Independence Day is a day to spend with family and friends, and for many people that means taking a look at the sporting action on offer.
4th of July sports schedule: What to watch on Independence Day | Wimbledon, F1, World Cup, MLB
Independence Day 2026 marks 250 years of the United States of America, one year away from the big quarter-millennium celebrations expected next year.
The 4th of July holiday will be marked in different ways by different people. But with the summer season in full swing, many will be hoping to use the holiday to take in some sport with friends and family.
Independence Day does not have the variety of sporting spectacle to compete with Thanksgiving later in the year, but there are plenty of options for those looking for their sporting fix this Friday.
MLB schedule for Independence Day
For the fourth year in a row, all 30 MLB teams will be playing a game on July 4 as part of a concerted effort to claim the holiday for the game of baseball. The highlights include Twins vs Yankees and Dodgers vs Padres.
MLB schedule July 4
- Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals (11:05 a.m. ET)
- Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees (1:35 p.m. ET)
- Detroit Tigers vs Texas Ranges (4:05 p.m. ET)
- Toronto Blue Jays vs Seattle Mariners (4.10 p.m. ET)
- Baltimore Orioles vs Cincinnati Reds (7:10 p.m. ET)
- Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians (7:10 p.m. ET)
- Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros (7:10 p.m. ET)
- New York Mets vs Atlanta Braves (8:08 p.m. ET)
- St, Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs (8:08 p.m. ET)
- Philadelphia Phillies vs Kansas City Royals (8:10 p.m. ET)
- San Francisco Gians vs Colorado Rockies (8:10 p.m. ET)
- Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels (9:38 p.m. ET)
- Miami Marlins vs Athletics (9:40 p.m. ET)
- Milwaukee Brewers vs Arizona Diamondbacks (9:40 p.m. ET)
- Sand Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 p.m. ET)
“There’s an opportunity there for baseball to own that day, like Christmas for some other sports,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. “You’re going to see continued efforts to kind of own that day.”
Other sports on July 4, 2026
The baseball action dominates the schedule this year but there are other options on offer. In golf, both the BMW International Open and the PGA Tour John Deere Classic will get underway early in the morning and will continue through the weekend.
The tennis action continues with the third round at Wimbledon. Among the biggest names on show are Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev and Americans Amanda Anisimova will face Madison Keys in London today.
Soccer fans have options with two Round of 16 games: Canada takes on Morocco at 1 p.m. ET and Paraguay faces France at 5 p.m. ET.
Motor racing fans have Formula 1 action to follow at Silverstone in England with the sprint race at 7 a.m. and qualifying at 11 a.m.
If that’s not enough sports for one day, there are two WNBA games scheduled for July 4: Atlanta Dream vs Goldest State Valkyries at 1 p.m. ET and the Seattle Storm take on Portland Fire at 9 p.m.
If we were to loosen the definition of ‘sport’, there is also the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the less athletically inclined. The Independence Day stable is now over 50 years old and this year’s edition will begin at noon ET.
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