Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon
9 January–6 February
Football 9 January–6 February
Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon
This tournament takes place a year later than scheduled because of the pandemic and for a long time appeared set to be missing many of its biggest names for the same reason. The emergence of the Omicron variant meant European clubs were deeply concerned about allowing their players to travel to the continent where the strain originated, but it ultimately appears that the likes of Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen and Achraf Hakimi will be in Cameroon when the action gets under way. One Europe-based player who will be especially keen to be involved is Riyad Mahrez given Algeria are seeking to defend the crown they won in Egypt two years ago.
Australian Open
17 January–30 January
Tennis 17 January–30 January
Australian Open
Will Novak Djokovic be in Melbourne to potentially make history by winning a record 21st men’s major title? That question has been dominating the buildup to the first grand slam of the year ever since tournament director Craig Tiley announced unvaccinated players will not be allowed to compete. Djokovic has kept his vaccination status close to his chest, with the belief being he has yet to be jabbed and is therefore ineligible to take part. But the Serb has been entered into the tournament, which suggests he will be there, something that cannot be said of Serena Williams after the 40-year-old withdrew citing a lack of tournament fitness.
Winter Olympics, Beijing
4 February–20 February
Olympics 4 February–20 February
Winter Olympics, Beijing
The buildup to these Games has been dominated by matters away from the snow and ice. Earlier this month, the US government announced it would not be sending diplomatic representatives to Beijing in protest over China’s human rights record with a host of other nations soon adopting the same stance, including the UK. Chinese officials have hit back and the escalating war of words threatens to overshadow the actual sport. Speaking of which, Team GB will travel to Beijing in expectant mood, with Laura Deas, who won skeleton bronze at Pyeongchang 2018, among those expected to do well.
Six Nations
5 February–19 March
Rugby union 5 February–19 March
Six Nations
Wales will be seeking to retain the title they won under Wayne Pivac in March 2021 and they begin with a trip to Dublin, where they will face an Ireland team who may still be revelling in their stirring 29-20 victory over New Zealand in November. Elsewhere on the opening weekend is the small matter of a Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield. For Scotland there is the chance to make it back-to-back victories over England following their 11-6 triumph at Twickenham in 2021.
Amir Khan v Kell Brook, Manchester
19 February
Boxing 19 February
Amir Khan v Kell Brook, Manchester
It’s taken way too long and ultimately may not be worth the hassle, but there is undeniably a fascination in seeing one of British boxing’s most intense rivalries shift from war of words to exchange of blows. Yes, that’s right, Amir Khan and Kell Brook are finally getting it on, and while neither man is a world champion these days, or close to their respective peaks, there remains enough speed and ringcraft between them, alongside a decade’s-worth of bad blood, for their clash at the AO Arena to be as exciting as it is explosive.
Women’s Cricket World Cup, New Zealand
4 March–3 April
Cricket 4 March–3 April
Women’s Cricket World Cup, New Zealand
Postponed by 13 months because of the pandemic, the showpiece event in women’s cricket is finally set to take place. England begin their defence against Australia in Hamilton, the teams facing each other less than a month after completing an Ashes series comprising of one Test match and six limited-overs games, three of which are one-day internationals. In total there will be 31 matches played across 31 days, with the final taking place at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Winter Paralympics, Beijing
4 March–13 March
Paralympics 4 March–13 March
Winter Paralympics, Beijing
Beijing will become the first city to host a summer and winter Paralympics, with the event in March poised to be the largest in history. In total, 736 athletes will compete across 78 events, with six different sports contested: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, sled hockey, snowboarding and wheelchair curling. For Team GB the aim is to top the record seven medals won in Pyeongchang.
Formula One world championship
20 March–20 November
Formula One 20 March–20 November
Formula One world championship
The most highly anticipated F1 season for many years. Given the epic nature of the 2021 campaign, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton battling for the title all the way to the final lap of the final race in Abu Dhabi, how could it not be? The Dutchman ultimately triumphed amid huge controversy and fallout, and the bad blood is sure to spill into another closely fought contest. It will also be a campaign marked by notable changes: Hamilton will have a new teammate at Mercedes in George Russell, while the grid will also see its first Chinese driver as Guanyu Zhou steps up from Formula 2 to replace Antonio Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo. And then there is the calendar, containing as it does a record 23 grands prix, including a first ever in Miami.
The Masters, Augusta
7 April–10 April
Golf 7 April–10 April
The Masters, Augusta
The first major of the year and it is hard to look beyond a home victory given the strength of American golf, illustrated most vividly by the United States’ record 19-9 victory over Europe at September’s Ryder Cup. Hideki Matsuyama may have something to say about that, however, returning to Augusta as reigning champion having become the first Japanese man to claim a major title there eight months ago.
Champions League final, St Petersburg
28 May
Football 28 May
Champions League final, St Petersburg
The farcical nature of the last-16 draw could be viewed as a bad omen for the knockout stages of European football’s premier competition. It’s never good when the little white balls have to be drawn twice in the same day. Yet that is what happened on 13 December and ultimately it led to some exciting ties, most notably Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid. The winner of that contest will fancy their chances of going all their way, although, in truth, it is hard to look beyond current holders Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich in terms of who will be crowned champions at the Gazprom Arena in May.
Horse racing 4 June
The Derby, Epsom
The world’s most famous flat race will be at the centre of a four-day bank holiday to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee. Just days after her coronation in 1953 the monarch saw her first runner, Aureole, finish second, and to date it’s the closest she has come to victory. If everything goes to plan, Reach For The Moon and Frankie Dettori will carry her colours next summer and there would likely be no more popular winner in the Derby’s long history.
Wimbledon
27 June–10 July
Tennis 27 June–10 July
Wimbledon
There will be a strong sense of tradition as well as change at these championships given it is one in which Centre Court celebrates its 100th birthday and matches are to finally take place on middle Sunday. Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty arrive as the respective men’s and women’s champions, while as ever there will be much attention on Andy Murray, who has signalled his intention to be involved by deciding to take part in two grasscourt events prior to Wimbledon – Stuttgart’s Mercedes Cup and Queen’s.
Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes
1 July–24 July, 24 July–31 July
Cycling 1 July–24 July, 24 July–31 July
Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes
Copenhagen hosts the Grand Départ having been denied the chance to do so in 2021 for Covid-related reasons and for Tadej Pogacar the aim will be to get off to a good start in pursuit of a third successive general classification title. The Slovenian is undeniably the man to beat for the chasing pack, which will again include Geraint Thomas riding for Team Ineos after the 2018 champion signed a two-year contract extension with the outfit he has been with since its inception, as Team Sky, more than a decade ago. The women’s Tour de France is due to return for the first time since 2009, for an eight-stage race beginning as the men’s race ends, from 24-31 July.
Women’s Euro 2022, England
6 July–31 July
Football 6 July–31 July
Women’s Euro 2022, England
Another tournament delayed by a year because of the pandemic and for which there is much anticipation. With 750,000 tickets having been made available, it is hoped to be the most-watched women’s European Championship in history. For England, hosts for the first time since 2005, the aim is to go at least one better than they did in the Netherlands four years ago and reach the final, which will be held at Wembley. The national stadium is one of 10 venues, alongside Brighton’s ground, Brentford Community Stadium, Manchester City Academy Stadium, Stadium MK, New York Stadium, Bramall Lane, St Mary’s Stadium, Leigh Sports Village and Old Trafford, where Sarina Wiegman’s side get things started with a Group A match against Austria.
The Open, St Andrews
14 July–17 July
Golf 14 July–17 July
The Open, St Andrews
The 150th edition of this event aptly takes place at the home of golf. The Old Course is a fitting venue for such a historical moment in the Open’s history and one man who is especially keen to be involved is Tiger Woods. “I would love to play at St Andrews, it’s my favourite course in the world,” said the American last month, speaking for the first time since a car crash left him fearing he may have to have a leg amputated. Time will tell if the 15-times major winner, and three-times Open champion, competes in Scotland. His compatriot Collin Morikawa will be determined to defend the title he captured at Royal St George’s this summer.
World Athletics Championships, Oregon
15 July–24 July
Athletics 15 July–24 July
World Athletics Championships, Oregon
The US hosts these championships for the first time, which is naturally a source of pride in the country although there is sure to be some regret over Oregon being the host given the recent doping scandal involving Alberto Salazar and his Nike Oregon Project. That is likely to be put to one side once the action gets going, however, and for Team GB the hope is to be among the track and field gold medals, something they failed to do at this year’s Olympics. Once again, Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be among Britain’s biggest hopes in that regard.
Commonwealth Games, Birmingham
28 July–8 August
Various 28 July–8 August
Commonwealth Games, Birmingham
Following on from London in 1934 and Manchester in 2002, Birmingham will become the third English city to host the Games, and while it may seem like a relic of the past – or as the comedian John Oliver put it, “the historic display of a once-mighty nation gathering together the countries it lost and finding a way to lose to them once more” – there are reasons for excitement, most notably the inclusion of new sports, including women’s Twenty20 cricket and basketball 3×3.
US Open, Flushing Meadows
29 August–11 September
Tennis 29 August–11 September
US Open, Flushing Meadows
Even now, more than three months on, it’s difficult to comprehend what Emma Raducanu achieved at the 2021 US Open. Ending Britain’s 44-year wait for a women’s grand slam singles champion was one thing, but to do it having entered the tournament as a qualifier and without losing a set was truly jaw-dropping. Acclaim and accolades (including being voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year) have followed as has greater scrutiny, which is perhaps unfair given Raducanu remains an inexperienced teenager. But that is the nature of elite-level sport and for the 19-year-old there will be no getting away from the attention when she returns to Flushing Meadows to defend her title. Daniil Medvedev looks to retain the men’s title he won with a shock straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic.
Super League Grand Final, Old Trafford
24 September
Rugby league 24 September
Super League Grand Final, Old Trafford
Can anyone stop St Helens making it four Super League titles in a row? That is domestic rugby league’s burning question ahead of the new season as a new era of dominance begins to take shape. The chasing pack can take encouragement from how far Catalan Dragons pushed Kristian Woolf’s side in the 2021 Grand Final, reflected in the narrow 12-10 scoreline, and for all players who take part at Old Trafford next autumn there will be the added incentive of catching their respective national team head coach’s eye ahead of the World Cup.
Women’s Rugby World Cup, New Zealand
8 October-12 November
Rugby union 8 October-12 November
Women’s Rugby World Cup, New Zealand
Covid-19 forced this tournament to drop off the 2021 calendar, too. A shame, but the postponement has at least allowed organisers to make positive changes to the format and schedule of what will be the first women’s World Cup to take place in the southern hemisphere. It has been extended to 43 days, bringing the minimum five-day rest period in line with the men’s World Cup, and pushed further into the New Zealand spring, meaning warmer weather and longer daylight hours for games. England are in the same pool as France, South Africa and Fiji and will be hoping to repeat their triumph of 2014.
Rugby League World Cup, England
15 October–19 November
Rugby league 15 October–19 November
Rugby League World Cup, England
This tournament will go ahead in 2022, organisers have insisted, after it was postponed from 2021 following Australia and New Zealand’s refusal to take part due to concerns over Covid-19 case rates in the UK. The fallout from that decision was bitter but, once it finally gets going, the World Cup should be a cause for celebration, with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair events running at the same time. England’s men get things under way with a game against Samoa at St James’ Park.
World Cup, Qatar
21 November–18 December
Football 21 November–18 December
World Cup, Qatar
The year ends with its most controversial tournament. A first men’s football World Cup to be held in the northern hemisphere winter, and one that takes place amid a backdrop of controversy over the hosts’ human rights record. Inevitably, much of that will be forgotten once the action gets going and for England there is genuine hope of building on what they did at this summer’s European Championship and going all the way. Sadly from a home nations point of view, only one of Scotland or Wales have a chance of making it to Qatar after they were drawn in the same section of the play-offs, which take place in March.