It’s another jam-packed week on the sports calendar to close out 2025 and begin 2026, and The Athletic is covering it all live. From the final week of the NFL regular season, to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, to the conclusion of AFCON’s group stage and the beginning of the knockout stage, the action will be nonstop. 

You don’t want to miss a moment of our extensive coverage as each blog features the latest news, play-by-play, reaction, analysis and more. You can share your views, predictions and questions with us by emailing live@theathletic.com. Your responses could be featured in our coverage throughout the week, so stay tuned and get involved. 

Here is the full live schedule for the week of Dec. 29 to Jan. 4.

Monday, Dec. 29

AFCON 2025 – Zambia vs Morocco

Morocco, hosts of the tournament, have already assured themselves of a spot in the knockout stage with a win and a draw in their first two matches but will be looking to top the group with another victory. Zambia, meanwhile, have opened the competition with back-to-back draws against Mali and Comoros and need a positive result to advance to the round of 16. 

Our live coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET.

NFL “Monday Night Football” – Rams vs. Falcons

Plenty is at stake when Los Angeles visits Atlanta as Week 17 concludes. The Rams are no longer in contention for the NFC West title but can still improve their seeding in the playoffs. The Falcons, meanwhile, cannot qualify for the playoffs but can impact the tiebreakers in the NFC South if they win their final two games. And don’t forget about Matthew Stafford, the 37-year-old quarterback chasing the first MVP award of his career. 

Our live coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET.

Tuesday, Dec. 30

AFCON 2025 – Uganda vs Nigeria

Nigeria were bitterly disappointed to miss out on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup but have rebounded well with a great start to this tournament, opening with wins over Tanzania and Tunisia to clinch the top spot in Group C. Uganda, meanwhile, took just one point from their opening two matches and are likely to need a win to advance to the knockout stage. 

Our live coverage begins at 8 a.m. ET.

Premier League – Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Emirates Stadium in north London plays host to a massive match between two of the three teams at the top of the table. Arsenal sit in first place at 42 points, with Aston Villa three points behind and Manchester City sandwiched between the two. Villa are red hot, winners of 11 straight matches in all competitions including a dramatic 2-1 victory over Arsenal at home earlier this month. 

Our live coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET.