In a spectacular display of skill and dominance, Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem captured the gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 in Riyadh, successfully defending his previous title and reinforcing his status as a national hero.

The competition, held at the renowned Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, highlighted Arshad’s exceptional talent as he outperformed a field of seven athletes, including fellow Pakistani Yasir Sultan, who claimed a well-earned silver medal.

The javelin final quickly became one of the standout events of the Games, with Arshad and Yasir entering as the leading contenders based on their season-best throws.

Arshad, coming off his Olympic gold victory, delivered a remarkable performance, recording a winning throw of 83.05 meters on his second attempt out of six.

This throw not only secured him the gold but also demonstrated his consistency and composure under pressure.

Yasir Sultan, who had previously won bronze at the 2023 Asian Championships, complemented Arshad’s triumph with a silver, giving Pakistan a one-two finish in the event.

Their impressive performances highlighted Pakistan’s growing strength in athletics, particularly in field events like the javelin.

Another Pakistani competitor, Salman Iqbal Butt, also participated but did not reach the podium in this highly competitive final.

The Islamic Solidarity Games 2025, which bring together athletes from Muslim-majority nations, have once again provided a dynamic platform for both emerging talents and established stars to showcase their abilities.

Arshad Nadeem’s gold adds to his illustrious collection, inspiring young athletes across Pakistan and beyond. As the games continue in Riyadh, fans are eagerly anticipating more medals from the Pakistani contingent.

This triumph serves as a testament to the rigorous training and dedication of Pakistan’s track and field athletes, positioning them strongly for future international competitions.

Josh Allen recorded a season-high three rushing touchdowns — and three passing TDs, for good measure — in the Buffalo Bills‘ 44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11, giving him 75 for his career.

Only three times in NFL history, including the postseason, has a quarterback had three passing and three rushing touchdowns in a game. Allen has done it twice (last year in a Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams), and Otto Graham did it once in 1954.

Now in his eighth season, Allen is tied with Cam Newton for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL history. One more, and the record is his alone.

However, Allen’s Week 12 opponent, the Houston Texans, is one of three teams to not allow a rushing score to an opposing quarterback this season (the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts are the others). Allen is -120 to score a touchdown Thursday night.

So, will he break the record in Week 12? Or will we have to wait? We asked our betting analysts for their predictions.

Will he break the record against the Texans?

Matt Bowen: Yes. Allen’s rushing usage in the low red zone is up, as he has five goal-to-go carries over his past three games. Look for that to continue Thursday, with Allen being deployed on designed run concepts in scoring position versus the Texans.

Eric Karabell: Yes, he will score. Sure, the Texans play strong defense. Allen can’t be defended at the goal line.

Pamela Maldonado: Yes. When Houston locks down the pass near the goal line, Allen is usually a run-it-in-himself kind of guy.

Seth Walder: Yes. Allen is always a threat to score, but he might need to rely on his scrambling ability more than usual against the elite Texans pass rush that could get after him in a hurry. Plus, it’s already high-leverage season for the Bills — who still have a shot at the No. 1 seed if they can go on a run — so they need every lever available to get a win, including relying on Allen’s legs.

Buffalo’s remaining schedule after Thursday’s game: @PIT, CIN, @NE, @CLE, PHI, NYJ

The top-seeded teams for the Dec. 5 World Cup tournament draw, including Germany but not Croatia, were set Wednesday when FIFA published new rankings the day after four continents completed qualifying.

Co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico will be joined in the pot of No. 1 seeds by top-ranked Spain, defending champions Argentina, France, England, Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

– 2026 World Cup squads ranked: All 64 national teams that could still win next summer
– Best stories, wildest celebrations from amazing week of World Cup qualifiers
– Statement win over Uruguay shows the USMNT has come a long way in 16 months

Croatia, semifinalists in 2022 and beaten finalists by France in 2018, were edged down into Pot 2 for the draw ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., which President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend.

The updated FIFA rankings also decided seeding for the draw Thursday for playoff brackets in March that will decide the final six entries in the expanded 48-nation lineup.

The 22 playoff teams include 16 in Europe playing for four World Cup places and six from the other regions chasing two spots in the intercontinental brackets.

Italy are the headliner in the European brackets as the four-time world champions aim to avoid a humiliating third straight exit in the playoffs.

The 12th-ranked Italians were pushed into the playoffs after finishing as runners-up in a qualifying group won by Norway. Erling Haaland‘s Norwegian team shapes up as a dangerous option from Pot 3 in two weeks’ time.

Italy will be drawn Thursday at home against a fourth-seeded team. That could again be North Macedonia, who shockingly eliminated the Italians in 2022.

The winner on March 26 advances to a playoff final five days later against the team that emerges from the No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed pairing in its knockout bracket. Home advantage in the single-game playoff finals will be decided by the draw Thursday and not FIFA ranking.

The teams that eventually emerge from the four separate European playoff brackets are expected to be placeholders from low-ranked Pot 4 in the Dec. 5 draw.

The intercontinental brackets will see top-seeded Iraq and Congo each await the winner of playoff semifinals that involve Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname.

European playoffs seedings

Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine.

Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia.

Pot 3: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo.

Pot 4: Northern Ireland, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia.

Intercontinental playoffs

Seeded: Congo, Iraq.

Unseeded: Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Suriname.