back to the pavilion for a duck.

Tom Curran smashed boundaries in the final overs of the innings, helping his team’s total soar past the 150-run mark.

Akif Javed bowled the final over, claiming two crucial wickets—first dismissing Curran for 31 off 18 balls, which included one four and three sixes, and then removing Alzarri Joseph for a duck.Abrar Ahmed came to the crease and hit back-to-back fours, taking a single on the final delivery to finish unbeaten on nine off three balls, while Ahmed Daniyal contributed six runs off eight deliveries.

Riley Meredith was Kingsmen’s standout bowler, claiming 3/38 runs in four overs, while Maheesh Theekshanan and Akif Javed contributed two wickets each.