January is the right time to look atwhat sports fans have to look forward to in the coming year. Two major events that don’t happen every year but will be taking place in 2025 are the new UEFA Nations League finals and golf’s Ryder Cup, being hosted by the American team in September. The Nations League, not welcomed by everyone in the game it would be fair to say, will be playing their finals in the early part of June. Although it will have been a long slog to get there, once we get to the business end of the competition and a major trophy is in sight I’m sure the teams involved will give it their full attention.

The golf schedule will follow the same pattern as last year with a major tournament being played in four consecutive months from April onwards. Of course, we start with the Masters which is followed by the US PGA in May, the US Open in June and finally the British Open, being played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, in July. The venue for the British Open will certainly bring the chances of Rory McIlroy into sharp focus if of course Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffle let anyone else come to the party! Scottie especially is already looking in awesome form and after a spectacular nine-time winning 2024, I think we can expect more of the same. The Ryder Cup is being played at the intimidating Bethpage Black course in New York and it will take a gargantuan effort from the European team to wrest the cup back from the holders.

Elsewhere of course all the major European football leagues will be coming to a conclusion around May and that will be followed by the UEFA Champions League final in Germany on the last day of that month. Straight after comes the Nations League and before you know it the new season will be with us in August. Remember when there used to be a close season?

The new F1 season starts in March and Australia has regained its place as the opening race in the calendar. This will take place between the 14 – 16th of March, two weeks later than 2024. Other than that, there are only a couple of small further changes to the schedule, making the whole season more geographically compatible.

Other events to look forward to include the FIFA World Club Cup in June (more football!), the Six Nations rugby in February and March, the World Snooker Championship and the four major tennis tournaments including Wimbledon in July plus a host of others. It looks like we have another great sporting year in store for 2025