The new year brings new schedules, new championships, and new emotions for football fans around the world. Football is said to be the only sport that can break walls and borders, make all of us speak the same language, and feel the same emotions. Football makes us feel happiness, sadness, excitement, and love for each other, regardless of where we are from.
Let’s take a look at the events of 2025 and all the excitement they are about to bring.
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Season
Since its first kickoff in 1955, UEFA has continuously changed and evolved to keep pace with new technologies, fans, and changes in the game. This year will be the 70th competition, which means a great deal for football fans and also represents an important change for the season.
The last format was 32 participants divided into eight groups of 4, playing three opponents twice. It will go to each team playing eight matches facing eight different teams, playing half of them at home and half of them away.
The knockout stage will be played in the following days:
- Knockout phase play-offs: 11/12 & 18/19 February 2025
- Round of 16: 4/5 & 11/12 March 2025
- Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April 2025
- Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 May 2025
- Final: 31 May 2025
The UEFA Champions League draws will be:
First qualifying round: 18 June 2024
Second qualifying round: 19 June 2024
Third qualifying round: 22 July 2024
Play-offs: 5 August 2024
League phase: 29 August 2024
Knockout phase play-offs: 31 January 2025
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final: 21 February 2025
The 24/25 UEFA Champions League season will be played at the Munich Football Arena, a massive event with a capacity of 67,000 fans of both teams.
Here is the opportunity to feel like you are at the stadium from the comfort of your home, plus the chance to get the best odds and, if your team wins, take some cash to your wallet. All of these and more are on 1xBet site – an internationally licensed bookmaker and sponsor of PSG and FC Barcelona.
2025 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Three years ago, we experienced one of the most important events in football history. Argentina, with Messi on the head, became the world champions, catapulting Leo Messi to the history of the best of the best. However, this year, the qualifications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are uncertain, and it is unclear whether we will see two great players – such as Ronaldo and Messi – on the field.
The 2025 World Cup will be played in the summer, expanding to 48 club teams, from June 11 until July 19 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The key dates are the following:
Group stage draw: 13 December 2024
Group stage match dates: March to November 2025
Play-off match dates: 26 & 31 March 2026
Final tournament dates: 11 June to 19 July 2026
We will see now a draft of the qualifiers from Europe, around 55 teams:
- Group A: Germany/Italy (winner), Slovakia, NORTHERN IRELAND, Luxembourg.
- Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.
- Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser), Greece, SCOTLAND, Belarus.
- Group D: France/Croatia (winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.
- Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.
- Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.
- Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.
- Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.
- Group I: Germany/Italy (loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.
- Group J: Belgium, WALES, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.
- Group K: ENGLAND, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.
- Group L: France/Croatia (loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.
The entrants for the 2026 World Cup from South America:
- Argentina
- Uruguay
- Ecuador
- Colombia
- Brazil
- Paraguay
The Asian and African qualifiers matches have not yet completed their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process.
Copa América 2025
The CONMEBOL or Copa América is one of the oldest competitions around the world, dating back to 1916. The best teams in South America face each other every summer from June 13 to July 10. However, all the teams on the continent need to qualify for the playoffs. Ecuador, Brazil, and Chile will host this event.
Qualifiers in March 2025:
Match day 13
- Uruguay v Argentina | March 2025 | Montevideo
- Peru v Bolivia | March 2025 | Lima
- Brazil v Colombia | March 2025 | TBD
- Paraguay v Chile | March 2025 | Asunción
- Ecuador v Venezuela | March 2025 | Quito
Match day 14
- Colombia v Paraguay | March 2025 | Barranquilla
- Venezuela v Peru | March 2025 | TBD
- Bolivia v Uruguay | March 2025 | La Paz
- Argentina v Brazil | March 2025 | TBD
- Chile v Ecuador | March 2025 | Santiago
Qualifiers in June 2025:
Match day 15
- Colombia v Peru | June 2025 | Barranquilla
- Venezuela v Bolivia | June 2025 | TBD
- Paraguay v Uruguay | June 2025 | Asunción
- Chile v Argentina | June 2025 | Santiago
- Ecuador v Brazil | June 2025 | Quito
Match day 16
- Uruguay v Venezuela | June 2025 | Montevideo
- Peru v Ecuador | June 2025 | Lima
- Brazil v Paraguay | June 2025 | TBD
- Bolivia v Chile | June 2025 | La Paz
- Argentina v Colombia | June 2025 | TBD
Qualifiers in September 2025
Match day 17
- Uruguay v Peru | September 2025 | Montevideo
- Colombia v Bolivia | September 2025 | Barranquilla
- Brazil v Chile | September 2025 | TBD
- Paraguay v Ecuador | September 2025 | Asunción
- Argentina v Venezuela | September 2025 | TBD
Match day 18
- Peru v Paraguay | September 2025 | Lima
- Venezuela v Colombia | September 2025 | TBD
- Bolivia v Brazil | September 2025 | La Paz
- Chile v Uruguay | September 2025 | Santiago
- Ecuador v Argentina | September 2025 | Quito
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 (AFCON)
The AFCON is ready for the first whistle in Morocco, from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
We will see many teams, such as Cote D’lvoire, defending and playing again for the honor of holding the cup in their house.
| Morocco | Congo | Angola | South Africa | Mali | Sudan |
| Burkina Faso | Senegal | Equatorial Guinea | Tunisia | Zimbabwe | Benin |
| Cameroon | Senegal | Cote D’Ivoire | Nigeria | Comoros | Tanzania |
| Algeria | Egypt | Gabon | Uganda | Zambia | Botswana |
| Mozambique |
Asian Cup 2025 & AFC Champions League
The Asian Cup is the leading men’s football tournament in Asia, and it is managed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Conducted once every four years, it unites the top national teams from throughout the continent, vying for the title of Asia’s champions. We can’t miss these games since the legends of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Jhon Durán, and others will be on the field kicking the ball.
This year, the AFC Champions League will be played in the iconic Saudi Arabia until May 4. There will be 24 clubs, divided into 6 groups of 4 teams each.
The Asian Cup 2025 will be the 19th edition of this game, which will also be played in Saudi Arabia. Sadly, the dates and the stadiums have yet to be confirmed. However, it usually happens in the first months of the year. The cup will have 24 teams divided into six groups of 4.
Major Domestic League Fixtures to Watch
We can’t forget the games that bring all of Europe together.
The most iconic leagues in the world will play once more in the coming days, many of them with players who will also participate in the World Cup 2026. Therefore, it is essential to check their performance if we plan to put our money on them.
Premier League
Since its start in 1992, the competition, referred to as “The Premiership,” has been among the most awaited globally. It includes teams like Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and more.
The city of Liverpool will host one of the most iconic games of 2025, Everton vs. Liverpool, on February 12, 2025.
The key dates of Premier League 2025 are:
- 1st-2nd February 2025 – Arsenal hosts Manchester City
- 12th February 2025 – Merseyside Derby: Liverpool vs. Everton
- 14th February 2025 – Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea.
- 28th-30th January 2025 – League phase of the Champions
- 24th-25th May 2025 – Premier League final weekend; all matches kick off simultaneously
La Liga
La Liga of Spain, known all over the world for iconic players Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, is famous even among those who aren’t football fans.
Even though FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are more likely to win (as usual), nothing is certain yet, so let’s see who can take the cup to their shelf.
Here we will find two of the classical matches:
- Villarreal vs. Real Madrid, February 8, 2025
- Sevilla vs. FC Barcelona, February 9, 2025
La Liga schedule for 2025 is:
4th-5th January 2025 – Copa del Rey 3rd round
8th-12th January 2025 – Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia
28th-30th January 2025 – League phase of the Champions & Europa League concludes
11th-13th February 2025 – Champions, Europa & Conference League knockout stages commence
26th April 2025 – Copa del Rey final in Seville
10th/11th May 2025 – El Clasico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid
21st May 2025 – Europa League final in Bilbao
24th-25th May 2025 – LaLiga final weekend
Bundesliga
In Germany, the Bundesliga stands out as the most thrilling tournament in Europe due to its teams’ intense competition and never-missed opportunities to score. Currently, FC Bayern Munich is at the forefront, yet the competition lacks a definitive winner.
February 7, 2025, Bayern Munich vs. Werder Bremen: This match will show if the head of the game should stay or leave the spotlight for a new team.
Key games for the Bundesliga:
- 16 August 2025 – The German Supercup
- 26 and 27 August 2025 – first round of the 2025/26 DFB Cup
Serie A
The Roman country gave us one of the five major leagues in Europe, with stellar teams such as Juventus, with former players Ronaldo and Dybala, and former world champion Diego Maradona, with Napoli.
- 11th-13th February 2025 – UEFA Champions League Round of 16 begins; Serie A teams participating
- 26th April 2025 – Coppa Italia Final
- 10th/11th May 2025 – Derby della Capitale: Roma vs. Lazio
- 21st May 2025 – UEFA Europa League Final; might be involvement of Serie A
- 24th-25th May 2025 – Final weekend of the Serie A season
Ligue 1
In this league is the famous Paris Saint-Germain, Messi’s last team in Europe, and the team of the former player Mbappé. It is an attractive market for punters, as several young stars are emerging lately.
On February 16, 2025, PSG will play Marsella. Both French teams have a decades-old rivalry, so it’s always a good time to watch and see which of them will take the victory home.
Conclusion
As the football season goes on, fans across the globe are excited about the lineup of fixtures around Europe, Asia, and South America and, finally, to know which teams will be in the most awaited World Cup 2026.
Make sure to mark your calendars and watch all the games live from the comfort of your home and feel the very essence of this beautiful game we call football.
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/MidCGvkTX-0?si=fLD8yFUDWaLHmNMy” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
More Stories
Stunning Sports-Themed Online Slots
Exploring the Mind of A Poker Player: Becoming An Expert by Understanding Human Behavior
The Importance of General Atlantic’s Climate Solutions Fund