The summer of 2026, one of those when football is the most important thing in the world, the one that has been awaited for four long years. The new year brings many interesting sporting events, but the center of attention will be the football World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Along with this tournament, the biggest event is the Winter Olympic Games, which will be hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from February 6th to 22nd.
Important events await our athletes, and it all starts this month with two major competitions - Montenegrin water polo players will play at the European Championship in Belgrade from January 10, and handball players will start the continental championship in Denmark, Norway and Sweden five days later.
The year will also be marked by the debut of our volleyball players at the European Championships, a new Euro for women's handball, the continuation of the qualifications for women's basketball, men's basketball and women's football, the start of the Nations League for football players...
JANUARY
10-25. European Water Polo Championship, Belgrade: Montenegro returns to the Belgrade Arena 10 years later, after winning silver at the European Championship in 2016. The "Sharks" won their last medal in 2020, and now they will try to surprise.
January 15 - February 1 Handball European Championship, Denmark, Norway, Sweden: After they unexpectedly missed the previous World Cup when they lost to Italy in the play-offs, with the legendary Frenchman Didier Dinar on the bench, our selection returns to the big competition, the European competition. Slovenia, Faroe Islands and Switzerland - rivals in the group, and two teams advance.
January 18 - February 1 Australian Open: Defends the title Janik Siner, Carlos Alcaraz will try to win the only Grand Slam trophy he is missing. And Novak Đoković? Favorite tournament, probably the last big chance - although it's been like that for two years now...
FEBRUARY
6-22. Winter Olympics, Milan and Cortina: This will be the 25th Winter Olympic Games, the third to be held in Italy. The Games are special because they bring together modern Milan and Alpine Cortina d'Ampezzo. It will be a blend of culture, sport and sustainability - and will also feature a new discipline, ski mountaineering.
8. NFL Superboul: The biggest sporting event on the American continent - this year it will be rivaled by the World Cup. This will be the 60th NFL Finals, the second to be held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara (California), hosted by the San Francisco team.
12. Draw for the Nations League in football: Montenegro is in Division C, third in rank, and welcomes its rivals as seed, from the first pot. It does not mean that the team Mirko Vučinić An easy draw awaits, on the contrary - possible rivals are Finland, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Bulgaria... From League C, however, there is a shortcut to the Euros - or at least to the playoffs.
15th NBA All-Star, Los Angeles: It will be the 75th All-Star Game, and it will be played in a new format: two teams from the United States, one team from the "rest of the world", each against each other twice. Four 12-minute games, with the winners advancing to the finals. It will be played at Intuit Home, the new arena of the LA Clippers, and the NBA wants to bring back the uncertainty with the new system.
21. Meridianbet 1. CFL, start of the spring season: Sutjeska is in the lead with four points more than Mornar, five more than Decic, seven more than Jezera... And 11 more than Budućnost, which will be replaced by a star coach, Miodrag Božović Grof, try to make a miracle happen.
27. Greece - Montenegro, World Basketball Championship qualifiers: After a defeat to Portugal, then a victory in Romania, Montenegro continues its World Cup qualifiers with a tough away game against Greece.
MARCH
2. Montenegro - Greece, World Basketball Championship qualifiers: And just three days later, the "Hellenes" arrive in Podgorica.
3. Montenegro - Albania, Women's World Cup qualifiers: Girls Mirko Marić They start from the Nations League B, the high house of European football. Their rivals in the group are also Wales and the Czech Republic.
4. Iceland - Montenegro, Women's Handball Championship Qualification: The qualifications continue, which Suzana Lazović's girls started successfully with victories over Portugal and the Faroe Islands.
7. Montenegro - Iceland, qualification for the Women's Handball Championship: after returning from Reykjavik, a duel with Iceland awaits them in Podgorica.
7. Wales - Montenegro, Women's World Cup qualifiers: Second round and first guest appearance of Armisa Kuč and her friend - direction Ostrvo.
8. Formula 1, start of the season: The first of 24 races of the fastest cycle will be held in Melbourne, Australia. Lando Norris defends the title, but we are looking forward to a season full of uncertainty and excitement - new technical changes are coming to the scene, including advanced sustainable fuels and new rules that should improve racing strategies.
11. Ukraine - Montenegro, Eurobasket Women's Qualification: After a defeat against Ukraine at home, then an away win in Azerbaijan and another failure against Bulgaria, the girls Jelena Škerović They continue to fight for another European Championship in a row.
14. Montenegro - Azerbaijan, Eurobasket women's basketball qualifiers: second match with Azerbaijan, a chance to win.
17. Montenegro - Bulgaria, Eurobasket Women's Qualification: A new match with the Bulgarians in the group is coming soon.
20 - 22. Indoor World Championships in Athletics, Poland: It will be the 21st edition of the indoor championship where many top athletes will compete to get in shape for the summer "outdoor" championships. Montenegro is waiting Marija Vuković.
26 - 31. UEFA play-offs for the 2026 World Cup: The World Cup before the World Cup - for Italy, but also for the countries of the region: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia. Big battles are expected, in which as many as 16 teams from Europe will participate - only four of them will fly across the Atlantic.
APRIL
7. Portugal - Montenegro, Women's Handball Championship Qualification: Qualifications continue, and if everything goes according to plan, Montenegro could already celebrate qualifying for the European Championship.
12. Montenegro - Faroe Islands, Women's Handball Championship Qualification: Especially when the Franks arrive in Podgorica in the spring.
14. Czech Republic - Montenegro, Women's World Cup qualifiers: A new test for our players, against a high society team.
16 - 19. European Judo Championships, Georgia: from Podgorica to Tbilisi. After our country's capital successfully organized the European Championship last year, now Georgia will be put to the test.
18. Montenegro - Czech Republic, Women's World Cup qualifiers: The fight for points continues.
MAJ
8 - 31. Giro d'Italia: The Race Around Italy started from Italy last year, now from Bulgaria. Simon Yeats defends the title.
13 - 17. Men's Handball World Championship Playoff: Depending on the placement at the upcoming Euro, the strength of Montenegro's potential rival will be known.
20. Europa League final in football, Istanbul: The home of Besiktas, the magnificent "Vodafone Arena", will host the winner of the Europa League - who will lift the trophy after Tottenham?
22 - 24. F4 Euroliga: The host is Athens, “OAKA Arena”. Fenerbahçe defends the title.
24 May - 7 June. Roland Garros: The title is being defended by Calros Alcaraz - it is difficult to expect a repeat of last year's spectacular final, when the Spaniard saved three match points against Siner.
27. Conference League Final in football, Leipzig: It is certain that Chelsea will not defend the title, perhaps Fiorentina, who have been defeated twice in the finals, will get a third chance.
30. Champions League Final, Budapest: For the first time, it will be played during the day, at 18 pm, at the magnificent "Puškaš Arena".
SEP
June 5 - 20: European Women's Volleyball League: Now it is “connected” to the qualifications. Jovica Caković's team is starting to compete for the second consecutive Eurovolley, and will also be preparing for their August debut at the biggest European competition.
5. Montenegro - Wales, Women's World Cup qualifiers.
June 6 - 21: European Volleyball League: Also combined with qualifications, as with women. Montenegro skipped EuroVolley after three consecutive placements, and in 2027 may be one of the hosts, along with Croatia and Serbia.
9. Albania - Montenegro, Women's World Cup qualifiers.
June 11 - July 19. World Cup, USA, Mexico, Canada: The central world sporting event in 2026. The summer of football, the first World Cup with 48 national teams and as many as 12 groups. The winner will have to play eight, instead of seven, matches, because there is also one more knockout phase, the round of 16. The champion will be crowned in New Jersey, at the MetLife Stadium. The title is defended by Argentina. The last World Cup Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric...
29. Jun - 12. Jul. Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic is expected to play again, who will be 39 years old. Janik Siner is defending his title.
JUL
2. Portugal - Montenegro, qualifications for the Basketball World Cup: Our national team will try to avenge the November defeat in Podgorica, and these will be the first matches on the bench. Zvezdan Mitrović.
4 - 26. Tour de France: The world's biggest cycling race, defending its title Tadej Pogacar.
5. Montenegro - Romania, qualifications for the Basketball World Cup.
AVGUST
10 - 16. European Athletics Championships: a major event, hosted by Birmingham.
August 21 - September 6. European Women's Volleyball Championship: Nikoleta Perović, Saška Đurović and her friends are making their debut on the biggest stage. In the group, which is being played in Gothenburg, Sweden, in addition to the hosts, the rivals are Olympic and world champions Italy, then France, Slovakia and Croatia.
August 21 - September 3. Mediterranean Games: The host city will be Taranto, Italy, and around 5.000 athletes from 26 countries, including Montenegro, are expected to participate.
August 22 - September 13. Vuelta a España: Third Royal Cycling Race. Danish Jonas Vingegord defends the title.
August 31 - September 13. US Open: New coronation for Kalros Alcaraz? Last chance for Novak Djokovic? The same will probably be written before the 2027 Australian Open.
SEPTEMBER
4 - 13. Women's Basketball World Cup, Berlin: Montenegro is a regular at EuroBaskets, MundoBasket is unattainable.
15 - 26: Elite European Boxing Championship, hosted by Bulgaria.
24. Start of the Nations League in football: Montenegro is in Division C, and a new calendar is starting: four matches in just ten days, and then two more in November.
27. League of Nations in football: Second match for the boys Mirko Vučinić.
OCTOBER
1. Nations League in football, 3rd round.
4. Nations League in football, 4rd round.
31 - 13. novThe Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar, Senegal.
NOVEMBER
12. Nations League in football, 5rd round.
15. Nations League in football, 6rd round.
DECEMBER
3 - 20. Women's Handball European Championship, hosted by the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey: Montenegro will certainly look for a way to reach the finals again, because in the qualifiers there should be no problem in making it to the ninth European Championship.
29. New Year's Tour Four Ski Jumps: As always, a treat for the end of the year comes from the fairytale Alps.
Bonus video:
