The Super Bowl is just around the corner and one of the biggest events on the American sporting calendar is set to kick off. But there’s a lot more to come in 2022, and it promises to be a big year. So, take a break from checking the current NFL depth charts and preparing your Super Bowl parties, and make some space on your calendar for the following events.
The Six Nations (February to March)
The Rugby Union Six Nations kicks off on the 5th of February and will commence nearly 6 weeks of action, with Europe’s 6 best teams competing for one of the biggest prizes in the sport.
Wales enters the tournament as the reigning champion, following its shock win in last year’s event. But it won’t be easy for the Welsh, as France, England, Ireland, and Scotland will all be fielding very strong teams. Even Italy is improving, and as many are questioning its inclusion in the tournament, this could be the year that it makes a statement.
Rugby fans can also look to the end of the year when the Rugby League World Cup and the Women’s Rugby Union World Cup take place.
The World Snooker Championship (April to May)
The World Championship at the Crucible is the biggest event in snooker and one that is watched all over the year. There are a few players going into this event in fine form, including Judd Trump, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and Neil Robertson.
Mark Williams and Kieran Wilson will also be fighting for their place and while Mark Selby has been dealing with a few personal struggles lately, he will likely be competing as well.
The World Games (July)
The 2022 World Games are hosted in Birmingham, Alabama. These games are all about showcasing sports that aren’t included in the Olympics. It’s the ultimate event for sports fans keen to experience new disciplines.
Birmingham beat cities in Peru and Russia to host the event, and it will welcome 3,600 athletes from over 100 countries. They will compete in 30 events, including drone racing, archery, dancing, bowling, billiards, karate, kickboxing, softball, and flag football.
It’s only the 11th iteration of this event, but it’s growing with every year and could be just as big as the Olympics in the future.
The FIFA World Cup (November to December)
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting tournament on the planet. It only comes around once every four years, but it’s always well worth the wait.
The 2022 World Cup is a controversial one, as it’s held in Qatar, a country that has never appeared at the tournament before now and doesn’t have much of an established soccer tradition. It’s also incredibly hot, and so the organizers have moved it back to the end of the year when it’s a little cooler.
The tournament begins on November 21 and ends on December 18. The best teams and players will feature, and the unique scheduling and host nation should make for a few very interesting weeks.
