A Season of Joy, Peace, and Football: Festive Greetings and the 2025 Sporting Calendar

The holiday season is upon us, a time for reflection, gratitude, and celebration. Across the globe, organizations and individuals are extending their warmest wishes, sharing sentiments of peace and joy. From the heartfelt greetings of CTNewsJunkie, wishing their readers a Season of gratitude and giving, to the festive messages from Friends of Football New Zealand expressing gratitude for their supporters and promising a return to action, this season resonates with warmth and camaraderie.

The spirit of the holidays isn’t limited to personal celebrations; sporting organizations are also joining in. Friends of Football NZ’s message reflects the hope of a restful holiday period, leading into a new year filled with exciting sporting events.

The 2025 Football Season: A Packed Calendar

The new year promises an action-packed schedule for football fans in New Zealand and beyond. Friends of Football NZ has already laid out a comprehensive calendar of events for 2025, starting early in February with the seasons for women’s and men’s Futsal Superleagues.

Key Events

February 8-14: OFC Men’s Champions League qualifying in the Cook Islands. This tournament promises intense competition and high stakes.
February 23 & 26: Costa Rica v Football Ferns matches in Costa Rica, offering a glimpse at international women’s football.
March 7-13: OFC U-19 Women’s Championship qualifying in Tonga.
March 21 & 24: The semi-final and final of the FIFA Men’s World Cup OFC qualifiers in Wellington and Auckland respectively. This is a crucial stage of the World Cup qualification process, and the atmosphere promises to be electric.
March 29: The start of various domestic league seasons including Northern League, Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership, and more. This marks the beginning of an exciting period for local football fans, providing opportunities to witness emerging talent and rivalries play out.
May 16-18: The grand final of the women’s A-League.
May 30-June 1: The grand final of the men’s A-League.
June 15-July 13: The FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, with Auckland City potentially facing the likes of Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors. This is a rare chance for New Zealand clubs to showcase their skills on a global stage. This tournament promises to be a highlight of the year for international football fans.
July 4-19: The OFC Women’s Nations Cup in Fiji. This tournament will be a fierce battle between some of Oceania's top national teams, and fans should anticipate plenty of action.
September 27-October 19: The FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Chile, a platform where some of the world's best young talents can exhibit their prowess.
October 17-November 8: The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. This tournament is an extremely important and exciting event in the global football calendar, featuring teams from different nations showcasing their young talent.
November 21-December 7: The FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup in the Philippines, another high-profile event in the world of international women’s football.
December 13-14: The grand finals of the men’s and women’s National Leagues, culminating an exciting season of domestic competition.

The comprehensive nature of the calendar showcases the robust and thriving football scene in New Zealand, and it certainly promises a year filled with exciting events for players and spectators alike. The 2025 football calendar presents an array of opportunities to witness the finest footballing talents, whether at the international or local levels.

Beyond the Pitch: Holiday Cheer from Around the World

While the 2025 football calendar provides a look ahead, the present moment is filled with holiday cheer. IFA Magazine, for example, extends its season's greetings, acknowledging a year of market fluctuations and expressing hopes for a calmer new year for their readers. Vogue offers a delightful visual Christmas gift with a slideshow of vintage holiday images from its archive, capturing the timeless elegance of past Christmases. These messages reflect a shared sentiment of goodwill and anticipation for the year to come. The festive messages emphasize the importance of community and the human connection behind these celebrations.

The combination of holiday cheer and the promise of a thrilling year of football in 2025 paints a picture of anticipation and excitement. These messages of goodwill highlight the human element in sports and business, underscoring the importance of community and shared experiences, regardless of geographic location. Whether it's a football match or a quiet moment with family, the common thread is a spirit of togetherness and anticipation for what lies ahead.

This holiday season, may we all find moments of peace, joy, and connection, and may the new year bring exciting sporting events and prosperous times for all. We hope everyone has a fantastic and safe new year. Wishing you a happy and healthy new year ahead.