National Underdog Day Date in the current year: December 19, 2025

The term “underdog” is typically used in the context of sports, creative industries, and politics to refer to a person, team, or group that is widely expected to lose in a competition. The term originated in dog fighting in the 19th century: the dog that was beaten in a fight was called the underdog, and the winning dog was called the top dog. A situation in which an underdog beats the expected winner is called an upset.

In many cultures, including American, underdogs tend to be highly regarded. The roots of this phenomenon can be traced back to biblical stories such of David of Goliath and British legends such as King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone or Robin Hood stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. The idea of the American Dream also reflects this reverence for the underdog, implying that anyone can succeed through hard work and perseverance.

One of the most famous examples of an underdog succeeding is the “Miracle on Ice”. It was a hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid in which the U.S. national team, composed mostly of young amateur players, upset the Soviet Union, a four-time defending Olympic gold medalist, in men’s ice hockey tournament. Examples of underdogs in culture include Susan Boyle, the unlikely winner of the third series of Britain’s Got Talent, and Joanne Rowling, who went from being a single mother living on welfare to becoming a best-selling author.

People often root for the underdog for psychological, emotional, and cultural reason, which include:

• Empathy and identification. Underdogs often represent struggle and adversity, which many people can relate to in their own lives. Watching an underdog overcome obstacles can be personally inspiring.
• Sense of fairness. People value fairness and balance. In situations where there is a perceived power imbalance, supporting the underdog can feel like rooting for justice.
• Love of surprise. People enjoy unpredictability. Underdogs winning against the odds creates a dramatic and satisfying narrative.
• Rebellion against power. Supporting the underdog is sometimes a way to challenge social norms or existing power dynamics, symbolizing resistance to oppression.
• Emotional reward. The emotional payoff of seeing an underdog succeed is often greater than cheering for a predictable favorite. It feels more meaningful when the stakes are high.

National Underdog Day was founded in 1976 by Peter Moeller of Clio, Michigan for Chase’s Calendar of Events (Moeller was the son-in-law of Bill Chase, one of the founders of the Calendar). The main goal of the holiday is to celebrate the unsung heroes and encourage people to root for those who are unlikely to win or succeed.

You can join the celebration by watching underdog movies (The Longest Yard, Rocky, Slap Shot and The Karate Kid come to mind) and sharing your favorite underdog stories on social media using the hashtags #NationalUnderdogDay and #UnderdogDay to spread the word.