Pre‑Season Sports Highlights 2024‑25

Pre‑season is the first chance to see how teams shape up before the main action kicks off. Whether you follow football, Formula 1 or rugby, this is the time clubs test new tactics, sign fresh talent and travel to warm‑up games. Below you’ll find the biggest stories, key fixtures and what to watch for as the season approaches.

Football pre‑season: tours and transfers

European clubs are criss‑crossing the globe for summer tours. Arsenal headed to the United States, playing MLS side LA Galaxy and a friendly in Dallas, giving fans a look at how new signings like Max Dowman fit into the lineup. Meanwhile, Manchester United announced the arrival of 18‑year‑old Paraguayan defender Diego Leon, a move aimed at adding depth for their US tour and the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Transfer chatter is also heating up. Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard highlighted the squad’s backing of Dowman, suggesting the young midfielder could become a regular starter if he keeps impressing in pre‑season matches. On the other side of the continent, Tottenham confirmed a loan deal for a promising South American forward, hoping a couple of goals in friendly fixtures will convince the coach to keep him for the league season.

Fans should tune in to the televised fixtures on Thursday nights – many clubs schedule games at 20:00 local time to maximize global viewership. Those matches often reveal which formations the managers plan to use, and whether any surprise players will earn a starting spot.

Motorsport and rugby pre‑season buzz

In Formula 1, the Dutch Grand Prix qualifying gave Oscar Piastri his first pole, just days before the season opener. The tight margin (0.012 seconds) over Lando Norris shows how competitive the grid will be, and the data from Zandvoort will help teams fine‑tune their setups. Pre‑season testing at the Bahrain circuit also offered a glimpse of which power units are delivering the most straight‑line speed, an important factor for teams chasing the championship.

Rugby fans aren’t left out either. Duhan van der Merwe’s hat‑trick for the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide highlighted the squad’s attacking firepower ahead of the upcoming Test series. The Lions’ dominant 48‑0 win over the AUNZ XV suggests they’ve ironed out defensive glitches and are ready to challenge Australia on home soil.

Keep an eye on the pre‑season fixtures list for the United Rugby Championship; the Sharks will face Ulster without star lock Eben Etzebeth, who suffered a late injury. Coaches often rotate their squads heavily during these games, so unexpected line‑ups can become the story of the week.

All these pre‑season events provide a sneak peek at what’s to come. Follow the matches, watch the press conferences and stay updated with the latest analysis – that’s the fastest way to get ahead of the competition once the regular season begins.