Here's what our news editors are circling in their calendars this weekend:
Friday, December 5th
2026 FIFA World Cup draw - 18:00 CET
There is nothing like some early 2026 World Cup fever to get us in the mood for next summer's festival of football. World Cup jerseys from different corners of the world will be worn with pride today, as the 2026 World Cup fever truly sets in with the official draw this evening.
The highly anticipated draw gets going in Washington from 18:00 CET, and it is free to watch on FIFA.com.
Whilst qualifying comes with its fair share of drama (there is more of that to come with the March playoffs), there is nothing like the main event and anything and everything to do with it. The first big thing for football supporters to look forward to before watching their nation's hopes and dreams unfold before them next June is the World Cup draw. It is a chance for fans of every participating country to learn their three group stage opponents and potential path to glory.
Check out all the World Cup draw permutations here
In the first-ever 48-nation World Cup, the 2026 edition is the largest on record. Therefore, this evening is much more than just a draw for countries participating in their first World Cup; it is history and pride being played out before the world.
The excitement might only just be starting, but you will not want to miss this. Get the popcorn and Coke (or beer) ready, as the draw is expected to last around three hours! Yes, you read that right... We would say it is worth the wait, though, because it results in something magical: the (almost) complete schedule for the biggest sporting event on earth.
Harry Dunnett
Saturday, December 6th
Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps - 20:30 CET
In July 2023, Major League Soccer changed forever when Inter Miami, only founded in 2018, signed one of, if not the greatest player in the history of the sport: Lionel Messi. Before the current campaign, Inter had played just five seasons in MLS and made the postseason in three of those. That’s an impressive start to a club’s history, but there’s one thing they have not been able to do, and that’s win the Cup final.
Last season, they finished the regular season with a new single-season points record, but disappointingly bowed out in the first round of the playoffs. This season, they finished third in the Eastern Conference and third overall, but have blitzed their way to the Cup decider, which they will host this Saturday, against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
From Miami’s last three playoff matches, they’ve come out on top with an aggregate score of 13-1. Suffice it to say, they are in red-hot form heading into their date with destiny, and they have been led quite brilliantly by their talisman, Messi. The Argentine maestro has posted absolutely outrageous numbers in MLS this season - 35 goals and 26 assists from 33 matches. That’s just incredible, but he won’t be satisfied until he has his hands on that trophy this weekend.
Standing in Messi and Miami’s way are Thomas Muller and the Whitecaps, who will be no easy beats. It should be noted, Vancouver beat Inter 5-1 on aggregate (over two legs) in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals earlier this year. And despite being the outsiders on Saturday, they’ll draw a lot of confidence from that recent history and their own impressive season, which saw them finish second in the West.
Whatever happens in the final, we’re going to have a first-time MLS Cup winner by the time of the trophy presentation on Saturday evening!
Pat Dempsey
Sunday, December 7th
(#1) Ohio State vs. (#2) Indiana - 02:00 CET
College football conference championships are hosting a wild slate on Saturday in the United States and it all ends with not only the top two teams in the Big Ten - but the entire nation.
Indiana has become a complete powerhouse of a team under head coach Curt Cignetti. He'll be looking to lead the Hosiers to their first Big Ten championship win since 1967 and just their third ever in program history.
They currently boast the No. 5 offense in the country and the No. 2. defence - sitting behind none other than Ohio State, who have allowed just 7.8 points per game.
The Buckeyes are looking to defend their crown as they begin their quest for back-to-back National Championships following their matchup against Indiana, regardless if they lose or not.
They're coming off a dominating 27-9 win over their dreaded rival (#15) Michigan Wolverines in which they outgained them 419 yards to 163, all while doing such in The Big House.
Both teams are 12-0, the first time in Indiana history they ever finished the regular season undefeated, and the game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, giving the Hoosiers home field advantage.
Eric Himmelheber
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - 14:00 CET
Formula 1’s 2025 season finale is here, and what a finale it’s set to be...
Just a month ago, Lando Norris looked set to have become a world champion by now, but his team had other ideas, with McLaren’s technical mishap in Las Vegas and strategic mishap in Qatar handing Max Verstappen two wins. As a result, we enter the last race with three drivers in title contention for the first time since 2010.
Catch up on what happened in Qatar here
Norris remains the favourite, only needing to finish on the podium in Abu Dhabi, but Verstappen will seal a fifth title if he wins the race and the Brit finishes fourth, which is a real possibility when you consider the fact that Oscar Piastri and both Mercedes are likely to be involved in the fight at the front.
Piastri’s own title hopes are barely alive, but he’s set to play a big part either way. McLaren’s refusal to give one of their drivers an advantage over the other caused them to be beaten by Verstappen last time out, and whether they stick with that philosophy in Abu Dhabi or ask Piastri to move aside for Norris if necessary could determine who wins this title.
Check out the permutations here
Whether the Aussie would follow such an order is another question mark, but while handing his teammate the title after leading the championship for most of the season would be painful, it would surely be less painful than seeing his team miss out on a first drivers’ title since 2008 altogether.
If they do, it would be a truly remarkable turnaround from Verstappen, perhaps the best the sport has ever seen. The Dutchman hasn’t topped the standings once this season, and trailed by over 100 points in August.
Oh, and in case you were wondering how things panned out in 2010, a Red Bull driver who hadn’t topped the standings once that season triumphed…
Finley Crebolder
Napoli vs Juventus - 20:45 CET
Juventus have been a bit off the pace of the top three in the Serie A title race after a mixed start to the season, but three wins in a row in all competitions will serve as a timely boost of confidence ahead of a tough test at the champions. Antonio Conte's Napoli are on a four-match winning streak after edging past Cagliari on penalties in the Coppa Italia in the week, so they will fancy their chances of picking up maximum points on Sunday evening.
In the context of the Serie A title race, this is simply a must-win for Napoli. Their title rivals and league leaders, AC Milan, travel to lowly Torino on Monday, whilst Inter host Como on Saturday. When there is so little separating title rivals, dropping points can leave you behind and make it hard to catch up.
The last time these sides met was in January at the start of a year that would see Napoli end their 33-year wait for a Scudetto.
A Romelu Lukaku penalty in the 69th minute would secure a vital 2-1 win for Napoli on that occasion, in what was an important moment in their Serie A title. Now at the end of 2025, a win on Sunday evening would be equally important, adding three points on the road to a potential Scudetto in 2026 as they attempt to retain their crown.
David Parkes
(#1) Ohio State vs. (#2) Indiana - 02:00 CET
College football conference championships are hosting a wild slate on Saturday in the United States and it all ends with not only the top two teams in the Big Ten - but the entire nation.
Indiana has become a complete powerhouse of a team under head coach Curt Cignetti. He'll be looking to lead the Hosiers to their first Big Ten championship win since 1967 and just their third ever in program history.
They currently boast the No. 5 offense in the country and the No. 2. defence - sitting behind none other than Ohio State, who have allowed just 7.8 points per game.
The Buckeyes are looking to defend their crown as they begin their quest for back-to-back National Championships following their matchup against Indiana, regardless if they lose or not.
They're coming off a dominating 27-9 win over their dreaded rival (#15) Michigan Wolverines in which they outgained them 419 yards to 163, all while doing such in The Big House.
Both teams are 12-0, the first time in Indiana history they ever finished the regular season undefeated, and the game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, giving the Hoosiers home field advantage.
Eric Himmelheber