Every four years, the World Cup finds it’s way to the forefront of the minds of sports fans around the globe. The World Cup has long been on my bucket list of sporting events to attend and while this year’s rendition in Qatar was a bit out of budget, I’m hoping to cross it off the list in 2026 when the World Cup comes to North America.
Of course, the World Cup is far from the only sporting event on that bucket list and so I thought in the spirit of this legendary event kicking off it would be fun to take a look at some of the other incredible sporting events around the world that I’ve long dreamed of experiencing in person.
Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
We’ll start in the realm of auto racing with the undisputed crown jewel of North American Motorsports. While I am a NASCAR fan at heart and was lucky enough to cross the Daytona 500 off my list earlier in 2022, it’s the Indy 500 that has more history and more prestige as much as it pains me to say it. Add to that the fact that the Indianapolis 500 isn’t simply a legendary sporting event, it’s also quite the party and it is a no-brainer on this list for me.
North London Derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
I am a relative neophyte to the club side of the Beautiful Game but since diving into Premier League in 2013, I have been a fan of Tottenham Hotspur due to east Texas legend Clint Dempsey. A dream that has come with this for me is hoping to attend a North London Derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where I would hopefully get to witness a Spurs victory.
The atmosphere of Premier League Football has no rival in the United States other than perhaps collegiate football and while getting to see Tottenham play at Nissan Stadium in Nashville was a joy, I am looking forward to witnessing them at home where that atmosphere can really shine.
Brawl of the Wild at Washington-Grizzly Stadium
While the first two events on my bucket list are well-known throughout the world, the meeting between in-state rivals Montana and Montana State is no less of a must see event for me. The Brawl of the Wild is the name lovingly bestowed upon the contest between Montana and Montana State and while this contest will see College GameDay head to Bozeman this weekend, it’s Missoula and Washington-Grizzly Stadium where I hope to witness the game one day.
Hailed as the “Mecca of FCS Football”, Washington-Grizzly Stadium is the home of the Montana Grizzlies – one of the most successful teams at the FCS level in the NCAA. This contest tends to feature colder weather as it takes place in Montana in late November but I think that just adds to the charm of the mountainous clash.
Summer Olympics
As perhaps the only event that could rival the World Cup for global importance, the Olympics are one of those special collisions of world culture and sport that make me salivate as a fan of athletic competitions. The Winter Olympics are special to be sure but it is the Summer Olympics that I feel truly carry the spirit of the games as they were in Ancient Greece long ago. Los Angeles in 2028 is the next time we will see the games stateside and I hope to cross this event off my bucket list then.
24 Hours of Le Mans at Circuit de la Sarthe
We head back to the world of motorsports for my final entry on this list. Held in June, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the Triple Crown events of auto racing along with the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix.
Of the events, the 24 Hours is, as it’s name would suggest, the only endurance event of the Triple Crown. Le Mans will be celebrating it’s 100th event in June of 2023 and it is sure to be a special one. Though I won’t be able to attend this year, it is another event that I absolutely hope to see live one day.