Sports are having a moment in the United States. The 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2026 World Cup both smashed viewership records, and patriotism is running high as fans cheer on American athletes. President Donald Trump is hoping that wave carries over to his pet project: the Patriot Games.

Patriot Games Partners with ESPN

First announced by President Trump last year, the Patriot Games will bring together one male and one female high school athlete from each state to compete in an Olympic-style competition. Yes, the name invites comparisons to "The Hunger Games" — but no, nobody is fighting to the death. Instead, athletes will compete in physical challenges, and the top male and female will split a $250,000 scholarship prize.

The event runs from Aug. 9 to Aug. 11, with coverage streaming on the ESPN App, followed by a one-hour primetime special on ABC on Aug. 13. The Walt Disney Company (Disney (DIS)) partnered with the Patriot Games for the coverage. While some details have been known for months, ESPN and the White House re-shared them this week, with athlete submissions due on July 10.

"Outstanding young Americans from across the nation will soon come to Washington D.C. to compete, inspire, and showcase the values that have shaped the United States for nearly 250 years, with a massive prize on the line," the White House tweeted.

Contestants must be between 14 and 17 years old, residents of the state they represent, and submit a video explaining why they want to participate.

Viewership Unknown

For Disney, the cost of the rights is undisclosed. The risk might be small — a first-time event likely came cheap. There's also the possibility that Disney partnered with the Trump administration to curry favor on future acquisitions or ongoing battles with the FCC.

The big question is: will anyone watch? The Patriot Games land right as NFL preseason games kick off, which will command strong viewership nationwide. The event also lacks familiar names — these are anonymous high schoolers, not stars. And unlike most sports today, there are no betting markets on online sportsbooks or prediction markets, two factors that have boosted viewership for many leagues.

On the plus side, patriotism could be a draw. The recent Fourth of July holiday saw strong ratings: Fox News had its best-ever Fourth of July night, and NBC's fireworks coverage was up 59% year-over-year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Still, the combination of amateur athletes, no betting, and NFL competition makes the Patriot Games a wild card. Will Americans tune in to watch teenagers compete for scholarships? We'll find out in August.