Key global sports events: Ashes third Test ends, FIVB Club World Champions decided, NBA/NFL regular season action, major college basketball games and multiple World Cup/World Tour finals conclude.
1
Ashes Third Test concludes in tense finish
The third Test of The Ashes series finished today with Australia retaining the urn after a closely contested match; key sessions featured standout batting from Australia and resilient spells by England’s bowlers.
2
FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship crowns champion
The FIVB Men's Club World Championship concluded with the tournament winner decided after the final round-robin and playoff matches, featuring top club sides from Europe and South America and standout MVP-level performances.
3
BWF World Tour Finals wrap up in dramatic fashion
The BWF Badminton World Tour Finals ended today with titles awarded across men’s and women’s singles and doubles, highlighting top-ranked players securing end-of-year honors and prize money.
4
Next Gen ATP Finals finish; rising stars shine
The Next Gen ATP Finals concluded with several top young players delivering breakthrough performances, underlining the depth in men's tennis and shaping expectations for the 2026 season.
5
FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship (final day) ends with gold medal match
The final of the Club World Championship delivered high-level club volleyball featuring Olympic-level talent; the champions earned continental bragging rights and individual awards for tournament standouts.
6
UCI Cyclo‑Cross World Cup opens round on December 21
The UCI Cyclo‑Cross World Cup held a round today as the winter cyclo‑cross season expanded, with elite riders competing in muddy, technical courses that shape World Cup standings.
7
Iowa State (No. 10) hosts Kansas — Big 12 women’s basketball clash
Top-10 Iowa State opened Big 12 play at home against Kansas, with the Cyclones aiming to extend a 12-0 start and continue a dominant non-conference run heading into conference play.
8
College basketball: multiple mid‑major and conference openers today
Several Division I college basketball programs, including Morgan State versus San Francisco and Southland Conference openers, played on the schedule as early-season positioning and conference records began to form.
9
NFL Week 16: late-season playoff push continues
NFL Week 16 games continued to shape playoff seeding with key matchups across the league; ESPN’s schedule shows several decisive weekend results that impacted wild-card races and seeding.
10
Biathlon and Bobsleigh World Cups conclude stages
The Biathlon World Cup and Bobsleigh World Cup held final stages for this week, with athletes securing World Cup points and national teams assessing form ahead of January competitions and world championships.
11
FIS Alpine and Ski Cross World Cups start/continue events
The FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup (men) and FIS Freestyle Skiing Ski Cross stages started/continued over the weekend, with athletes contesting speed and technical events in pre‑holiday European venues.
12
African Youth Games and Southeast Asian Games wrap-up events
Regional multi-sport events including the African Youth Games and Southeast Asian Games reached their final days, awarding medals across Olympic-style sports and highlighting emerging regional talent.