Turn on the game!

Three must-see events this week: 

1. Spain vs. Argentina (1 p.m. Sunday, Fox) — There are no coincidences. So explain the photo of Lionel Messi (Argentina) bathing baby Lamine Yamal (Spain) 19 years before they meet in a World Cup final.

2. Broncos training camp (Wednesday) — Broncos rookies, including talented running back Jonah Coleman, are expected to report to Broncos Park. Public practices start Friday, July 31.  

3. Colorado Open (Friday-Sunday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club) — The nation’s premier state open returns with a $250,000 prize purse and Basalt’s Jim Knous, the reigning champ.

Numbers game

1,344 — total games on the NHL’s 2026-27 schedule, the most in league history, as the Avalanche and its rivals return to an 84-game schedule for a third time (1992-93, 1993-94)

Box office

$16 — for a seat in Section 151 at Coors Field on Sunday when the Rockies host the Reds and ex-MSU Denver pitcher Julian Garcia, the first Roadrunner to reach the bigs (Gametime app)

On this day

July 19, 1995 — Dante Bichette and Walt Weiss combined for four RBIs as the Blake Street Bombers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 in front of 48,000 on a Wednesday at Coors Field

Final word

The booming success of the men’s World Cup, which closes Sunday with the Argentina-Spain final, has Denver soccer fans mourning the city’s big whiff on serving as a host site. But Denver should be a no-brainer selection to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Denver Summit FC entered Saturday averaging 28,436 fans per home match, tops in the NWSL. If U.S. captain and Golden native Lindsey Heaps remains in the mix, an international spotlight is the perfect way to open the Broncos’ new stadium. Don’t you think?

— Paul Klee, The Denver Gazette