Get your 2025 calendar out and circle these dates. Cameron McMillan runs through the top sporting events in the upcoming 12 months. The annual favourites of the Super Bowl, Masters, Wimbledon, Tour de France and Indy 500 should already be pencilled in and there may be other events announced during
Sport in 2025: The 15 must-watch sporting events this year
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Wallace Sititi and the All Blacks will host the Springboks in 2025. Photo / Photosport
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Australian Grand Prix, March 16
Liam Lawson’s first race in the Red Bull car and hopefully he’ll be closer to the front of the grid than he was in his six-race stint for Racing Bulls in 2024. Red Bull have taken a punt on the Kiwi and will expect early results in assisting Max Verstappen towards a fifth straight Formula One title and get Red Bull back on top of the constructors’ standings. F1 has grown hugely in popularity over the last few years but has suddenly become appointment viewing for Kiwis even for the 2am starts now Lawson is racing.
A-League final, May 31 or June 1
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Could be Auckland FC or the Wellington Phoenix in the final, could even be with both teams there. Could also be Melbourne Victory v Adelaide Utd, which wouldn’t be as popular around New Zealand bars and would drop off this list. Just a playoff appearance would be a great achievement for the Auckland side in their maiden season but they’ve shown already they have the goods to go all the way.
World Test Championship final, June 11
Lord’s plays host to the decider in crowning the best in tests. The Black Caps aren’t there and we might not know who is playing South Africa until after the Sri Lanka-Australia series in February. South Africa having the chance to lift the mace is intriguing after sending such a weakened team to New Zealand last summer.
Warriors v Panthers, June 21
Looking at the Warriors’ 2025 schedule there are plenty of matches to circle but the key one that jumps out is this clash against the reigning premiers. The Panthers haven’t played at Mt Smart since 2019 - they’ve won four titles since then. Maybe Jett Cleary will be in the line-up by then, up against his father and brother.
Chelsea v Arsenal (March 16), Chelsea v Liverpool (May 4), Liverpool v Arsenal (May 11)
I did originally have the Club World Cup final (July 13) in here, but I’m not convinced by the tournament, despite the change of format.
Is it too much to ask for an English Premier League season to come to the final day? It could get really tight by the end of this season with current leaders Liverpool facing Chelsea and Arsenal in back-to-back fixtures in the final month.
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British and Irish Lions v Australia, first test, July 19
The least hype to a Lions tour in a long time due to the poor run of form of the home team. The Wallabies sit eighth in the world rankings and are coming off a disappointing World Cup two years ago where they failed to get out of pool play. On previous tours to Australia, in 2001 the Wallabies were the reigning World Cup champions and in 2013 they were ranked ahead of all four of the Lions nations. But the Wallabies stunned England at Twickenham in November and might be in some decent shape by July - we’ll certainty know whether we’re in for a good series or not by the end of test one.
All Blacks v Springboks, Eden Park, September 6
A huge threat to the All Blacks’ 50-game streak at the ground. The Boks haven’t won at Eden Park since 1937, but they’ve played just eight times over that 88-year period. More recently, they’ve had it over the All Blacks, winning the last four tests including the World Cup final. Another big clash on the schedule is a return to Chicago to face Ireland as part of a Grand Slam tour.
Athletics World Championships, September 13-21
Olympic champion Hamish Kerr will be looking to add a world title along with his gold medal and world indoor championship from 2024. It should be a starkly different atmosphere at the Tokyo National Stadium which was empty for the Olympics in 2021.
Ryder Cup, September 25-28
Bethpage Black in New York plays host, a course that notoriously features a sign which reads: “The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers”. The last big tournament it held was the 2019 PGA Championship, won by Brooks Kopeka. And 2012 was the last time Europe won on American soil - the Miracle at Medinah - as they look to defend the title won in Italy last year.
Rugby World Cup final, September 28
Can the Black Ferns do it again? Host England will be overwhelming favourites to win the title for the first time since 2014. Going back to 2019, England have won 50 of 51 tests, the only defeat being the final defeat to the Black Ferns at Eden Park. New Zealand need to overcome Ireland in pool play, who beat them for the first time in September, to avoid the hosts until a potential final at Twickenham which is sold out.
Women’s ODI World Cup final, October
The White Ferns will chase another World Cup after lifting the T20 trophy in 2024. The draw has yet to be released but what we know is that India is the host and the tournament will feature just eight teams for the final time. New Zealand had a disappointing World Cup in 2022 when they finished sixth, failing to make the semifinals for the second straight time. Once again Australia and England will be the teams to beat. Date of final to be confirmed.
The Ashes, first test, November 21-25
After so much build-up the Ashes finally begin at the start of the Australian summer. The series starts in Perth followed by matches at the Gabba, Adelaide Oval, MCG and the SCG. Australia have held the Ashes since 2017 and England haven’t won a series in Australia since 2010 - with the Aussies winning 13 of the last 15 Ashes tests at home.
