As 2025 unfolds, sporting bodies worldwide are gearing up for a year filled with excitement, ranging from the intense drama of football tournaments to the high-speed thrills of Formula 1, offering something for every sports enthusiast.

Here are ten major sporting events to look out for in 2025:

African Cup of Nations (AFCON)

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be hosted by Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, and will feature 24 teams from across the continent, including some of the most successful footballing nations in Africa.

The teams set to compete in the AFCON tournament include Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, defending champions Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Benin Republic, Tanzania, Botswana, and Mozambique.

The tournament is expected to showcase the finest African football talents, with Morocco returning as the host after initially being scheduled to host the tournament in 2015.

2025 Rugby World Cup (Women)

The 2025 Rugby World Cup (Women) will be hosted in England from August 22 to September 27, 2025, across eight venues, with the final set to be staged at Twickenham Stadium. Qualified teams such as the USA, England, New Zealand, France, and Canada will compete in what is set to be the largest-ever Women?s Rugby World Cup, which has expanded from 12 to 16 teams in order to increase the visibility and growth of the women?s game across the globe.

With qualification still open through the WXV series and other regional competitions, the full list of participants will be finalised as the year progresses.

One of the prestigious cycling events in the world, the 2025 Tour de France, will be held from July 5 to July 27 next year, where cyclists will compete for the coveted Yellow Jersey awarded to the overall leader of the race.

The race will feature strong contenders like Tadej Poga?ar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Primo? Rogli?.

UEFA Women?s Euro 2025

The 14th edition of the UEFA Women?s European Championship will be held in Switzerland from July 2 to July 27, 2025, and will feature women?s national teams from across Europe competing for the continental title

Countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Germany have already qualified for this tournament, while others will qualify through a series of qualifying matches.

FIFA Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled for June 15 to July 13, is another sporting event to look out for in 2025.

The competition will be the first edition to host 32 teams from around the world against the previous 7 team competitors, and it is the first time the tournament will be held in the United States.

Participating teams are expected to qualify based on their respective continental championships, such as Europe (UEFA Champions League winners), South America (Copa Libertadores champions), Asia (AFC Champions League winners), Africa (CAF Champions League winners), North America (CONCACAF Champions League winners), Oceania (OFC Champions League winners), and host country representatives (likely the MLS champions from the US).

2025 Ryder Cup

Golfers around the continent will meet at the Bethpage Black Course in New York, USA, from September 23 to September 28, 2025, to compete in the 2025 Ryder Cup. The competition will feature Team Europe and Team USA, featuring 24 of the best golfers from each continent.

Golfers qualify for the Ryder Cup based on their performance in various competitions leading up to the event, including the PGA Tour, European Tour, and major tournaments. Captains for both teams select the final members from the top-ranked players or as ?wildcard? picks.

Wimbledon Championships

One of the oldest and arguably most prestigious Grand Slam tournaments, The Wimbledon Championship, will be held in London, England, from June 30 to July 13, 2025.

2025 World Aquatics Championships

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships is scheduled to take place in Singapore from July 11 to August 3, 2025. The competition includes various aquatic sports such as swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo, and open-water swimming.

The event is a key qualifier for athletes aiming for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, making it especially important for those in the swimming and diving categories.

Monaco Grand Prix (Formula 1)

The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix will take place from May 23 to May 25, 2025, in the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The sporting event is expected to attract a crowd of celebrities, royal figures, and business magnates.

2025 ICC Women?s Cricket World Cup

The 2025 Women?s Cricket World Cup, scheduled to take place in India, is an event to look out for in 2025. (Vanguard)

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