Between two slices of logs and a few chocolates, the sporting calendar, although slowed down in the last days of the year, does not stop. To keep one foot on the sports fields during the end-of-year holidays, franceinfo: sport has prepared a selection of events not to be missed.
From December 21 to January 18, the African Cup of Nations is in full swing
Who will succeed Ivory Coast, winner in 2023? The 35 edition of the African Cup began on Sunday, December 21, in Morocco, with a solid victory for the host country against the Comoros. The group stages will end on December 31, before starting the round of 16 from January 3 until the final on the 18th. Morocco is one of the favorites for the title, having been waiting since 1976 to win a second CAN. But other countries are at the forefront to lift the Cup such as Senegal and Algeria, or even Egypt and the defending champion, Ivory Coast.
Monday December 22: Clément Noël to gain momentum before the Games
A mixed start to the season for the reigning Olympic slalom champion. After a good second place in Lévi (Finland) to launch his season and a 30th podium in the World Cup, Clément Noël has appeared more struggling in recent weeks. Only 12th in Gurgl (Austria) the following week, penalized by a big mistake in the second run, the 28-year-old skier straddled a double gate in the second run in Val d’Isère on December 14, causing his retirement.
Hampered by back pain at the start of the season, Clément Noël will have to find the right adjustments during the next World Cup stage, in Alta Badia (Italy), Monday December 22, before the break, he who will defend his title of Olympic champion at the Milan-Cortina Games in February. After a two-week break, the season will resume in Madonna di Campiglio (Italy), January 7 for the last five stages before the Games. The Olympic clock is on.
Thursday, December 25: Victor Wembanyama on the field of the reigning champion
Like every year, no holiday break for the NBA. On December 25, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will meet the champion Oklahoma City Thunder for New Year’s Eve (at 8:30 p.m. French time).
Beaten in mid-December by the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup final, the Spurs will meet the New Yorkers to conclude the year on December 31 (1 a.m.).
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December: Top 14 Boxing Day with Toulouse-La Rochelle
The Boxing Day, inspired by English football, which has made an increasingly important place in the Top 14 calendar over the years, will be held on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December for the 13th day of the championship. In total, seven matches will be spread over different schedules, without multiplex in order to make the event even more sacred.
The matches to follow will notably be Bayonne-Stade français (6 p.m.) and Clermont-Bordeaux (9 p.m.) on Saturday. The highlight of the weekend will take place on Sunday evening, where the Toulouse, provisional second, will host the Rochelais, currently sixth in the Top 14 (9 p.m.).
Sunday December 28: the Battle of the Sexes version 2025
Fifty-two years after the highly publicized and political version pitting Billie Jean King against Bobby Riggs, Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios star in this new Battle of the Sexes, in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), in an exhibition match (5:45 p.m.). The Belarusian, world number one, and the Australian, currently 673rd in the world (former number 13 in the ATP), will face off in a version of pure entertainment, with modified rules.
If in 1973, Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs faced each other regularly, in the best of three sets, in Dubai, the match will be played in two winning sets and with a single service. The four-time Grand Slam winner will also have a court area 9% smaller than that of Kyrgios. “We are here to have fun and offer great tennis. It is obvious that men are biologically stronger than women, but that is not the question. (…) This event will only help to raise the level of women’s tennis”, assured with the BBC Aryna Sabalenka.
“When the world number one challenges you, we respond. I have immense respect for Aryna, she is a force of nature and a true champion,” said, for his part, Nick Kyrgios. The finalist at Wimbledon in 2022, almost retired, who only played five matches in 2025 for four defeats, is already predicting his victory. Take out the popcorn.
Tuesday December 30: the Premier League leader facing an outsider
Like every year, all English football fans experience their best celebrations with the traditional Boxing Day. And once again, they will not be disappointed since a shock at the summit awaits them. Premier League leader, Arsenal has seen its lead over Manchester City melt away in recent weeks and for this 19th day, the Gunners will face Aston Villa (9:15 p.m.), currently third and who beat them in the 95th minute on December 6 (2-1). Above all, the Villa’s by Unai Emery have continued to win since the beginning of November, remaining on 10 consecutive victories in all competitions. A revenge to be expected for the Gunners on the eve of New Year’s Eve?
Thursday January 1: the impressive image of the crowd in Garmisch
The image is still striking. Like every year, the 4 Hills Tour, which concentrates four stages of the Ski Jumping World Cup between December 29 and January 6, will stop in Garmisch, in Bavaria, on January 1. The opportunity to see ski jumpers dive above a huge crowd. The Tour, which will be in its 73rd edition for men this year, will extend to women from the 2026-2027 season.
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Friday January 2: the return of tennis at the antipodes
The time for resumption comes very early for the tennis circuit. The first competition of the season, the United Cup returns for its fourth edition, which will be held between January 2 and 11, 2026, between Perth and Sydney, Australia. Six groups from three countries compete and France will have to get out of one which includes Jasmine Paolini’s Italy and Stan Wawrinka’s Switzerland.
The French team will be made up of Loïs Boisson (36th) and Arthur Rinderknech (29th), alongside Geoffrey Blancaneaux (n°254 ATP), Édouard Roger-Vasselin (n°17 in doubles), Léolia Jeanjean (n°106 WTA) and Sarah Rakotomanga (n°123 WTA). The tournaments in Brisbane, Adelaide and Auckland will follow to lead into the Australian Open, which begins on January 18.
Sunday January 4: the first Parisian derby
An expected poster. Paris Saint-Germain, which lost its place as leader of the championship at the beginning of December, hosts Paris FC on January 4, new to Ligue 1 this season. To see this Parisian derby, we had to wait until the 17th and final day of the first leg.
Paris FC, which returned to the football elite forty-six years after its descent, has not set foot on the lawn of the Parc des Princes since 1978. Pointing to provisional 14th place in the ranking, Paris FC will aim to inflict its first defeat of 2026 on PSG, winner of the Intercontinental Cup on December 17, the sixth trophy in 2025 for the Ballon d’or Ousmane Dembélé and his teammates.
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