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FINA World Championships 2025: What to look out for

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The 2025 FINA World Championships will be one of the most important events on the global sporting calendar. Dozens of countries, hundreds of athletes and millions of spectators will take part in the competition, both in the pools and in front of their screens. The programme includes all the major disciplines, from classic swimming to spectacular high diving. The event is a full-fledged sports festival with a rich programme, intrigue and record-breaking events.

Format and disciplines of the 2025 World Swimming Championships

Each discipline at the 2025 FINA World Championships has its own unique story and schedule.

  1. Classic swimming. One of the most anticipated events. The focus is on the battle for tenths of a second over distances from 50 to 1,500 metres. Athletes will compete in the freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and medley disciplines.
  2. Synchronised swimming. A spectacular combination of artistic performance and athletic power. Crews from different countries will present their programmes in duets and groups. High precision, artistic talent and synchronisation of movements will be the main assessment criteria.
  3. Water polo. Teamwork and a tight competition schedule make this block one of the most dynamic. The 2025 World Swimming Championships will consist of events for both men and women. The emphasis is on interaction, throwing accuracy, tactics and emotional resilience.
  4. Diving. Divers will perform from 1, 3 and 10 metre springboards. The jury will assess technique, the difficulty of the elements and the beauty of the entry. Both beginners and experienced masters will demonstrate competitive intensity in individual and synchronised disciplines.
  5. High diving. Height, risk and artistry. The 27-metre platform dives are one of the most extreme parts of the tournament. Participants perform a series of acrobatic elements under conditions that require maximum concentration and precision. High Diving 2025 will give spectators a real adrenaline rush.
  6. Open water swimming. Participants compete at distances ranging from 5 to 25 kilometres. Waves, currents, water temperature and the lack of signage increase the demands on navigation and endurance. Open water swimming in 2025 will test both physics and psychology.

Athletes and teams: who should you keep an eye on?

Format and disciplines of the 2025 World Swimming ChampionshipsThe 2025 FINA World Championships will bring together representatives from more than 80 countries, including top favourites, returning veterans and rising stars. The competition covers all continents and training levels: from beginners to Olympic titans. Each team will send its strongest line-up, selected according to the principles of qualifications, national team selection and training camps.

World names and young sensations

In men’s swimming, it is expected to be an exciting battle between continents, with athletes from the United States, Australia, Japan and France traditionally setting record performances. In women’s swimming, representatives from China, Canada and Italy dominate, especially in the butterfly and medley. Athletes from Africa and South America are participating in the high jump for the first time. The new teams are quickly developing their technical base and training high-level divers who can compete with the current leaders.

Competition in team disciplines

Water polo will increase the rivalry between Eastern European countries. Hungary, Serbia and Croatia are returning to the top, demonstrating strict discipline, tactical variability and teamwork. The national women’s teams of the United States, Spain and the Netherlands will add extra dynamism with an emphasis on fast attacks and aggressive pressing.

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Trends and expectations:

  1. Swimming: South Asian teams, once marginal, are seeing a strong improvement in results. Active implementation of biomechanics and digital analysis is raising the bar for technical training.
  2. Synchronised swimming: the art that goes beyond the classics. The South Korean and Brazilian teams are presenting unconventional compositions with elements of theatre and visual spectacle.
  3. High jump: introduction of new equipment and expansion of the geographical area. The towers are equipped with a visual trajectory recording system, which gives the analysis more depth.
  4. Diving: China is still the leader, but the pressure is increasing as Great Britain and Mexico send their best athletes of the past 10 years.

What can we expect from the 2025 FINA World Championships?

The organisers are not focusing solely on the sporting aspect. The tournament will be a media and cultural phenomenon. A rich space will be created around the stadiums with training zones, VR stations and merchandising areas. In each section, spectators will have the opportunity to study the rules of the sport in detail, meet former athletes and participate in interactive activities.

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The presence effect will be enhanced by the installation of round cameras, synchronisation with mobile devices and the ability to change angles. Augmented reality graphics visualise athlete data such as heart rate, speed, energy consumption and accuracy. Analytical studios prepare daily reviews and predictions, with commentators who have years of experience, including champions from previous years, participating.

Viewing and participation formats

The tournament’s media platform covers the entire spectrum of digital technologies. The 2025 World Swimming Championships will be broadcast live via satellite channels, mobile apps and interactive stands in the stadiums. The emphasis will be on far-reaching personalisation of content, tailored to the interests of each individual viewer.

Interactive and convenient:

  1. Direct access to the broadcast from any location: pool, tower, playing field.
  2. Select the language for comments, check the emphasis and view the types of infographics.
  3. Ability to connect to live analyses in split-view format.
  4. Digital ticket sales and seat reservations with accurate hall visualisation.

The app includes push calendar reminders, GPS navigation in the stadiums and the ability to create an individual visit plan.

Infrastructure and organisation of the 2025 World Swimming Championships

The host city is transforming sports logistics into a model of efficiency. Platforms for high jump, synchronised swimming and open water swimming will be installed at various locations, taking into account accessibility by means of transport, weather conditions and safety. The sports stadiums will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment: tactile starting blocks, motion registration systems, 3D diving storyboards, soundproof stands and adjustable water temperatures. Each location will have air-conditioned recreation areas, charging stations, Wi-Fi and medical facilities. The organisers are taking into account the needs of people with limited mobility by installing lifts, wide aisles and touch-sensitive navigation.

Planning and availability

The organisers of the 2025 World Swimming Championships are optimising the schedule to prevent important finals from overlapping. The morning sessions are dedicated to qualifying swims and preliminary diving events. In the evening, the semi-finals and finals take place with musical accompaniment, light shows and award ceremonies. The competitions will be synchronised with the primetime broadcasts of the major television companies. This will increase the reach of the broadcasts and allow maximum attention to be paid to the highlights of the tournament. Important: Each visitor can choose the form of their visit: during the day, in the evening or a combination of both.

Conclusion

What can we expect from the 2025 FINA World Championships?The 2025 FINA World Championships will raise the bar in terms of organisation, entertainment and technology. The tournament combines sporting aesthetics, excitement and technical perfection. Hundreds of medals, dozens of records, millions of fans: all this takes place in the context of a major water festival, where every second counts.

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In an era when scale has become synonymous with status, arenas have ceased to be mere venues for matches. These concrete and steel giants attract crowds not for the sake of the game, but for the wow factor, surpassing even concert halls. Architects here fought not for beauty, but for victory over gravity and common sense. The most capacious stadiums in the world are the subject of discussion in our article. Get ready to meet them!

May 1st Stadium (Pyongyang, North Korea) — breaking the boundaries of sports

The flagship on the list, effortlessly leading the ranking of the largest stadiums. Built in 1989 in Pyongyang, this colossus accommodates 114,000 people, making it the absolute record holder among the most capacious sports complexes in the world. The multi-level bowl covering an area of 207,000 m² with 80 entrances spans an area with thirty football fields. Outside of matches, the arena transforms into a venue for mass shows and festive performances, meticulously crafted to symmetry.

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Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne, Australia) — arena of records and legends

An Australian legend with a history dating back to 1853. Despite specializing in cricket, it is actively used for football matches as well. Capacity — 100,024 seats. It was here that the opening ceremony of the 1956 Olympics took place. The arena has been designated as a cultural landmark of national significance. It not only meets the criteria of the most capacious stadiums in the world, but also vies for the title of the most versatile sports venue in the southern hemisphere.

Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain) — the temple of European football

The Spanish giant has become the hallmark of Europe and a symbol of Catalan self-identification. Built in 1957, it currently accommodates 99,354 spectators, placing it at the forefront among the most capacious stadiums in the world in Europe. The Catalan club “Barcelona” has turned this arena into a symbol of philosophy and commercial success. It’s not just about matches here, it’s about shaping an era.

Soccer City (Johannesburg, South Africa) — legacy of the 2010 World Cup

The main arena in Africa, built in 1989 and reconstructed for the 2010 World Cup. Capacity — 94,736 seats, while the architects preserved the shape of the traditional African pot “calabash.” This sports complex hosted the final of the World Cup, where Spain defeated the Netherlands. The most capacious stadiums in the world rarely combine aesthetic symbolism and technical scale, but “Soccer City” proved to be an exception.

Wembley Stadium (London, UK) — traditions under a new roof

The modern version was built in 2007 on the site of the legendary sports complex with towers. Capacity — 90,000 spectators, making it the largest arena in the UK and an important facility in the world stadium capacity ranking. The England national team’s sports complex hosts Cup and Super Cup finals, concerts of global stars, and large-scale shows. The unique 133-meter arch is visible for tens of kilometers.

Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, Mexico) — two World Cups, one arena

Opened in 1966, “Estadio Azteca” made history as the only arena to host two World Cup finals — in 1970 and 1986. Capacity — 87,523 people, placing it among the top most capacious stadiums in the world on the continent. It was here that Maradona scored the famous “goal of the century” and the “hand of God.” For Latin America, it’s not just an arena, but a sanctuary of football emotions.

Bukit Jalil National Stadium (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) — Asian colossus

Built in 1998 for the Commonwealth Games. Capacity — 87,411 seats. With these figures, Bukit Jalil confidently entered the ranks of the most capacious stadiums in the world in Asia. The national football team, major religious gatherings, concerts, and political events — the arena adapts to the demands of the time. The 2017 reconstruction added panoramic lighting and a 4K digital scoreboard.

Borg El Arab Stadium (Alexandria, Egypt) — ambitions in the sand

Located in the suburbs of Alexandria, the sports complex was Egypt’s response to the region’s growing sporting ambitions. Capacity — 86,000 seats, solidifying the arena’s status in the top 10 most capacious stadiums in the world. Built by the military engineering corps in record time, “Borg El Arab” is mainly used by the Egyptian national team and the club “Al-Ahly.” The bowl with a cooling system, covered press areas, and VIP sectors — all meet global standards.

Yuva Bharati Krirangan (Kolkata, India) — the voice of a billion

India has proven it can build not only railways and IT clusters. Built in 1984 and modernized in 2011. It accommodates 85,000 spectators, trailing the leaders by just a millimeter. It ranks among the largest stadiums, especially in the context of the Asian region. National football championships, youth tournaments, holidays, and festivals — the venue remains in demand year-round.

ANZ Stadium (Sydney, Australia) — dual standards under one roof

Opened for the 2000 Olympics and accommodates 83,500 people, making it the country’s second-largest arena. It features a transformer configuration, adapting the geometry for rugby, football, and cricket. Thanks to this design, the arena maintains its position in the list of the most capacious in the world, without sacrificing comfort. Digital screens, high-speed Wi-Fi, rainwater collection system — the engineering solutions deserve a separate rating.

Why the world needs the most capacious stadiums

Maximum capacity is not about records for the sake of numbers. It’s a strategy where architecture and technology create a complete spectator experience. A modern arena is not just a facility, but a complete ecosystem: museums, fan zones, shops, hotels. Like, for example, “Al Bayt” in Qatar.

Before the renovation, you could walk through the history of the club at “Camp Nou” without attending a match. And “Wembley” with its 133-meter arch has become a national symbol.

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Engineers design such arenas as living systems: managing flows, acoustics, and attention. Here, 100,000 people are not a crowd, but a single organism experiencing the event synchronously.

The most capacious stadiums in the world: conclusions

The most capacious stadiums in the world are not just about sports, but a grand cultural stage. They have become symbols of nations and architectural milestones, where numbers reflect ambitions. From Pyongyang to Sydney, each facility in the top 10 is an ecosystem that combines technology, spectacle, and identity. Today, these arenas set the atmosphere, where the spectator is part of the show, not just the audience.

Cycling has long ceased to be a hobby for fans of speed and fresh air. It’s a business where every effort translates into six-figure contracts. The world’s highest-paid cyclists earn as if every uphill climb they make is an investment with a return higher than Tesla shares in 2020.

Top 10 highest paid cyclists: who earns the most

At the financial pinnacle of cycling are the top ten who combine medals with marketing and turn seconds on the track into large sums of euros in their accounts. Here’s how the ranking of the richest cyclists currently looks like:

  1. Tadej Pogačar.
  2. Primož Roglić.
  3. Geraint Thomas.
  4. Tom Pidcock.
  5. Egan Bernal.
  6. Remco Evenepool.
  7. Julian Alaphilippe.
  8. Wout van Art.
  9. Jonas Wingegaard.
  10. Mathieu van der Pool.

The sums are not just the salaries of professional athletes. They are a fraction of advertising contracts, win bonuses, leader’s jersey bonuses and signing bonuses from teams.

Tadej Pogačar: a million for pedalling smoothly

Top of the list of the world’s highest paid cyclists is a Slovenian who has already won the Tour de France twice. UAE Team Emirates pays him €6 million a year. This does not include sponsorship contracts with Red Bull and Colnago. In 2021, Pogachar won three consecutive mountain stages. Such a result is rare. It made the rider a sensation in both sport and finance.

His transfer was the most expensive in the last 10 years in cycling. A 5-year deal totalling over €30 million, his financial growth symbolises a shift in the distribution of income in cycling. Now the bets are not only on experience, but also on an attacking riding style.

Primož Roglić: when strategy costs millions

Another Slovenian on the list. His career started with ski jumping. But his transformation into a world-class cyclist has earned him €4.5 million annually. The Bora-Hansgrohe team offers not only a salary, but also a share of sponsorship integrations. In 2020, Roglić won the Vuelta and in 2021 he won silver at the Tokyo Olympics. An example of a cyclist who compensates for age with experience and economy of effort. His style is a careful saving of energy in the first stages with a powerful finish. This appeals to team analysts and advertisers willing to invest in stability.

Geraint Thomas: experience turned into euros

Geraint Thomas: an experience turned into a euroThe Briton with the personality of a physics teacher and the legs of a sprinter brings Ineos Grenadiers around €3.5m in expenses per year. The 2018 Tour de France winner is consistently in the top 10 of the highest-paid cyclists. In the 2022 season, Thomas finished in the top three at two grand tours at once. He proved that age is no barrier to victory.

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In addition to racing, Thomas is actively involved in documentary projects, podcasts and promoting the Ineos brand. This strengthens his financial position. He generates his income from cycling not only through racing, but also through his image.

Tom Pidcock: an all-rounder in business and on a budget

British phenomenon. Olympic champion in mountain biking and winner of the Strade Bianche. One of the most promising contenders for the Tour de France. Pidcock earns €2.7m a year. His income includes contracts with Red Bull and Ineos. He wins in different disciplines. For this he has been compared to a young Peter Sagan.

Pidcock’s financial forecasts are optimistic: his style and charisma could double his income in the next 2 seasons. The world’s highest-paid cyclists are shaping a new paradigm where it’s not just speed that matters, but also media exposure.

Egan Bernal: a breakthrough that cost a lot of money

The Colombian has surprised with his speed of recovery after a serious injury in 2022. Despite the forced break, the Ineos team keeps him under contract at €2.5m per year. Winning the Tour de France in 2019 brought Bernal instant recognition. A return to training after a road accident only enhanced his status.

He remains a marketing asset due to his charisma, age and the South American market. His name is associated with a symbol of resilience. The answer to the question of how much cyclists earn, in his case, is a story of perseverance, not just victories.

Remco Evenepool and other rising millionaires

Positions in the ranking of the richest cyclists are no longer limited to veterans. Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian phenomenon, earned €2.3 million in 2024. His victory at the World Road Race Championships and his strong starts at the Grand Tours strengthened his contract with Soudal-Quick Step. For his attacking riding style, analysts are calling him “the new Cancellara”. This approach is perfectly monetised – the team actively uses the rider’s name in promos. Nike signed a contract with him until 2026.

Julian Alaphilippe is also consistently on the list of the world’s highest-paid cyclists. He is the leader in terms of classics victories among active Frenchmen. His income of €2 million is justified by his results, his popularity in the national market and his status as the face of Deceuninck. He is regularly quoted by the French press as the main inspiration for the “new wave” in cycling.

Wout van Art and media cycling

The Belgian, who can win any stage from flat to mountain, earns €1.9m annually. The Jumbo-Visma team rates his versatility higher than most sprinters. The energy drink adverts bring in a steady income. He often appears in special issues of magazines and takes part in various disciplines, including cyclocross. This attracts brands and increases interest in his persona.

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These riders are shaping the new face of cycling. To versatility on the track is added versatility outside of racing. His income from professional sport comes not only from victories, but also from his popularity outside of competition.

Jonas Wingegaard: the price of the yellow jersey

The Dane, who won the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France, earns €1.8m. His contract with Jumbo-Visma remains lower than many in the top, yet Wingegaard has been extremely efficient, with 40 per cent of his starts finishing in the top 3.

Contracts with Scandinavian brands increase personal income. The team’s internal strategy allocates bonuses to riders based on team tactics. This model reinforces financial discipline and reduces salary spikes. But that doesn’t stop him from staying in the ranking of the world’s highest-paid cyclists.

Mathieu van der Pool: creative billionaire on a bike

The Dutch rider, often featured on the covers of cycling magazines and in Shimano adverts, earns €1.6 million. He has won the Milano-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders, as well as consistently finishing at the top of the world championships.

His income is generated at the intersection of sporting performance and marketing uniqueness. Van der Pool collaborates with brands from the fashion sector, including G-Star RAW. This extends the reach of the audience beyond cycling.

Conclusion

Primož Roglić: when strategy is worth millionsThe world’s highest paid cyclists are not only strong riders but also media figures. Their income is derived from results, popularity and commercial value. Today, cycling is a business where victories bring capital and earnings depend on the level: from thousands of euros to multi-million dollar contracts. Success is a combination of form, strategy and image.