The biggest sporting events still to watch in 2025

Sports fans are in for a treat in the final quarter of 2025, with the upcoming calendar packed with a plethora of major events across different disciplines.

Without further ado, read on as we look at the biggest sporting events to watch in Q4 2025, starting with a competition which will have football fans on the edge of their seats.

Champions League

The opening stage of the 2025/26 Champions League gets underway in September, but really kicks into gear during the final three months of the year.

A portion of Matchday 2 will be staged on October 1, while another four rounds of fixtures are scheduled to take place before the end of the year.

Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain will be desperate to retain the trophy, but several teams have a genuine chance of knocking them off their perch.

They include Chelsea, who demonstrated that PSG are not unbeatable by defeating them 3-0 in the Club World Cup final this summer.

The Ashes

The latest edition of The Ashes gets underway in November and Australia are favourites on the 10CRIC sportsbook to see off England’s challenge.

The Aussies have dominated this series on home soil in recent years, recording emphatic 5-0 (2013/14), 4-0 (2017/18) and 4-0 (2021/22) victories.

England were unfortunate not to defeat India in a five-match Test series this summer and will head to Australia in a confident frame of mind.

However, the Aussies are an extremely tough nut to crack at home and they are strongly fancied to retain The Ashes.

Breeders’ Cup World Championships

The eyes of the horse racing world will be on California later this year as the 42nd edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is staged at Del Mar Racecourse.

Straddling two days on October 31 and November 1, the prestigious meeting is a thrilling showcase of the best equine talent on the planet.

Consisting of 14 Grade 1 races with prize money of more than $31 million, the Breeders’ Cup generates massive economic benefits for the host state.

The standout race is the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which was won last year by Sierra Leone. The horse will attempt to go back-to-back in this year’s race.

Melbourne Cup

Attention quickly switches to Australia as the prestigious Melbourne Cup is staged at Flemingtton Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November.

More commonly known as ‘the race that stops the nation’, this event is the headline act of a glittering four-day meeting staged in Victoria.

The Melbourne Cup has become an increasingly international affair in recent years, with the organisers eager to attract participants from overseas.

The Joseph O’Brien trained Al Riffa could be the horse to beat following his hugely impressive victory in the Irish St Leger at The Curragh last weekend.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has often been the stage for a thrilling end to the Drivers’ Championship in the Formula One motorsports series.

That could be the case again this year, with McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris currently embroiled in a thrilling battle for the world title.

With the team intent on allowing both drivers to fight for the prize, the stage is set for the battle to go right down to the final race.

The two drivers have won 12 of the 16 races staged this season between them and either would be a fitting winner of the F1 championship.

PDC World Darts Championship

For many sports bettors, the PDC World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace in London is the highlight of the festive period.

Reigning world champion Luke Littler is the bookmakers’ favourite to retain the title, but several other players harbour genuine hopes of clinching the prize.

They include Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen, while Gerwyn Price could be dangerous if he produces his best form.

World Cup of Darts champion Josh Rock will also fancy his chances of making a deep run having impressed in several major events this year.

Africa Cup of Nations

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets underway in Morocco on December 21 and will run into the early part of next year.

Ivory Coast are the defending champions, but recent history shows that going back-to-back in this tournament has become increasingly difficult.

Egypt (2006, 2008 & 2010) were the last team to achieve the feat and they are amongst the teams who could topple Ivory Coast at AFCON 2025.

Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Nigeria are other nations expected to make their mark in Africa’s continental football showpiece.

The biggest sporting events still to watch in 2025