Sporting Highlights to Look Forward to in 2025

England women's football captain Leah Williamson, Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, England rugby star Ellie Kildunne and England cricketer Joe Root all have big events to showcase their talents in 2025

The 2025 sporting calendar promises an action-packed year, with women’s sports taking center stage in major tournaments across football, rugby, and cricket. Here’s what to watch for in the year ahead:

Key Events in 2025

Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland (July 2-27)
Women’s Rugby World Cup in England (August 22 – September 27)
Women’s Cricket World Cup in India (Dates TBC, September-October)
Men’s and Women’s Ashes Series in Australia (January-February, November-January 2026)
British and Irish Lions Rugby Tour to Australia (July)
Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, New York (September 26-28)

From football glory to cricket rivalries and world championships, here’s a breakdown of the top highlights and their anticipated impact.

Lionesses Aim to Repeat Euros Success

The Women’s Euro 2025 will see England’s Lionesses defend their title in Switzerland, with group-stage matches against Wales, France, and the Netherlands. The tournament, running from July 2-27, follows England’s dramatic Euros victory in 2022 and their runner-up finish at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Key Matches:

July 13: England vs. Wales (Final Group Game)

Rugby Union: A Year of High Stakes

The Women’s Rugby World Cup will dominate August and September, with England’s Red Roses entering as favorites. They aim to break attendance records and lift the trophy on home soil at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on September 27.

The British and Irish Lions men’s rugby team tours Australia, with their three-Test series against the Wallabies starting July 19.

Cricket Showdowns: The Ashes and More

Women’s Ashes Series (January-February):
England women face Australia in a multi-format Ashes series, including a four-day Test at the MCG.

Men’s Ashes Series (November-January 2026):
Ben Stokes’ side will look to reclaim the urn in a five-match series starting November 21 in Perth.

Women’s Cricket World Cup (September-October):
England’s women aim to regain the title last won in 2017, though Australia enters as the tournament favorite.

Athletics Stars Set for Glory

Athletics standout Keely Hodgkinson will pursue a double world gold in 2025:

World Indoor Championships: March 21-23, Nanjing, China
World Outdoor Championships: September 13-21, Tokyo

Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Matthew Hudson-Smith will also chase podium finishes.

Football: Beyond the Euros

The revamped FIFA Club World Cup features 32 teams competing in the United States from June 15 to July 13, including Manchester City and Chelsea.

Meanwhile, England’s men, now under Thomas Tuchel, begin their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign with matches against Albania (March 21) and Latvia (March 24).

Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam Chase

In tennis, Novak Djokovic seeks his 25th Grand Slam singles title, aiming to surpass Margaret Court’s record. With Andy Murray as his new coach, Djokovic targets an 11th Australian Open title (January 12-26) to start his year on a high.

Formula 1: Verstappen and Hamilton Headlines

The 2025 F1 season kicks off in Australia on March 16, with Max Verstappen seeking his fifth title. All eyes will also be on Lewis Hamilton, who makes his debut in Ferrari red.

Ryder Cup Returns to the US

From September 26-28, the Ryder Cup will see Luke Donald’s Europe face Team USA at Bethpage Black in New York. Europe will aim to retain the trophy following their 2023 win.