IRELAND’S FAI BIDS TO BRING 2029 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HOME
The FAI has submitted an expression of interest to host the 2029 Women's Champions League Final at the Aviva Stadium. This early step explores bringing the elite club final to Dublin to build on the legacy of Euro 2028.
Aviva Stadium - COURTESY/PHOTO
The FAI has officially sent UEFA an initial expression of interest in hosting the Women's Champions League Final in 2029. Uefa is inviting associations to investigate the possibility of hosting club finals, and this is the first step in that process.
The FAI said in a statement that this "is an exciting opportunity to support its strategic goals of strengthening Ireland’s reputation as a reliable host for major football events, and building on the momentum of Uefa Euro 2028, and to continue the growth of women and girls’ football."
"The FAI, the Aviva Stadium, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and Dublin City Council can all thoroughly examine the upcoming UEFA bid requirements and investigate how the event could provide long-term value for the game in Ireland by submitting an expression of interest."
Following a "clear grasp of the legacy potential, delivery feasibility, and budgetary considerations on the back of discussion with all partners as part of this exploratory phase," the FAI will then contemplate making a formal offer.
The Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon hosted this year's final, where Katie McCabe's Arsenal defeated Barcelona, while the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo will host the final the following year.
RAYMOND MURATALLA - ANDY CRUZ FIGHT OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED FOR JANUARY 24 IN LAS VEGAS
Raymond Muratalla will defend his IBF lightweight title against unbeaten mandatory challenger Andy Cruz on January 24 at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. Matchroom Boxing won the promotional rights.
Fireworks ahead! Muratalla-Cruz showdown set for January 24 Vegas - Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
According to reports, Raymond Muratalla and Andy Cruz have a confirmed date and venue for their title fight.
The former two-time Olympic gold medallist Cruz will defend against IBF lightweight champion Muratalla on January 24 at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.
The news was initially reported by BoxingScene.com.
Top Rank, Muratalla's handler, placed the sole other bid, but Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, Cruz's promoter, outbid them for the right to hold the fight. Top Rank bid $550,000, Matchroom bid $888,888.
Muratalla will get 65% of the winning price, or $577,777.20. Cruz is going to receive $311,110.80.
The 28-year-old Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) will be defending his 135-pound title for the first time. On May 10, he defeated Zaur Abdullaev to win the interim edition of that title. Since Vasiliy Lomachenko abruptly retired, he has been promoted to full champion.
Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) became the mandatory challenger for that title after thrashing Hironori Mishiro in Madison Square Garden in New York on June 14 and stopping him in the fifth round.
“I’M GOOD SOLO” KEVIN DURANT EXPLAINS WHY HE’LL NEVER MARRY
NBA star Kevin Durant admits he doesn't expect to ever get married, citing low odds and doubting he could be with one person forever. The Houston Rockets forward called off his own engagement back in 2014.
Durant’s plan, no wedding band—NBA star takes stand - Troy Taormina-Imagn Images/ File Photo
After questioning if he could spend the rest of his life with one spouse, NBA veteran Kevin Durant says he does not anticipate ever getting married.
When Durant, 37, proposed to his then-girlfriend in 2013, he called it quits a year later because he "did not know how to love her the right way." Durant was previously engaged to former WNBA player Monica Wright.
Despite being romantically involved with other high-profile women before his breakup with Wright, such as actress Apryl Jones and women's basketball player Liz Cambage, the Houston Rockets forward is still unmarried more than ten years later.
Additionally, Durant stated in an interview with influencer Bobbi Althoff that he "does not know" if he could stay married to just one person indefinitely.
"I believe divorce is more realistic because the divorce rate is greater," he remarked.
"That is not good odds to me," Durant said in response to Althoff's assertion that the likelihood of a divorce is always 50/50. But you are betting on that being 50/50, and that is betting on forever? I am not sure if I want to risk it.
After calling off an engagement, Kevin Durant acknowledges that he does not anticipate getting married in eleven years.
According to the NBA veteran, he does not believe he could spend the rest of his life with just one spouse.
He went on to say, "It is like the word marriage... like what the bond is." For example, do I want to hang out with the same person every day and be with this person every day?
"I had never actually imagined my wedding day." I think, "Oh, this is cool, oh, it is dope," whenever I attend a wedding. It is not as if I have to imagine it. Still, it is a cool occasion.
Durant emphasised that he is not currently looking for a committed relationship, even if he acknowledged that he once believed he was close to marriage.
That being said, he is not entirely ruling out future wedding bells.
According to the two-time NBA champion, "I am sure that it may happen." "All I am saying is that I am not anticipating it, but I am not closing the door on anything."
Durant responded, "Just somebody I can hang out with daily, somebody I can talk to that is cool, you know the basics, somebody I can genuinely be friends with," when asked what qualities he would look for in a partner. and not consider it to be a girlfriend-boyfriend situation.
Instead of us simply being friends by nature, there is a cloud associated with that label and expectation. I prefer to have no expectations because I might not always want to meet or speak with you.