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The Best International and American Sporting Events to Attend

Will Brown by Will Brown, February 25, 2025

The Best Sporting Events To Attend

The best international and American sporting events to attend aren’t just renowned for their display of athletic skill and thrilling competition. Often, event organizers include an array of exciting activities to keep fans entertained before, during, and after event times. In this guide, we’ve highlighted the global sporting events that have a reputation for providing an exciting visitor experience, from the NFL’s annual Super Bowl at home to the Australian Open tennis tournament.

What Are the Best Sporting Events to Attend?

In creating this guide to the best sporting events to attend, we’ve wanted to highlight the options that are truly worth the travel for. The events that have made our shortlist are often cited by visitors as being truly memorable experiences that offer far more than the sport itself.

We’ve organized this list according to sports categories, kicking things off with the best major league US sports games. We’ve then looked at the best events for soccer, tennis, motorsports, golf, horse racing, and the Olympics. You can use the links below to jump to each section or keep reading to discover them all.

The Biggest Sporting Events in America

As many of you will already know, there are countless exciting US sports events held every year that are well worth the visit. The best example of this is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, the NFL’s Super Bowl, which is held in February in alternating cities. Around the event, the Super Bowl’s host city is transformed into a vibrant entertainment district with countless activities to enjoy.

While the game itself offers famous halftime shows, the surrounding celebrations allow fans to interact with everything from free concerts to interactive themed attractions. For example, the 2025 New Orleans event hosted several food festivals that showcased the city’s famous culinary traditions.

Beyond the game fans can enjoy betting on the NFL online. For basketball fans, there is the multi-city experience of the NBA Finals in June, with arenas hosting meet-and-greets, fan zones, and brand activations. Of course, the March Madness tournament is also a favorite of fans and sports bettors for its electric atmosphere, with 2025’s Final Four in San Antonio set to offer a floating pep rally at the River Walk.

The MLB World Series in October is also among the must-visit major league American sporting events, with free festivals celebrating the sport’s long tradition with modern entertainment. There are often exhibitions of memorabilia, meet-and-greets with baseball legends, and a post-game on-field celebration for the winning team.

Tennis

If you’re a tennis fan, you can’t go past any of the Grand Slam tournaments. Wimbledon is perhaps the most prestigious and traditional, with outdoor court viewing elevated by champagne bars and traditional British snacks. Here, you can spot royal guests, visit tennis museums, and interact with major sponsor activations.

The US Open, held every year in New York, is among the most exciting annual American sporting events to attend. The tournament commences with a week-long Fan Week centered around the Qualifying Tournament, with a dense lineup of events, entertainment and concerts, exhibition matches, and activities.

The Australian Open in particular is known to be one of the best sporting events to attend. Held in January in Melbourne, the two-week tournament offers far more than the games. A festival hub provides live music concerts and festivals, with city-wide events creating a casual party atmosphere for the public.

Finally, the French Open is well worth the visit just for being located in the city of Paris alone. As the only major tournament played on clay courts, there is a distinct atmosphere to the event. Visitor packages are available that offer luxurious dining options and amenities, while low-priced casual tickets place fans among passionate and lively crowds.

International Soccer

As perhaps the largest sporting event in the world, the FIFA World Cup is held every four years around November and December. With the 2026 tournament set to be hosted across the USA, Mexico, and Canada, locals will have the opportunity to experience the electrifying, high-stakes atmosphere of the global tournament.

While experiencing a live game at the FIFA World Cup is well worth the attendance, host cities will cater to those without a ticket by setting up external fan zones with viewing screens. The inclusion of 48 national teams will provide the opportunity for cultural events such as food festivals, parties, and exhibitions, and allow you to wager on soccer games while watching live.

In 2025, local fans will also get the chance to see one of the biggest sporting events in the world in the USA at the FIFA Club World Cup. Iconic teams such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid are set to compete between June and July in a series of unique sporting events that shouldn’t be missed.

As for international soccer, it’s well worth seeking out a game that involves bitter rivalries to experience the tense, passionate atmosphere in the crowd. One great example is the El Clásico, a pair-up between Real Madrid and Barcelona that is renowned for showcasing the bitter cultural rivalry of the two Spanish cities despite the fact players will play side-by-side in the next World Cup.

Motorsports

With Formula 1 reaching unprecedented levels of popularity in the last few years, there’s never been a better time to catch a race live. There are three F1 Grand Prixs scheduled in the USA in 2025, which will be hosted in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas. However, as one of the best sporting events to attend in the world, the Monaco Grand Prix in May is undoubtedly the sport’s finest.

The Monaco Grand Prix is known for its elegance and glamor, with the world’s rich and famous descending on the city to mingle in celebration of the event. As one of the biggest sporting events in the world, Monaco’s track’s layout allows guests to view the race from hotels, restaurants, and boats in the harbor, with plenty of exhibitions and after-parties to keep guests entertained.

For something a little closer to home, you can’t go past NASCAR’s Daytona 500 event. Held in Florida, the event offers a Fanzone that is stacked with activities and opportunities to meet fellow fans. To keep you entertained, there are live concerts, autograph signings from the sport’s legends, and of course, the USAF Thunderbirds airshow.

Golf

Fortunately, the US is home to the best sporting events to attend for golf fans. The most exciting of these has to be The Masters, which is held every April at Augusta National in Georgia. The week-long events allow visitors to walk the course, view the practice rounds, enjoy the relaxed Par 3 Contest, and soak up the excitement of the final round.

The US Open and PGA Championship tournaments also provide plenty of fan activities outside of the games, though be mindful that ticket prices can be more on the exclusive side. For this reason, the more relaxed atmosphere of the Ryder Cup can be far more accessible and enjoyable for regular fans. The tournament includes buzzy opening and closing ceremonies, a competitive fan Game Zone, and an activity-filled Fan Village.

Horse Racing

Horse races are some of the most unique sporting events in that they are very much focused on the social atmosphere. The Kentucky Derby is one of the world’s best to attend, with fans gathering for the casual party atmosphere, Thunder Over Louisville fireworks display, and other social events over the course of Derby Week.

Australia’s Melbourne Cup is also famous for its large party atmosphere, with the host city even granting its residents a holiday to commemorate the event. In addition to elaborate hat competitions, galas, and track-side entertainment, pop-up events around the city make the day an inclusive event for everyone.

The Olympics

As the biggest sporting events in the world, the Summer and Winter Olympics are unbeaten in terms of size, scope, and attendance. With the LA Games set to transform the city in 2028 over two weeks, fans should start to prepare for the endless activities and sporting action to come.

Visitors can expect to visit fan parks and country exhibitions that celebrate the many cultures through food and music while opening and closing ceremonies are elaborate showcases of the world’s best entertainers and artists. The Winter Olympics provide a much different atmosphere due to the cooler weather though provide fan experiences through festivals, night-time activities, and concerts.

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