The Patriot Games — President Donald Trump’s teen athletic tournament envisioned as a highlight of America’s 250th birthday celebration — are now a reality, as Trump confirmed additional Patriot Games details through the Freedom 250 organization.
The National Federation of State High School Associations reports about 8.26 million participants in high school sports in 2024–25, the highest total on record.
That breaks down to roughly 4.7 million boys and 3.5 million girls taking part in at least one school sport.
That means there could be a whole lot of teen athletes applying to participate in the Patriot Games. But which sports will be featured?
Here’s what we know — and don’t yet know — about which sports will be played at the Patriot Games.
Which sports will be in the Patriot Games?
Trump nor Freedom 250 referenced any sport in its most recent update.
However, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations, these are the most popular high school sports by number of participants:
Boys
- Football
- Track and Field – Outdoor
- Basketball
- Baseball
- soccer
- Wrestling
- Cross Country
- Tennis
- Golf
- Swimming/Diving
Girls
- Track and Field – Outdoor
- Volleyball
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Softball – Fast Pitch
- Tennis
- Cross Country
- Competitive Spirit
- Swimming/Diving
- Lacrosse
So while Freedom 250 hasn’t landed on the sports to include in the Patriot Games, Trump will likely pick sports that have the highest number of participants.
Patriot Games: when they’re happening and how to apply
The Patriot Games tournament will begin on Sunday, August 9, and run through Tuesday, August 11; the Patriot Games application portal is now live.
Freedom 250 hasn’t yet publicized exactly where the tournament will be held, but that information should be available shortly.
Teens start the application process by first confirming they meet the age rules — they must be at least 14 by June 1, 2026, and no older than 17 on December 31, 2026 — and then fill out an online form with basic eligibility details.
That form covers who they are (name, age, school, where they live) and how they’d represent their state, territory, or tribal nation at the competition.
From there, applicants upload a short video sharing their story and explaining why they want to compete in the Patriot Games, touching on qualities like determination, teamwork, resilience, and leadership.
Once the form and video are submitted through the Freedom 250 portal, the Patriot Games Selection Committee reviews applications, does follow‑up screening and verification, and then chooses finalists who will participate in the Patriot Games.
Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending, breaking and service-related topics across the Mid-Atlantic region for the USA Today Network.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Which sports are included in Trump’s Patriot Games?
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