Overview
December 2007 marked the continuation and conclusion of several major professional and international sporting seasons. In North America, the National Football League (NFL) entered its final regular‑season weeks, while the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) were in the midst of their respective 2007–08 and 2007 seasons. In Europe and elsewhere, domestic football (soccer) leagues progressed toward year‑end, and the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup was contested in Japan.
American football (NFL)
- The NFL regular season comprised Weeks 13 through 16.
- Notable games included:
- December 23 – New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, extending their win streak to 21 games (the longest active streak in NFL history at that time).
- December 30 – The Patriots secured the AFC East title with a victory over the Buffalo Bills.
These results contributed to the Patriots finishing the regular season with an 16‑0 record, the first undefeated regular season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
Association football (soccer)
- FIFA Club World Cup (7–16 December, Japan) – AC Milan won the tournament, defeating Boca Juniors 4‑2 after extra time in the final. This was Milan’s first Club World Cup title.
- Domestic league action continued across Europe: the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga and French Ligue 1 each completed the first half of their 2007‑08 seasons, with Manchester United, Valencia CF, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyonnais respectively leading their tables.
- International fixtures included UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying matches and AFC Asian Cup qualifying games.
Basketball
- NBA – The 2007‑08 regular season was underway. The Boston Celtics, after a 24‑point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on December 1, held a league‑best 10‑4 record.
- WNBA – The 2007 season concluded in October; December featured no league games.
- EuroLeague – Group‑stage matches continued, with CSKA Moscow and FC Barcelona among the leading clubs.
Ice hockey
- NHL – The 2007‑08 regular season continued. The Detroit Red Wings captured the Presidents’ Trophy on December 18, securing the best overall record (45‑19‑2) at that point.
- Internationally, the 2007 IIHF World Championship had concluded earlier in May; no major tournaments occurred in December.
Baseball
- MLB – The regular season entered its final month, with teams jockeying for postseason positions. Notable developments:
- The Boston Red Sox maintained a lead in the American League East.
- The Colorado Rockies secured the National League wild‑card berth on December 1 after clinching a postseason spot in late September (the date here reflects the calendar month).
No postseason play took place in December, as MLB’s World Series concluded in late October 2007.
Other notable events
- Winter sports – The Alpine Skiing World Cup and Biathlon World Cup continued their 2007‑08 circuits, with competitions held in North America and Europe throughout December.
- Tennis – The ATP and WTA tours entered the indoor season; events such as the Paris Masters (ATP) and the Zurich Open (WTA) were scheduled for early December.
- Boxing – High‑profile bouts included the heavyweight match between Nikolai Valuev and Evander Holyfield on December 15, which ended in a draw.
References
- National Football League official season schedule, 2007.
- FIFA, Club World Cup Japan 2007 – match reports and final standings.
- NBA.com, 2007‑08 season game logs.
- NHL.com, 2007‑08 regular‑season statistics.
- Major League Baseball, 2007 season standings.
This summary reflects verifiable events recorded by the governing bodies and major sporting organizations for December 2007.
