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Greater Miami and Miami Beach Accelerates its Rise as a Global Sports Capital with Top 10 Recognition and Five New Annual International Events
Greater Miami and Miami Beach is officially ranked among the world’s top 10 global sports cities, according to Burson’s highly anticipated 2025 Ranking of Sport Cities. Miami’s jump to #8 worldwide underscores the destination’s undeniable role as a year-round hub for world-class competition—and adds another powerful proof point to its reputation as a global sports capital. Already home to marquee competitions like the Orange Bowl, Miami Open, Miami Marathon and F1 Miami Grand Prix, the region’s sports calendar has expanded with five new global annual events: PGA Tour Signature Event, E1 Power Boat Series, Formula E, Unrivaled Women’s Basketball, and the HYROX Fitness Festival. Following the successful hosting of the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year, these additions—along with upcoming international tournaments including FIFA World Cup 26™—reinforce Miami’s status as a year-round sports capital while delivering powerful economic impact for the community.
The Burson Ranking evaluates the top 100 sports cities around the globe through perception surveys and in-depth quantitative analysis, including input from international sports leaders, media representatives, and industry experts, as well as social and traditional media tracking. Miami’s climb from #16 in 2023 to #8 in 2025 reflects the impact of its robust roster of events and strategic positioning at the epicenter of the sports world. The full list can be found HERE.
“Over the past several years, our organization has made an intentional and strategic investment of marketing and communications assets and platforms to help lure, promote and host some of the most iconic and global sports events and brands in the world,” said David Whitaker, President & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB). “The significant growth over the past few years, and now top 10 global ranking, simply reaffirms the return on that investment, collective power and influence of our sports and event partners. And once again, vividly illustrates the relationship between the reputation and attraction of a destination’s brand with the major events hosted there.”
A Year-Round Powerhouse for Global Events
Beyond the FIFA World Cup 26™, Miami’s sports calendar is packed with elite events that continue to elevate its global stature. In the next 12 months alone, the destination will host:
College Football National Championship and Playoffs (January 2026)
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January 1: Capital One Orange Bowl College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
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January 19: College Football Playoff National Championship
NHL Winter Classic (January 2026)
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January 2: NHL Winter Classic – Florida Panthers vs. New York Rangers at loanDepot park
World Baseball Classic (March 6–17, 2026)
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March 6-11 – Pool D Play: Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel, Nicaragua
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March 13-14 – Quarterfinals
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March 15-16 – Semifinals
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March 17 – Championship Game
FIFA World Cup 26™ Matches (June–July 2026 at Miami Stadium)
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June 15: Match 13 – Group Stage
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June 21: Match 37 – Group Stage
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June 24: Match 49 – Group Stage
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June 27: Match 71 – Group Stage
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July 3: Match 86 – Round of 32
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July 11: Match 99 – Quarterfinal
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July 18: Match 103 – Bronze Final
NASCAR Cup Series Championship (November 6–8, 2026)
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November 8 – NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race
These high-impact events are anchored by a robust annual roster that now includes the Miami Open, Miami Marathon, Bacardi Cup Regatta, Capital One Orange Bowl, Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, and full seasons of the Miami HEAT, Miami Dolphins, Miami Marlins, and Inter Miami CF. New additions such as the PGA Tour Signature Event, E1 Power Boat Series, Formula E, Unrivaled Women’s Basketball, and the HYROX Fitness Festival further expand Miami’s year-round calendar, reinforcing the destination’s reputation as one of the most diverse and dynamic sports capitals in the world.
Through targeted sports marketing campaigns, global partnership-building, and a strong cultural brand identity, the GMCVB and its partners have solidified Miami’s reputation as a premier sports tourism destination. This year, the GMCVB launched an evergreen campaign designed to encourage fans not just to attend matches, but to linger and explore everything Greater Miami has to offer—from vibrant neighborhoods and world-class dining to beaches, arts, and culture. Building on a rich annual sports calendar—from the iconic Bacardi Cup sailing regatta to the electrifying Wodapalooza fitness festival – the GMCVB is leveraging each major event to weave unforgettable, multi-day travel experiences. To learn how sporting occasions in Miami become an opportunity to immerse in tropical lifestyle and sustained tourism: visit HERE .
A Legacy of World-Class Hosting:
Greater Miami’s ability to attract global competition isn’t new – it’s rooted in decades of proven success:
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Miami has hosted a record-tying 11 Super Bowls, a testament to its infrastructure and hospitality.
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It remains the only destination to host all three rounds of the World Baseball Classic – the First Round, Second Round, and the Championship.
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The Capital One Orange Bowl has been played in Miami since 1935, making it the second-oldest bowl game in college football.
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Miami will make history by hosting Florida’s first-ever outdoor NHL game as part of the league’s iconic Winter Classic—and it’s happening in true Miami style, inside loanDepot park, a venue typically home to Major League Baseball. This bold, first-of-its-kind transformation reflects the creativity and adaptability of Miami’s venues, which continue to rise to the occasion – no matter the sport, season, or scale.
Sports, Fitness and Meetings Hub
In addition to global sporting events in the destination, the Miami Beach Convention Center can also serve as a premier stage for sports, fitness, and wellness meetings and conventions, offering planners a world-class venue enhanced by Miami’s year-round sunshine and hospitality. Groups are drawn to Miami and Miami Beach not only for its cutting-edge venues and hospitality but also for its unbeatable year-round weather, which makes outdoor fitness activations, tournaments, and wellness programming possible in every season. From hosting global sporting events to attracting health and wellness conferences, Miami combines sunshine, modern infrastructure, and a thriving cultural scene to create the perfect environment for organizations seeking both serious business and active lifestyles.
The top 10 global ranking now places Miami among elite company such as Paris, Los Angeles, New York, London, and Madrid.
As the countdown continues to the FIFA World Cup 26™, Greater Miami and Miami Beach are poised to deliver unforgettable experiences for fans, athletes, and visitors alike—further cementing its status as a true global sports capital.
About the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB)
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an accredited, independent, not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami & Miami Beach for leisure, business, meetings and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit MiamiandMiamiBeach.com or call 1.888.76.MIAMI (U.S./Canada only) or 305.447.7777. Meeting planners may call 1.800.933.8448 (U.S./Canada only) or 305.539.3071 or visit MiamiMeetings.com. Follow us on social media: Facebook.com/visitmiami, X.com/visitmiami, Instagram.com/visitmiami and Pinterest.com/visit_miami.
