Sports News Today: Biggest Updates in One Read
Sports news today moves fast one minute you’re checking a score, the next minute you’re reading about a star player injury, a playoff-clinching scenario, or a blockbuster fight night announcement. And on a packed late-December sports calendar, it’s easy to feel like you missed something big.
So here’s the promise of this “one read” roundup: you’ll get the most important sports updates, the context that makes them matter, and a simple what-to-watch-next guide without drowning in noise.
Today’s edition (dated December 26, 2025) is shaped by a classic festive sports mix: Boxing Day football, major American holiday matchups, a marquee Boxing Day Test in cricket, and high-profile events building momentum into the new year.
Sports news today: The 5-minute catch-up (what matters most)
If you only have time for the headline version, start here:
- Football (soccer): The Premier League’s Boxing Day is unusually quiet only one match is scheduled (Manchester United vs Newcastle), largely due to calendar pressure from expanded European competitions.
- AFCON: The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has delivered early statement wins, including Cameroon’s derby victory over Gabon, plus wins for Algeria and Ivory Coast in group action.
- Cricket: The Ashes Boxing Day Test at the MCG is underway in storyline terms (and about to be underway in match terms), with Steve Smith returning and Australia leaning toward an all-pace attack.
- NFL: Week 17 is packed with playoff implications and clinching scenarios, and the league’s schedule is front-and-center for fans tracking seeds and wild cards.
- NBA: Christmas basketball remains a global sports “appointment watch” and the league says national TV viewership is up 89% year-over-year, with 87M+ viewers across major platforms this season.
- Tennis: The season warm-up is officially here: the United Cup (Jan 2–11) launches the 2026 tennis calendar with elite mixed-team competition.
- Saudi spotlight: Riyadh hosts “Night of the Samurai” (Dec 27), a major Riyadh Season boxing event featuring Naoya Inoue vs David Picasso.
Now, let’s break it down like a pro sport by sport.
Football headlines: Boxing Day tradition… with a modern twist
1) Premier League: The quietest Boxing Day in modern memory
For many fans, Boxing Day is sacred: packed stadiums, derby energy, and “football all day.” But 2025 is different there’s just one Premier League game on December 26: Manchester United vs Newcastle.
Why it matters (beyond nostalgia):
- The Premier League calendar is colliding with broader scheduling pressure especially from expanded European competitions and tighter windows.
- That shift doesn’t just change TV viewing. It changes the rhythm of squads (rest, rotation, injuries) and affects fans’ “holiday football” habits across the pyramid.
What to watch in Man United vs Newcastle:
- Newcastle’s season has been marked by inconsistency moments of brilliance mixed with game-management issues and squad strain.
- With only one EPL match, this fixture gets extra spotlight perfect if you want a single “main event” rather than a full day of channel hopping.
Quick fan tip: If you’re building your sports day around this match, treat it like a mini-final lineups, tactical matchups, and in-game momentum will dominate the conversation simply because there’s no competing EPL noise.
2) AFCON 2025: Early group games already shaping the bracket
AFCON group-stage football always brings surprises because the stakes are immediate: one slip, and qualification becomes complicated.
A key storyline: Cameroon beat Gabon 1–0, while Algeria and Ivory Coast also claimed wins in group fixtures.
Why it matters:
- Early group wins reduce pressure and often let coaches manage minutes more intelligently huge in tournaments where fatigue can decide knockout games.
- AFCON results also ripple back into club football, because clubs must plan around player workloads and travel.
What to watch next:
- Track teams with strong defensive structure early tournament football often rewards compact, disciplined sides more than “pretty play.”
3) Liverpool watch: When one injury (and one weakness) changes the season
If you follow European football closely, you know titles can swing on injuries. Reuters reported Liverpool striker Alexander Isak will miss at least two months after a leg fracture and surgery, per manager Arne Slot.
At the same time, Liverpool’s manager has openly pointed to set-piece issues as a season-defining pain point, with reports noting a frustrating imbalance between set-piece goals scored and conceded.
Why it matters:
- Injuries don’t only remove goals they force tactical changes (pressing intensity, build-up patterns, and even how high a defensive line can sit).
- Set pieces are often “hidden points” over a full season. If your set-piece performance is negative for months, it quietly drags you down the table.
Cricket headlines: Boxing Day Test energy + PSL expansion buzz
1) The Ashes: Boxing Day Test at the MCG brings big selection calls
The Ashes Boxing Day Test is one of cricket’s biggest annual stages, and this year it comes with a clear headline: Steve Smith returns as Australia prepares a pace-heavy approach.
Australia’s selection signals a conditions-first strategy an all-pace attack leaning into the MCG pitch and seam movement expectations.
Context you should know:
- Australia has already retained the Ashes with a series lead reported as 3–0 going into this Test.
- That changes the psychology: Australia can push for dominance; England chases pride, momentum, and proof that their approach can still win in tough conditions.
What to watch (even if you don’t follow cricket daily):
- First session: If there’s visible movement off the pitch, batting becomes survival-first.
- Bowling plans: A pace-only attack often signals “hunt early wickets, squeeze relentlessly.”
- Captaincy pressure: Field placements and bowling changes in the first 90 minutes often tell you who’s reading conditions best.
2) Pakistan Super League: Expansion signals bigger ambitions
The PSL story isn’t a single match it’s a business-and-growth headline with long-term impact. Pakistan’s Dawn reported the PCB received 12 bids for two new PSL franchises, indicating serious interest in expansion.
Why it matters:
- Expansion usually means more matches, bigger media rights conversations, and deeper local talent pathways.
- For fans, it also reshapes rivalries, draft strategy, and the “identity map” of the league.
What to watch next:
- Who ultimately wins those franchise bids and what that means for home grounds, sponsorship, and international player recruitment.
NFL headlines: Week 17 pressure, playoff math, and must-watch windows
By late December, the NFL becomes two sports at once:
- the game on the field, and
- the playoff calculator in everyone’s pocket.
1) Clinching scenarios are live
NFL.com’s Week 17 playoff-clinching scenarios outline what teams can lock up (division titles, seeds, byes) with the right combinations of wins and losses.
Even just scanning the “who has clinched” list changes how you view a game: some teams play to survive, others play to position themselves for January.
2) Week 17 schedule = your viewing roadmap
The league’s Week 17 schedule is packed, with marquee matchups spread across broadcast windows.
And yes holiday football is increasingly a streaming era experience. A sports calendar roundup noted Christmas NFL games included matchups carried via platforms like Netflix and Prime Video.
What to watch next:
- Games involving teams “on the edge” of the wild card often produce the most intense fourth quarters.
- If you’re new to the NFL playoff picture, start with two questions:
- “What does this team gain with a win seed, berth, division?”
- “Who do they need help from?”
NBA headlines: Christmas spotlight + a viewership surge story
1) NBA says national viewership is up big time
The NBA reported that more than 87 million people in the U.S. have watched national TV games this season and that viewership is up 89% vs. last year, calling it the most viewers in 15 years (excluding a lockout-shortened season note).
That’s not just a media flex it explains why Christmas Day remains such a premium stage.
2) Christmas Day games still define the narrative
The league’s Christmas Day schedule featured five games (a long-running tradition), including Cavaliers vs Knicks in the early window.
One confirmed result in the slate: Knicks 117, Cavaliers 113 (reported as a final score in a Christmas Day recap).
Why it matters:
- Christmas games shape MVP chatter, rivalry energy, and “who’s real?” debates.
- The NBA is also pushing fan-access improvements (like “Tap to Watch”) to reduce the friction between hype and actually finding the broadcast.
Hockey spotlight: World Juniors begin (and it’s always chaos in the best way)
If you want pure, emotional, high-tempo tournament drama, the IIHF World Junior Championship is a perfect watch.
- The 2026 World Juniors run Dec 26, 2025 to Jan 5, 2026, hosted in Minnesota.
- The official IIHF schedule lists opening-day matchups (including marquee nations) and the tournament flow.
Why it matters:
- This tournament often previews the next wave of NHL stars.
- Upsets happen because young teams are streaky and momentum swings are wild.
What to watch next:
- If you’re short on time, focus on games involving the big traditional powers and any host-nation matchups for maximum intensity.
Tennis headlines: United Cup opens 2026 with elite mixed-team drama
Tennis is entering its “new season loading” phase, and one tournament sets the tone: the United Cup.
- The event runs Jan 2–11 in Perth and Sydney, with group play and knockouts to follow.
- Reuters notes the U.S. is defending champion status with star names leading the lineup and explains the format: ATP match, WTA match, and mixed doubles in each tie.
Why it matters:
- It’s not just exhibitions players use this as a real competitive tune-up for the Australian Open.
- Mixed-doubles pressure creates unique tactical moments you don’t always see in standard tour events.
Motorsport headline: 2026 F1 grid clarity arrives early
Formula 1’s offseason is rarely quiet but one of the biggest fan questions is always: “Who’s driving where?”
Formula1.com published a full breakdown of 2026 line-ups, outlining confirmed pairings team-by-team.
Why it matters:
- With major regulation shifts and long-term planning, driver stability (or sudden change) affects development direction, sponsor narratives, and team chemistry.
- Knowing the confirmed line-ups helps you read offseason rumors more intelligently what’s real, what’s clickbait, and what’s simply not possible.
Saudi event spotlight: Riyadh Season hosts “Night of the Samurai” boxing
For fans in the region (and anyone who follows big fight nights), Riyadh is again a major destination.
Riyadh Season’s official event listing promotes “Night of the Samurai” on December 27, featuring Naoya Inoue vs David Picasso, plus multiple high-profile bouts on the card.
Why it matters:
- Riyadh Season cards are becoming “global sports calendar” events drawing international attention, travel, and major broadcast placement.
- It’s also a reminder that combat sports headlines can drop fast: weigh-ins, late replacements, and undercard surprises often become the story.
How to follow sports news like a pro (without getting fooled by hype)
Here are the habits that keep you informed and calm:
- Separate results from narratives. A win is real; “this changes everything” is often reaction.
- Look for the “why,” not just the “what.” Injuries, travel, rest days, and fixture congestion explain a lot.
- Treat tournament football differently. AFCON group games reward risk management more than league games do.
- In cricket, watch sessions not just totals. The first session often predicts the whole day.
- In the NFL, follow incentives. A team playing for a bye behaves differently than a team playing for pride.
- In the NBA, track availability. The best analysis begins with who’s actually on the floor and how minutes are managed.
- Use primary sources when possible. Official league sites for schedules, governing bodies for tournaments, and reputable outlets for breaking news.
Quick “What to Watch Next” checklist (late December edition)
If you want a clean viewing plan, here’s a simple, modern sports menu:
- Football: Man United vs Newcastle (the Premier League’s lone Boxing Day match)
- Cricket: Ashes Boxing Day Test storylines (selection, pitch, first-session movement)
- NFL: Week 17 games with clinching implications
- NBA: Post-Christmas slate reaction + where the viewership surge narrative goes next
- Hockey: World Juniors opening days (momentum matters early)
- Boxing: Riyadh Season “Night of the Samurai”
Conclusion: One read, fully caught up
The best thing about sports right now is also the hardest thing: everything matters at once. Football has tournament pressure and calendar chaos. The NFL is deep in playoff math. The NBA is living on marquee stages. Cricket’s Boxing Day Test delivers tradition and tactics. Tennis and F1 are already shaping the new year. And Riyadh continues to host global fight-night spectacles.
If you want to stay ahead, don’t chase every rumor. Build a routine:
- one reliable roundup (like this),
- one or two official sources for schedules,
- and a short “watchlist” of matches that actually affect trophies, qualification, or legacies.
That’s how you enjoy sports news today without letting it consume your day.