Must-see sports events in 2014

US Figure Skating Championships: Jan. 5-12

Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir are two of the stars who will compete in Boston at the US Figure Skating Championships. The event is the final one before the US determines the skaters who will compete at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Boston last hosted the event in 2001.

• Story & video: US Figure Skating Championships come to Boston

Super Bowl XLVIII: Feb. 2

NFL officials must be simultaneously excited and terrified at the prospect of staging the league’s biggest game in one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas (East Rutherford, N.J.) in the middle of winter. Let it snow?

• What time does the Super Bowl start?

Sochi Winter Olympics: Feb. 7-23

Dozens of New England hopefuls, from snowboarders hockey players, will participate in one of the premier television sporting events of the year,

• New England’s Olympics hopefuls

FIFA World Cup: June 12 to July 13

United States national soccer team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has the Americans playing some of their best soccer heading into the tournament, but the US is in the “Group of Death’’ along with Germany, Portugal, and Ghana.

Red Sox Opening Day at Fenway Park: April 4

The defending World Series champions — let that sink in for a minute — host the Milwaukee Brewers in the first home game of the season at Fenway Park.

Boston Marathon: April 21

Given the tragic events of last April, the 2014 Boston Marathon will be an emotional day for those in the region and anyone personally or otherwise affected by last year’s bombings.

NCAA men’s basketball tournament: March 18 to April 7

This year’s NCAA Tournament could have a strong local feel, with Tommy Amaker’s Harvard Crimson poised to make another run to the Big Dance, UMass looking strong for a spot in the field, and several other New England schools in serious contention to get in the bracket. Selection Sunday is March 16.

NFL Draft: May 8-10

The NFL moved its annual draft from late April to early May because of scheduling conflicts at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Stanley Cup playoffs: Starting April 16

The Bruins are poised to make another run at a Stanley Cup, but so are the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks, who eliminated Boston in six games in 2013.

NFL opener: Sept. 4

The defending Super Bowl champions, whoever they may be, are expected to host the league’s opening game on Thursday, Sept. 4.

NBA Draft: June 26

Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins is one of a handful of super prospects expected to be eligible for the next NBA Draft. Might the Celtics land one of these franchise-altering players?

NASCAR in New Hampshire: July 13 and Sept. 21

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series comes to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon twice in 2014.

Head of the Charles: Oct. 18-19

The annual regatta returns to Cambridge just as the leaves are changing in the fall.

Harvard vs. Yale football: Nov. 22

The 131st edition of The Game will take place at Harvard Stadium this year.

MIAA Super Bowls: early December

The state championship games for high school football take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough in early December.