Most of the year’s major events are focused on spring and autumn since these seasons are very similar regardless of which hemisphere an event is hosted in.
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As January and February conclude, this year’s sporting action is heating up. Most of the year’s major events are focused on spring and autumn since these seasons are very similar regardless of which hemisphere an event is hosted in. In fact, events like the US’s Super Bowl Championship Game, which falls in winter, are quite rare in the sporting world—unless snow is necessary.
Last year, multiple events and competitions were successfully revived after seeing cancellations in 2020 and further uncertainty in 2021. As the 2023 sporting event calendar unfolds, most events should be totally back to normal—and that means that more sports fans than ever before are looking to engage meaningfully with their favorite sport, team, or league.
Keep reading for a breakdown of some of the top events to follow this year in some of the world’s most popular sports. First up, the Cricket World Cup.
October-November, India
India will host the next ICC Cricket World Cup later this year. Like many other events, the ICC World Cup was originally scheduled for earlier in the year, but then was rescheduled later on to leave more time for last-minute developments. That means that England will be defending its champion title from the last event, hosted in 2019.
Starting in October, teams in the league stage will compete to advance to the finals. This includes Australia, New Zealand, England, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. However, cricket odds at the moment haven’t shifted to focus on the World Cup. Oddsmakers remain focused on domestic leagues in India, Pakistan, and South Africa, along with events like The Ashes. Depending on these results, analysts will select a favorite for the ICC World Cup.
July – August, Australia & New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand will host the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup. Just like the ICC World Cup, the last event was hosted in 2019 by France. The US took home its fourth title in women’s football after defeating the Netherlands.
This year, the competition will feature an expanded format and a handful of teams making their Women’s World Cup debut. That includes Ireland, Portugal, Haiti, Panama, Zambia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Already, teams are divided into groups and each game in the group stage has been scheduled. The US are favorites to win once again.
September-October, France
No stranger to hosting major international tournaments, France will be hosting this year’s 2023 Rugby World Cup (rugby union). This time around, World Rugby has scheduled an extra week into the international event to allow for more rest days. Many are excited about this development, as exertion is a perennial issue for rugby players.
South Africa will be defending their title, who defeated England back in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. Portugal will be competing in its second Rugby World Cup, while Chile is making its debut. Like the FIFA Women’s World Cup, pools have already been drawn and games scheduled. At the moment, analysts are keeping an eye on Portugal, Australia, and Fiji as favorites.
June, Poland
The 3rd European Games will be hosted by Poland in June and will serve as the primary arena for regional athletes to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Given its tie to the Summer Olympics, there are a variety of popular sports that fans will be watching, including track and field, swimming, weightlifting, and gymnastics.
However, there are a ton of other summer games that casual sports fans enjoy watching—especially those uninterested in traditional events. These include table tennis and breakdancing, the latter of which is particularly intriguing. Additionally, the European Games will host cycling events, including BMX freestyle, and martial arts events like judo and taekwondo.
The cities of Krakow and Malopolska will host the events in a variety of facilities and outdoor stages. Similar to the Olympic Games, both cities will provide a series of events designed to engage the international crowd and provide a memorable experience.
