2025 has a lot on its plate if it hopes to dethrone 2024’s sporting actions. Marked by the Paris Olympics Games, last year did not disappoint. But let’s keep our expectations high, with plenty of events and battles to expect in diverse disciplines. As the season unfolds, here is my non-exhaustive list of what to look forward to in sports this year.
Rugby:
European rugby will display its best battles in the Six Nations Championship in February. Defending champion Ireland will face motivated the Frenchmen, revived by their successes last autumn and in the latest Champions Cup’s games. On the other hand, England and Scotland are thirsty for revenge but already miss injured players – one to follow!
Football:
Football won’t be lacking in action either. European Women’s teams will clash in Switzerland as part of the Euro tournament, from July 2. Spain, 2023 World Cup winner led by Ballon d’Or holder Aitana Bonmatí is expected to dominate group B, but their rivals should not be underestimated. May will be a milestone for the men’s season, with the Premier League wrapping up and the Champions League’s final. The FIFA Club World Cup will then take over in its extended format for the first time, including 32 teams. Exciting!
Formula 1:
For its 75th birthday, Formula 1 will go through considerable changes, the biggest one being Lewis Hamilton’s debut for Ferrari after twelve seasons driving for Mercedes. There are question marks over Max Verstappen’s ability to dominate La Scuderia’s new roster and get a fifth World champion title, but that will also depend on the relationship between Hamilton and his new teammate, Charles Leclerc. The season will be launched on March 16 with the Melbourne Grand Prix.
Cycling:
Australia is also hosting the beginning of the road cycling season, with the Tour Down Under preceding the spring Classics in March where, as always, epic and unpredictable battles are to be expected. The Grands Tours will then begin, starting with the Giro d’Italia. Tour de France, from July 5, should be another battleground for dominating champions Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Another event to keep an eye on will be the World Championships, organized in Kigali, Rwanda, in September. For the first time, this competition will take place in Africa, offering its hardest route ever.
Other team sports will also be worth following, such as handball, whose World Championships take place in 2025, two years after the last edition. The men’s competition has already begun, and the final is coming soon, on February 2. The women will have to wait until November for their competition to start.
Basketball fans will be interested in complementing the NBA season with Eurobasket. Every four years, this European championship makes its comeback: write down June 18 and August in your diaries for the women’s and men’s editions.