by Vincent Juico
As 2025 draws to a close and 2026 approaches, in sports, star power will matter more than ever.
Athletes build brands bigger than teams through social media, documentaries, and podcasts.
Netflix-style sports documentaries will continue to humanize stars and pull in casual fans.
Contract leverage will shift towards elite players, especially in soccer and the NFL.
Games will no longer be just games as live broadcasts will integrate real-time stats and AI-driven replays.
Traditional TV will continue to struggle as streaming becomes the primary gateway.
Fewer games will be played by stars as there will be more emphasis on injury prevention, GPS tracking, and recovery science.
Fans will unfortunately see fewer superstars play every game, but they’ll have longer careers.
In the NFL, quarterback evolution will continue, with mobility and decision-making that won’t be based on arm strength alone.
Defensive schemes will adapt to stop hybrid QBs, which will create lower-scoring playoff games.
International expansion will grow as there will be more European games with possibly a full-time overseas team.
Player safety remains controversial as concussions and turf debates won’t go away.
The highlight of sports next year will be the 48-team World Cup.
Smaller nations will gain exposure, but early rounds will feel diluted.
Commercial success will be massive as even critics will tune in.
In Formula 1, new regulations will compress the field.
There will be more unpredictability in race winners as younger drivers replace long-time veterans.
Sustainability messaging will increase, though critics call it cosmetic.
Last but definitely not least, in boxing and MMA, boxing will continue its descent into fragmentation as there are just too many belts.
Big fights will still be there but often later than fans want.
MMA will maintain its momentum through consistent matchmaking.
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