Here’s what our news editors have marked on their calendars for this weekend:

Friday, December 5th

2026 FIFA World Cup draw - 18:00 CET

Nothing sparks early 2026 World Cup excitement like the official draw, setting the tone for next summer’s football celebration. Fans worldwide will proudly wear their national team jerseys as the tournament fever truly ignites this evening.

The eagerly awaited draw begins in Washington at 18:00 CET and can be watched for free on FIFA.com.

While the qualifiers bring plenty of drama (with more to come in the March playoffs), nothing compares to the main event and everything surrounding it. The World Cup draw is the first major moment for fans to discover their group stage rivals and map out their potential journey to glory next June.

Explore all the World Cup draw possibilities here

As the first 48-team World Cup, the 2026 tournament is the largest ever. Tonight’s draw is more than just assigning groups for debutant countries; it’s a historic and prideful moment showcased globally.

The excitement is just beginning, but you won’t want to miss this. Prepare your popcorn and drinks (Coke or beer), as the draw is expected to last about three hours! It’s worth it because it produces something magical: the near-complete schedule for the world’s biggest sporting event.

Harry Dunnett

Saturday, December 6th

Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps - 20:30 CET

In July 2023, Major League Soccer changed forever when Inter Miami, a club founded only in 2018, signed arguably the greatest player in football history: Lionel Messi. Before this season, Inter had competed in just five MLS campaigns and reached the playoffs three times. That’s a strong start for a new club, but winning the Cup final has eluded them.

Last season, they set a new single-season points record but were eliminated in the first playoff round. This year, finishing third in the Eastern Conference and overall, they have stormed into the Cup final, which they will host on Saturday against theVancouver Whitecaps.

In their last three playoff games, Miami has dominated with a 13-1 aggregate score. They are in scorching form heading to the final, brilliantly led by their star, Messi. The Argentine maestro has produced staggering stats this season: 35 goals and 26 assists in 33 matches. Incredible numbers, but he won’t be content until he lifts that trophy this weekend.

Opposing Messi and Miami are Thomas Muller and the Whitecaps, who will be tough opponents. Notably, Vancouver defeated Inter 5-1 on aggregate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals earlier this year. Despite being underdogs on Saturday, they’ll draw confidence from that recent success and their strong season, finishing second in the West.

No matter the outcome, we will have a first-time MLS Cup champion by the trophy ceremony on Saturday night!

Pat Dempsey

Sunday, December 7th

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - 14:00 CET

The 2025 Formula 1 season finale is here, promising an epic conclusion...

Only a month ago, Lando Norris seemed poised to become world champion, but McLaren’s technical glitch in Las Vegas and strategic error in Qatar handed Max Verstappen two victories. Thus, the final race features three drivers vying for the title for the first time since 2010.

Catch up on the Qatar race here

Norris remains the favorite, needing only a podium finish in Abu Dhabi, but Verstappen can claim a fifth championship if he wins and Norris finishes fourth, a real possibility given that Oscar Piastri and both Mercedes cars are likely to battle at the front.

Piastri’s title chances are slim, but he will play a key role regardless. McLaren’s refusal to favor one driver over the other cost them against Verstappen last time, and whether they maintain that approach or ask Piastri to yield to Norris in Abu Dhabi could decide the championship.

See the possible outcomes here

Whether Piastri would comply is uncertain, but giving up the title after leading most of the season would be painful—though likely less so than losing the team’s first drivers’ championship since 2008 entirely.

If this happens, it would be a stunning comeback by Verstappen, possibly the greatest in the sport’s history. The Dutchman has never led the standings this season and was over 100 points behind in August.

And in case you’re wondering how 2010 ended, a Red Bull driver who never led the standings that year won the championship…

Finley Crebolder

Napoli vs Juventus - 20:45 CET 

Juventus have lagged behind the top three in the Serie A title race after a mixed start but have gained momentum with three consecutive wins across all competitions, boosting confidence before a tough clash with the champions. Antonio Conte’s Napoli have won four straight matches, including a penalty shootout victory over Cagliari in the Coppa Italia this week, and will be eager to secure maximum points on Sunday night.

In the Serie A title context, this is a must-win for Napoli. Their closest rivals and league leaders, AC Milan, visit struggling Torino on Monday, while Inter host Como on Saturday. With such tight competition, dropping points could leave you trailing and make catching up difficult.

The last meeting between these teams was in January, kicking off a year in which Napoli ended their 33-year wait for a Scudetto.

A Romelu Lukaku penalty in the 69th minute secured a crucial 2-1 victory for Napoli then, a key moment in their title run. Now at the close of 2025, a win on Sunday would be equally vital, adding three away points towards a potential 2026 Scudetto as they aim to defend their crown.

David Parkes

(#1) Ohio State vs. (#2) Indiana - 02:00 CET

College football conference championships deliver a thrilling schedule on Saturday in the U.S., culminating with the top two Big Ten teams—and the nation’s attention.

Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana has become a powerhouse, aiming for their first Big Ten title since 1967 and only the third in program history.

They rank fifth nationally in offense and second in defense—just behind Ohio State, which has allowed only 7.8 points per game.

The Buckeyes seek to defend their title as they begin their pursuit of consecutive National Championships against Indiana, win or lose.

They come off a commanding 27-9 victory over rival (#15) Michigan Wolverines, outgaining them 419 yards to 163 in The Big House.

Both teams are undefeated at 12-0, marking the first time Indiana has completed a perfect regular season, with the game played at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, giving the Hoosiers home-field advantage.

Eric Himmelheber