We're almost there, almost back to the grind of another Notre Dame basketball season. Before you know it, there will be a foot of snow on the ground, temperatures will be below zero and another Atlantic Coast Conference game will be going up and down the court inside Purcell Pavilion.
To get you ready for those nights and get you ready for a Notre Dame season that starts in Rome on November 1 against Villanova in the Eternal City Tip-off, we'll take an alphabetical player-by-player look - from 0 to 51 with several stops in between - at the 2026-27 Notre Dame basketball team over the next 16 days (Monday, October 12 thru Friday, October 30).
Who are these guys? What did they do last year? Where do they fit in this one? And what does fourth-year head coach Micah Shrewsberry think of them? Your snapshot of the 2026-27 Irish starts here.
Hometown (High School/previous school): Fishers, Indiana (Cathedral)
Dimensions: 6-foot-10, 205 pounds

#notre #october

Barry Keoghan has built a career by choosing characters that are rarely easy to understand. The Irish actor can appear vulnerable in one film and deeply unsettling in the next, often bringing an unpredictable quality to his performances. His journey into acting was equally unconventional, beginning far from the traditional routes into the entertainment industry. A difficult childhood in Dublin shaped his early years, while an unexpected opportunity introduced him to acting. Since then, Keoghan has developed into an internationally recognized performer with roles spanning independent dramas, major blockbusters and psychological thrillers.
Born in Dublin, Keoghan experienced considerable instability while growing up. His mother struggled with drug addiction and died when he was young, and he and his brother spent several years in foster care before being raised largely by their grandmother and aunt. Despite his later success, Keoghan has spoken warmly about returning home and immediately slipping back into ordinary family life, joking that celebrity status does not excuse him from making his bed or cleaning up after himself.
His entrance into acting came almost by chance. As a teenager, Keoghan noticed a casting advertisement in a local shop window for the Irish crime film Between the Canals. He responded despite having little professional experience and eventually secured a role. Television work followed, including the Irish drama Love/Hate, helping him develop his craft and attract greater attention.
His international profile grew dramatically in 2017. Keoghan appeared in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk as George Mills, a young civilian caught up in the evacuation of Allied soldiers from France. That same year, he delivered a very different performance opposite Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman in Yorgos Lanthimos's The Killing of a Sacred Deer. As the mysterious Martin, Keoghan demonstrated the unnerving screen presence that would become one of his greatest strengths.
Rather than remaining within one genre, he continued moving between dramatically different projects. He entered the Marvel universe as Druig in Eternals, appeared in The Green Knight and gained major acclaim for Martin McDonagh's The Banshees of Inisherin. His performance as Dominic Kearney earned him a BAFTA and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

#keoghan #irish #dublin #despite

Dakota Johnson's shoe style has a few reliable tells. On the red carpet, the actress regularly comes back to barely-there strappy sandals, a choice that also happens to leave her "Look At The Moon" foot tattoo in full view. She has worn versions from Saint Laurent and Gucci over the years, including black sandals with her slinky Gucci dress for the 2025 "Materialists" premiere.
Off duty, Johnson is just as committed to the eternal cool-girl ballet flat. In 2026, she repeatedly stepped out in Phoebe Philo's gathered leather flats, then worked Khaite's high-vamp Jane flats into her "Verity" press tour wardrobe.
More from WWD
Katseye's Megan Skiendiel and Lara Raj Coordinate at Loewe in Slitted Mules and Bell-Cuffed Sandals
Sarah Jessica Parker Pairs Shimmering Cinderella-inspired Crystal Heels With a Sheer Simone Rocha Dress

#dakota #saint #materialists

PARIS — Receiving an invitation to the theater from Christian Louboutin during Paris Fashion Week, one can be **** ured to be in for a treat. Through his "Loubi Show" format, the shoe guru has repeatedly shown a knack for conjuring loud spectacles and enlisting a vast array of talents to collaborate with — and the latest installation staged at Théâtre du Châtelet here on Friday was no exception. The designer called on no less than Dita Von Teese to present his spring 2027 collection, centered on celebrating his iconic La Pigalle pump. Named after the famous Parisian district and first introduced in 2004, the style has become a Louboutin signature with its sleek proportions expressing the sensuality embedded in the brand. A moment of the "Eternal Youth" show starring Dita Von Teese. Benjamin Malapris/Courtesy of Christian Louboutin To match the vibe, Louboutin asked Von Teese to do what she does best: seduce the audience with wit, in a performance that drew a packed guest list headlined by Cynthia Erivo, Elizabeth Debicki and Jaden Smith, who Louboutin tapped last year to become his first men's creative director roughly 15 years after he first expanded his red-soled universe into men's. Designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier and Matières
Follow Footwear News on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

#christian #dita #receiving

Jim Carrey and Min Ah are married, a representative for the actor confirmed to ABC News.
The "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" star recently married Ah in a small, private ceremony in Los Angeles, his rep added.
Carrey has been with Ah, an actress and artist, for years, but it's unknown when the duo began dating.
Jim Carrey says torture enduring specialist helped him play his Grinch character
Francois Durand/Getty Images - PHOTO: Jim Carrey and Min Ah pose during the 51st Cesar Film Awards at L'Olympia on February 26, 2026 in Paris, France.

#grinch

Sept. 14 (UPI) -- The planned West End revival of Sunday in the Park with George has been delayed to 2028.
Empire Street Productions announced Monday that the musical "will no longer proceed as scheduled" in 2027, with the company to "retain the rights with a view to presenting the production in 2028."
The news follows word that Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey have dropped out of the production. Grande announced in August that she "will be taking a step back from visibility" after the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine tour, with Bailey later confirming he has "decided to also step back" from the revival.
Sunday in the Park with George features music and lyrics by famed composer Stephen Sondheim. The musical, inspired by the Georges Seurat painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, debuted on Broadway in 1984 and on West End in 2006.
Marianne Elliot was to direct the West End revival, which was originally scheduled to open at London's Barbican Centre in summer 2027.

#grande #musical

Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey's planned reunion will no longer happen after their exits from a new project. The two stars previously appeared together in the blockbuster Wicked franchise, playing Glinda and Prince Fiyero Tigelaar, respectively.
The London revival of the popular musical Sunday in the Park With George has been canceled following Grande and Bailey's exits, according to Variety. The planned 2027 production will no longer proceed as previously thought.
"Empire Street Productions will retain the rights with a view to presenting the production in 2028. Further details will be announced in due course."
The revival was set to take place at London's Barbican Centre next summer. Ariana Grande was supposed to play both Dot and Marie. Bailey was set to star opposite her as George Seurat.
Moving forward, Ariana Grande will be busy with her upcoming The Eternal Sunshine Tour. She will also appear on the big screen in a new movie. The 33-year-old will feature alongside Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in the comedy Focker-In-Law. It's set to hit theaters on November 25, 2026. Despite her plans to take a break, Grande will appear in the promotional events for the movie.

#planned #previously

Welcome back to another year of Clemson football. At this time last year I think we were all drinking the orange Kool Aid. Everything was in place for a return to what we've come to expect from Clemson football. Then we actually saw the football.
This year there is optimism! A new* OC! Actual transfers! What could go wrong?
As always plenty. This may be the biggest season for Dabo and Clemson since 2011. It may not be realistic to expect an ACC ***** le and a playoff berth, though it shouldn't be a shock if it happens, but looking like a real football team is important. The biggest disappointment last year was the lack of motivation, sound football, and desire that we saw. That has to change, if it doesn't then what are we even doing here? But good news is we get to answer the eternal question of "What if the worst NFL team plays a college team?" Thanks to Lane Kiffin.
As always, join us in the comments below. New season, new optimism, or something.
Game: Clemson Tigers vs. LSU Tigers:

#year #last #expect

Going into the summer transfer window as Premier League champions, hope sprang eternal for ***** nal.
An opportunity to capitalise, encouraged by a sense at Emirates Stadium that their competitors were in transition because of managerial instability.
If ever there was a moment to strike in recruitment, this was it.
The plans were ambitious: a shortlist with more than 20 players on it. They were targets at Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, even at Chelsea and Tottenham.
But as the window shut on Tuesday night, you could not escape the sense of unfulfillment - certainly from a section of supporters.

#emirates

Ariana Grande just gave fans a major reason to wonder whether Ricky Alvarez could be the last man in her love story. The 33-year-old singer sparked fresh marriage speculation during the final concert of her Eternal Sunshine Tour at London's O2 Arena on September 1, 2026, after making a surprise change to the lyrics of her 2018 hit "Thank U, Next."
Grande has been rewriting the famous line about Alvarez throughout the tour, but her final version was easily the most suggestive yet. Instead of the original lyric about looking back and laughing at the songs she wrote about her former boyfriend, Grande sang, "I'm tryna make him my last."
The unexpected declaration immediately drew cheers from the London audience (@ Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
The unexpected declaration immediately drew cheers from the London audience, while Grande's backup dancers joined in the excited reaction. And yes, fans quickly started asking the obvious question: Is Ariana Grande thinking about marrying Ricky Alvarez?
You may also like

#unexpected

Real Madrid's deadline day was not as eventful as many expected, and no major arrival was even on the radar for the night.
What did unfold, however, was a chain of youth player sales and windfalls from second-order transfers, all of which helped add coins to the club's coffers.
One such move, which was expected for a long time but finally closed last night, was the departure of Manuel Angel – the former captain of the Castilla side. Fulham have been close to signing him for a few days now, and Alvaro Arbeloa eventually got his player on deadline day.
Taking to his Instagram after finalising his departure from Real Madrid, Manuel Angel penned a heartfelt note to the fans and the club as he moves on to greener pastures.
"After 8 years, the time has come to close a chapter that has left an eternal mark on my life," his letter began.

#angel #night #close

Acclaimed ****** anese artist Yayoi Kusama has passed away aged 97.
The popular artist, who was known for her colorful art installations and surreal sculptures, died at a hospital in Tokyo on Aug. 14, the Yayoi Kusama Studio confirmed. "She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul," a statement from the studio read. "She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul."
Born in 1929, Kusama was a prolific artist known for her embrace of colorful motifs, vibrant polka dot designs, and abstract expressionism. Outside of sculptures and installations, she also painted, did performance art, wrote poetry, and had frequent involvement in the fashion industry. Her work has been exhibited all over the world, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo.
Throughout her career, she was open about her mental health struggles and revealed that she suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder, hallucinations, and mania.
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.

#artist #love #tokyo

Aston Villa officially confirmed the departure of Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez. The historic Argentine goalkeeper was sold outright to Chelsea, bringing an unforgettable spell in Birmingham to a close as he takes a massive step forward within English football.
The Mar del Plata native arrived at the 'Villans' in 2020 from **** nal and quickly made the goal his own. Through impossible saves and fierce leadership, he became the standout figure of a team that reached the pinnacle by winning the UEFA Europa League last May.
His time at Villa Park was the perfect springboard for his rise with the Argentina National Team. Wearing the albiceleste, Dibu reached the very top: he won two Copa América **** les and the unforgettable World Cup in Qatar 2022, playing a decisive role in penalty shootouts.
Individual recognition soon followed for the No. 1. The Argentine won the Yashin Trophy twice (2023 and 2024) and claimed two FIFA The Best awards, cementing his status as the best goalkeeper on the planet.
From the English club, he was bid farewell with eternal gratitude for his competitive spirit and his indelible mark. Now, Dibu takes on a hugely prestigious challenge at Stamford Bridge, where he will look to make the 'Blues' goal his own.

#goalkeeper

Japan's Yayoi Kusama, one of the world's most celebrated contemporary artists, has died aged 97, her company said on Thursday, triggering tributes from around the world.
The "polka dot queen" channelled hallucinations and battles with mental health into vibrant art featuring her trademark dots, nets and infinity motifs over a career spanning decades and continents.
"Throughout an extraordinary lifetime devoted entirely to artistic creation, Kusama pursued an internationally acclaimed career as a pioneering avant-garde artist whose creative practice encompassed visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry," a statement said, announcing her death on August 14.
"She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul," it said.
Born in 1929 to a wealthy and conservative family, Kusama began producing her unique signature art aged 10.

#Career #born #celebrated

"What are the Braves doing at shortstop?" Kind of the recently-eternal question, after the Swanson swan song, Orlando Arcia's one decent season, and then The Issues since. Seriously, from 2024-2026, the Braves are not only dead last in shortstop fWAR (1.3 in 1673 PAs), but they're so far down that even the 29th-place team, the Rockies (always the Rockies) has more than double the Braves' shortstop production (2.7). While Braves' shortstops have been good defensively (seventh in defensive value in that span, thanks Nick Allen!), they haven't hit at all, with a 64 wRC+ putting them in their own sad tier, well below the Guardians, Rockies, and Rays, whose shortstop wRC+s over the past three seasons are hanging out in the low-to-mid 70s.
Jim Jarvis, de facto starting shortstop against right-handers for a fair while now, is the latest contributor to this value-bleed, and is now going away.
The #Braves today recalled OF Brewer Hicklen to Atlanta and optioned INF Jim Jarvis to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Jarvis was a fun story, and presented as a fun guy. Acquired as a non-return for Rafael Montero last year, he fared well in Atlanta's minor league system. He then got a decent run in Atlanta in July, and put together a 111 wRC+. It wasn't at all supported by his inputs, but even those inputs were decent (.336 wOBA, .308 xwOBA).
But then the calendar turned to August, and Jarvis languished. In 42 August PAs, he has a -36 wRC+ (yes that's a negative sign) and a .208 xwOBA. Sure, he's underhitting his xwOBA by nearly .100, but a .208 xwOBA is… really bad. Put this together with shortstop defense that was above-average but not awesome thanks to some goofs on simple plays, and you have Jim Jarvis, 124 major league PAs, a 56 wRC+, and -0.1 fWAR.

#jarvis

The Tennessee ******* ans took to the field for a hot training camp practice on Monday and watched a key backup head to the locker room early with what could be a devastating injury.
Veteran quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who was brought in to be Cam Ward's backup due to his experience and familiarity in Brian Daboll's system, left practice early holding his arm, and after practice, head coach Robert Saleh verified that he was being evaluated for a bicep injury.
"Trubisky is getting looked at for his bicep," Saleh said after practice. "I think we're good, but again, I'm the eternal optimist."
Trubisky looked solid in his limited playing time against the San Francisco 49ers, leading two scoring drives and going 2-for-3 passing for 23 yards. But now, this injury clouds his availability moving forward and could hand Will Levis a lifeline.
Entering camp, Levis was competing with Trubisky to be Ward's backup, but has struggled with consistency in practice and dealt with poor offensive line play during his outing against the 49ers. Heading into the week, it appeared like Levis had lost ground in the competition, but could now be thrust into a larger role.

#injury

Elizabeth Banks looked absolutely stunning in a daring bikini top for the 25th anniversary reunion screening of Wet Hot American Summer.
The star donned a monochromatic brown outfit, with a red bikini top with blue edges, and she finished the look off with brown shades and a gold necklace. On top of that, she rocked a chic wavy bob hairstyle.
She also shared a throwback picture of herself from the set wearing a striped bikini. Fans loved her outfit and many flocked to the comments to cheer her on. One person wrote: "This entire look," while another added: "[There's] no one hotter than you."
Another follower continued: "You haven't aged at all!! #babe ." One person commented: "Eternally adorable."
Elizabeth showed off her elegant figure online (@ Instagram)

#person #banks #fans

As is now tradition, The Hundred reaches its conclusion just as the new football season starts and exhausted parents try to tough out the end of the summer holidays.
For cricket fans, journalists and pundits, this is also peak time for the eternal debate that rumbles on about the future of The Hundred, its relevances, and its success.
The key difference this season was that it was the first since the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sold stakes of all eight teams to various private owners, which generated a staggering £975m.
But in a summer of soaring temperatures, The Hundred's crowds have stagnated.
The ECB confirmed on Friday their ticket sales had dropped just over 5% from last year, down to 550,000 from 580,000.

#hundred #season #england #wales

The Seattle Seahawks are gearing up to defend their hard-earned Super Bowl LX championship, and for one key player in particular, his final chance to sail off into the sunset with a(nother) ring. On Friday afternoon, Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence told ESPN's Jori Epstein that the 2026 NFL season will be the last one in his storied career.
DeMarcus Lawrence has talked about how he considered retiring this year after Seattle defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, but perhaps the one thing he hasn't done yet in his career is attempt to defend his crown.
Easily Seattle's most underrated free agent signings a year ago, DeMarcus Lawrence must have found the fountain of youth in the Pacific Northwest as he turned back time on his career. After playing only four games for the Cowboys in his final season with them, Lawrence started all 16 games he was available for Seattle, including all three playoff contests.
DeMarcus Lawrence was an absolute terror on the Seahawks' defensive line. He recorded 53 total tackles, six sacks, and scored two historic fumble return touchdowns in the same game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Seattle earned eternal bragging rights over the San Francisco 49ers by winning Super Bowl LX on their home turf. With Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles, the Seahawks have an opportunity to do the same for the Rams, and allow DeMarcus Lawrence to ride off into the sunset as a two-time champion.

#demarcus #Seattle #bowl #final

Law Roach debuted a 53-carat diamond ring on his left ring finger at the 2026 Met Gala.
He revealed it was "a gift" from a mystery man, fueling engagement speculation.
An InStyle editor consulted ring experts at LEVIEV to learn more about the showstopping sparkler.
With Zendaya's The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day press tours, along with Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine tour, keeping him busy this summer, Law Roach has no shortage of headline-making projects. But lately, it's not just the celebrity stylist's work that's generating buzz—it's the dazzling diamond on this left ring finger.
Roach first sparked engagement speculation when he stepped onto the 2026 Met Gala red carpet wearing a 53-carat diamond on that finger. Speaking with Vogue livestream hosts Ashley Graham and Cara Delevingne, he revealed only that the ring was "a gift" from a mystery man in his life, declining to confirm whether it was, in fact, an engagement ring.

#gala

Brad Pitt claims that Angelina Jolie is refusing to turn over her movie contracts and financial documents.
In a July 31 filing obtained by USA Today, Pitt is asking a judge to force Jolie to produce records of her income. His team requested information on upfront acting fees, brand sponsorships, and profit participation statements from 2017 to 2021, according to TMZ.
Pitt is challenging Jolie's claims that she put her career on ice after their 2016 split. TMZ points out that Jolie starred in films like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Marvel's Eternals, and Those Who Wish Me Dead following their split.
USA Today reported that while Jolie turned over records for 2020 and 2021, she refuses to provide documents from 2017 through 2019. Her team argues that Pitt has no right to see this information and is asking for more documents than he is entitled to.
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.

#pitt #documents #shop #asking

Christian Mbilli's Halloween showdown with Canelo Alvarez won't be that month's only October ***** le defense, as Julius Julianis reports that IBF super middleweight champion Osleys Iglesias will meet no. 5 Oliver Zaren on October 8th in the former's eternal stomping grounds of Quebec.
Zaren (19-0-1, 8 KO), the other undefeated mid-20s Danish super middleweight, has spent the bulk of his career munching on limited foes in his home country. His one journey abroad came in June, when he traveled to Spain to battle Jose Luis Navarro Jr for the European ***** le, built up an early lead on the scorecards, then had to settle for a no contest because they were boxing outside and a thunderstorm hit.
A losing record against atmospheric phenomena bodes ill for his chances against a Cuban "Tornado." Iglesias (15-0, 14 KO) has looked like a potential vanguard of the post-Canelo era, demolishing all comers and only rarely deigning to lose a round. His last two efforts have seen him run over Vladimir Shishkin and Pavel Silyagin, the latter victory earning Iglesias his belt.
Not the most stirring matchup, but Zaren is reasonably high up in the rankings, Iglesias doesn't have a mandatory challenger yet, and the other champions aren't going to touch him with a 10-foot pole, so I suppose we've got to take what we can get.

#canelo #super #christian

Frankie Grande is making clear that his sister Ariana Grande has his support as she prepares to step back from public-facing work after completing her Eternal Sunshine Tour.
The Broadway performer shared an emotional message after attending Ariana's August 6 concert at Chicago's United Center, the final show of the tour's North American leg.
"Family forever," Frankie wrote. "I will have your back until the end of time. I am so proud of you and so happy for you."
His tribute came days after Ariana's representative confirmed that the singer plans to take "a step back from visibility" once the tour concludes September 1 in London.
Frankie shared footage of Ariana performing her 2014 song "One Last Time" during the final Chicago concert. Their mother, Joan Grande, could also be seen beside him as they watched the performance.

#final

Nahuel Molina is expected in Italy on Monday for his medical tests, ready to complete the transfer from Atletico Madrid to Roma for circa €13m plus €4m in add-ons.
A deal was struck earlier this week between the two clubs, and although there are some slight variations on the reports of the fee, it is in total amounting to €17-18m.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – JULY 10: Nahuel Molina, Julian Alvarez, Christian Romero, Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Gonzalez #15 of Argentina attend a training session one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match at Sporting Kansas City Training Centre on July 10, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
However, Molina was part of the Argentina squad that lost the 2026 World Cup Final, and therefore it was decided not to interrupt his late vacation.
He has been staying in Ibiza and is enjoying the last few hours of his time off before beginning the new adventure in the Eternal City.

#city #molina #nahuel

Ariana Grande's brother, Frankie Grande, posted an emotional tribute to his sister amid the ongoing public scrutiny. Frankie has always been his sister's biggest supporter, cheering her on from inside the "Big Brother" house in 2016 and in the years that followed, all over social media.
To celebrate the end of Ariana's North American leg of her "Eternal Sunshine Tour," Frankie posted an emotional tribute, praising his younger sister.
"Family forever. I will have your back until the end of," Frankie, 43, said about the "Petal" singer. "I am so proud of you and so happy for you."
Frankie's post featured videos and pictures of his sister on stage, singing hits from her seventh album of the same name. "Last night was a beautiful celebration of your artistry and the magnificent eternal sunshine family you have built and created," he wrote.
Frankie finished by praising his sister, calling her "magical" before reflecting on what she means to him. "It was a magical night. You are magical. You are my everything and I am so so happy I was there to see you shine on this tour one last time," he said.

#sister #sunshine #tour #last

Frankie Grande has shown his love and support for Ariana Grande.
The ******* anique star praised his sister while celebrating the last show of the North American leg of her Eternal Sunshine tour in Chicago on Thursday.
"Family forever," Frankie wrote on Instagram. "I will have your back until the end of time. I am so proud of you and so happy for you."
His caption continued, "Last night was a beautiful celebration of your artistry and the magnificent eternal sunshine family you have built and created. It was a magical night. You are magical."
Frankie ended his remarks with references to his sister's songs My Everything and One Last Time.
"You are my everything, and I am so, so happy I was there to see you shine on this tour one last time."

#frankie #family #happy

Frankie Grande praised his sister Ariana Grande as she wrapped the North American leg of her tour.
"I am so so happy I was there to see you shine on this tour one last time," he wrote.
The "Dangerous Woman" singer recently announced a forthcoming "step back from visibility" and dropped out of multiple acting projects.
Frankie Grande has nothing but love for his sister, Ariana Grande.
The ****** anique star praised his sister while celebrating the last show of the North American leg of her Eternal Sunshine tour in Chicago on Thursday.

#sister #ariana #last #dangerous

Fifa has been forced to U-turn on plans to sell off a slice of the World Cup after fierce opposition, with threats of future boycotts and calls for the governing body's president, Gianni Infantino, to quit.
But why were a group of tech investors interested in the World Cup in the first place, and are similar proposals in the future inevitable?
In a world in which AI could upend human recreation and pastimes, executives at Thrive Eternal, a spin-off of venture capital firm Thrive Capital, saw an opportunity to lead a group of investors to place cash in the biggest sporting competition on the planet.
The football World Cup was seen as the latest in a new strategy from the firm, which believes that sport will not only survive the AI revolution, but grow in value.
Run by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared, Thrive mainly invests in technology companies developing artificial intelligence (AI) and it has been a major financial backer of OpenAI.

#capital

Fifa has been forced to U-turn on plans to sell off a slice of the World Cup after fierce opposition, with threats of future boycotts and calls for the governing body's president, Gianni Infantino, to quit.
But why were a group of tech investors interested in the World Cup in the first place, and are similar proposals in the future inevitable?
In a world in which AI could upend human recreation and pastimes, executives at Thrive Eternal, a spin-off of venture capital firm Thrive Capital, saw an opportunity to lead a group of investors to place cash in the biggest sporting competition on the planet.
The football World Cup was seen as the latest in a new strategy from firm, which believes that sport will not only survive the AI revolution, but grow in value.
Run by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared, Thrive mainly invests in technology companies developing artificial intelligence (AI) and it has been a major financial backer of Open AI.

#place #firm #gianni

Spain midfield talisman Rodri has authorised Barcelona to start talks with Manchester City for a potential transfer, a source from the reigning La Liga champions told AFP on Thursday.
"Today Barcelona is closer to being able to consider this transfer than yesterday. We have now secured the player's agreement to open negotiations with Manchester City," the source said, confirming Spanish press reports.
Barcelona's move could hijack eternal rivals Real Madrid's reported interest in the 30-year-old as Los Blancos seek to strengthen their midfield under new manager Jose Mourinho.
However, Rodri's green light for the talks offers "no guarantee" about a transfer to Barcelona, the club source added.
Catalan media said Rodri was convinced by a phone call from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who has reportedly demanded from club management the recruitment of an experienced defender or midfielder.

#manager #club