Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson have offered conflicting views on Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn, to which ‘King Ry’ has now responded via social media.

The WBC welterweight champion is expected to defend his world title on September 12, with mandatory challenger Benn having been named as a likely opponent.

According to Golden Boy boss Oscar De La Hoya, though, the Las Vegas event cannot take place without permission from his promotional outfit and DAZN.

The Hall of Famer confirmed his stance via an Instagram message to Zuffa Boxing promoter Dana White, who is seemingly attempting to broadcast this fight on Paramount+.

With contracts in place, De La Hoya insisted that he has not approved Garcia’s next outing, which appears to be part of a two-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh and Sela.

As the situation continues to develop, only time will tell as to whether Garcia ends up facing Benn, who has not fought at 147lbs since his second-round finish over Chris Van Heerden in 2022.

Nevertheless, Crawford has backed ‘The Destroyer’ to dethrone Garcia, who subsequently urged four-division world champion Stevenson to enter the discussion.

Taking to social media, the 28-year-old admitted to disagreeing with his friend and mentor but nonetheless respects his opinion.

“[Crawford] is the realest dude I met, his pick is his pick. I think [Garcia is going to] win. It’s all opinionated.”

He is the realest dude I met, His pick is his pick I think you’re gone win it’s all opinionated https://t.co/Q0KTdSawln

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) July 2, 2026

Indeed, Garcia would be made a sizable favourite against Benn, especially after claiming his title with a dominant points victory over Mario Barrios in February.

Benn, meanwhile, comes off back-to-back unanimous decision wins over faded versions of Chris Eubank Jr and Regis Prograis.

Canada battle Morocco for a spot in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals when they meet on Saturday. Co-host Canada have never advanced past the group stage until this year, while Morocco is looking to top their fourth-place finish from 2022. The Canadians have found offense so far, outscoring their four World Cup opponents 9-3. Morocco, meanwhile, finished second behind Brazil in Group C and have outscored their foes 7-4. In the Round of 32, Canada downed South Africa 1-0, while Morocco survived a penalty kick win over Netherlands after a 1-1 draw in regulation.  

Kickoff for Canada vs. Morocco is 1 p.m. ET from Houston. The latest Canada vs. Morocco odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list Morocco at -120 (risk $120 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with Canada at +370 and a draw at +230. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. Morocco are -260 to advance, with Canada at +205. Before locking in any Canada vs. Morocco picks or World Cup 2026 predictions, check out the Canada vs. Morocco predictions from SportsLine’s Jon Eimer.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, the FA Cup, and much more. He’s been red-hot on his soccer betting picks in 2026, posting a 31-13-2 record and returning over $1,200 of profit on his Champions League picks. He’s also on a 25-15-2 run (63%) on World Cup picks. Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.

Now, Eimer has studied Canada vs. Morocco and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for Morocco vs. Canada:

Top Canada vs. Morocco predictions

After examining Canada vs. Morocco from every angle, Eimer is leaning Over 2.5 total goals (+125). Eimer sees Morocco as having the side with the more offensive potential. Morocco have scored two or more goals in four of their last eight competitions, including the World Cup.

“(Morocco’s) attack led Ismael Saibari, Azzedine Ounahi and Brahim Diaz will overwhelm this Canadian backline that has struggled to keep up with the pace of play by these more physical sides,” Eimer said. Because of that, Eimer is siding with the Over. See Eimer’s best bets for Canada vs. Morocco at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Morocco vs. Canada at FanDuel here:

How to make Canada vs. Morocco picks

After studying the Canada vs. Morocco matchup from every angle, Eimer has found a critical x-factor and locked in three best bets, including two that return plus money. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are. 

So what are the best bets for Morocco vs. Canada? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Canada vs. Morocco, all from expert on a 25-15 roll on World Cup picks, and find out.

FILE – Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton dunks during the first half of Game 3 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, May 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

WASHINGTON — Deandre Ayton is being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Washington Wizards, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The Lakers have agreed to send Ayton to Washington for Jaden Hardy and second-round draft picks in 2031 and 2032, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the trade was not yet official.

Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, played for the Phoenix Suns for five seasons and the Portland Trail Blazers for two. He joined the Lakers for last season and averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 72 games.

The Wizards have won just 50 games over the past three seasons, but their future looks brighter after adding Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season and then taking AJ Dybantsa with the top pick in last month’s draft. Of course, Davis’ availability is often a concern.

The 7-foot Ayton adds another rim protector to a Washington team that has Davis and Alex Sarr. Ayton now gives the Wizards three No. 1 overall picks along with Davis and Dybantsa.

Ayton has averaged 15.8 points and 10.1 rebounds for his career.

Ayton’s exit continues an offseason of upheaval for the Lakers. LeBron James isn’t coming back, and Los Angeles is giving up two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps as part of a sign-and-trade that’s bringing big man Walker Kessler from Utah to the Lakers.

Ben Whittaker has outlined the time it should take to become a worthy opponent for David Benavidez, who seemingly remains in search of a dance partner for his next outing.

‘The Mexican Monster’ comes off a sixth-round stoppage over Gilberto Ramirez in May, dethroning the WBO and WBA titlist to become a three-division world champion.

In doing so, Benavidez has afforded himself options between 175lbs and 200lbs, given that he still holds the WBC light-heavyweight strap.

Having just become the unified cruiserweight champion, however, the 29-year-old may look to cement himself at the new weight by taking on Noel Mikaelian.

As the WBC mandatory challenger at 200lbs, Benavidez has effectively confirmed his interest in a clash with Mikaelian, who currently holds the green and gold title.

Eventually, though, the Mexican-American could drop back down to 175lbs in pursuit of a more lucrative opportunity, possibly against rising star Whittaker.

The Olympic silver medallist has ended his last four contests inside two rounds, most recently stopping American veteran Richard Rivera in New York.

After making his US debut last weekend, the next step, it seems, is for Whittaker to face a domestic opponent in Birmingham this coming October.

This will likely come against an opponent rated below world level but, even so, the 29-year-old has told Fight Hub TV that he is not a million miles away from facing the likes of Benavidez.

“100% [I’ll be ready for Benavidez in a year or so].”

Interestingly enough, Benavidez has already expressed his interest in a future showdown with Whittaker, naming London’s Wembley Stadium as his dream destination.

FILE – Boston Celtics’ Neemias Queta, top, goes up for a dunk over Philadelphia 76ers’ Kelly Oubre Jr., right, and Joel Embiid during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series April 26, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

The Boston Celtics have signed center Neemias Queta to a four-year extension, according to person familiar with the agreement.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the signing cannot be announced until Monday at the earliest. ESPN, which first reported the deal, cited agent Bill Duffy in saying the extension was worth $56 million.

READ:

Retaining Queta seemed to be a priority for the Celtics, who traded perennial NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia earlier this week for Paul George and draft picks.

Queta, who turns 27 on July 13, is coming off a breakout season with the Celtics. He averaged a career-best 10.2 points, a career-best 8.4 rebounds and was a full-time starter for the first time.

The Portugal native also got better as the season went along, averaging 11.2 points on 68% shooting after the All-Star break.

Colombia secured their place in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Ghana 1-0 in a hard-fought encounter in Kansas City on Friday night.

Jhon Arias scored the only goal of the match in the first half as the South Americans booked a round of 16 clash against Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday. The victory also keeps alive the possibility of a quarter-final showdown with Argentina.

Despite playing in temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, Colombia produced another impressive performance and could have won by a much bigger margin.

Ghana, meanwhile, endured a disappointing evening as they failed to register a single shot on target. The Black Stars managed only four shots on target throughout their entire World Cup campaign, with only Iraq recording fewer in the tournament.

Thomas Partey almost gave Ghana a dream start when his long-range effort flashed just wide of the post within the opening minute.

However, the game quickly became difficult for the Black Stars. Colombia striker Jhon Cordoba was forced off with a groin injury after just 10 minutes and was replaced by Luis Suarez. Ghana also suffered an early setback when right-back Marvin Senaya went off injured, with Alidu Seidu coming on as his replacement.

Colombia took the lead in the 14th minute when Suarez raced down the right wing and delivered a cross for the unmarked Arias, who volleyed home at the far post after Seidu failed to track his run.

Ghana tried to respond, with Antoine Semenyo seeing an effort deflected over the bar, but they struggled to create clear chances throughout the contest.

Colombia continued to dominate. Luis Diaz missed a good opportunity before Suarez headed wide, while Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Zigi produced an excellent save to deny Johan Mojica before half-time.

After the break, Colombia remained in control. Richard Rios fired wide shortly after replacing captain James Rodriguez, while Zigi made further impressive saves to keep out Gustavo Puerta and Diaz. The Liverpool winger also had a goal ruled out for offside.

Partey had Ghana’s best chance of the second half but dragged his effort wide in the 69th minute.

Colombia continued to create opportunities, with Juan Fernando Quintero, Diaz and Davinson Sanchez all going close, but Zigi’s outstanding performance prevented the scoreline from becoming more embarrassing for Ghana.

The Black Stars pushed forward in the closing stages in search of an equaliser but were unable to break through, becoming the seventh of nine African teams to be eliminated in the round of 32.

Only Morocco and Egypt remain in the tournament as Africa’s representatives.

For Colombia, the victory extended their unbeaten run in normal time at the World Cup to seven matches and strengthened their reputation as one of the tournament’s surprise contenders.

For Ghana, however, the defeat marks the end of a disappointing campaign. The Black Stars exited the World Cup without recording a shot on target in their final match, and head coach Carlos Queiroz is likely to face serious questions following their early exit.

Harry Kane may be England’s record goalscorer and one of the greatest strikers of his generation, but few football fans realise the Three Lions captain has deep roots in the west of Ireland.

While Kane has always represented England, his family story begins in the heart of Connemara, where his grandfather was born and raised before emigrating to England.

Harry Kane’s Connemara Connection

Harry Kane’s Irish heritage comes through his paternal grandfather, Michael John Kane, who was born and reared in the townland of Dawros, Letterfrack, Co. Galway.

Like many Irish people of his generation, Michael John emigrated to England as a young man in search of work, where the next generation of the Kane family, including Harry’s father Pat, would be born and raised.

Despite settling in England, the Kane family never lost touch with their Connemara roots and have continued to return to Letterfrack over the years to visit family and friends.

Harry Returned to Connemara for His Grandfather’s Funeral

In May 2013, Michael John Kane passed away and was brought home to be buried in Baunogues Cemetery in Letterfrack.

Harry Kane, who was still establishing himself as a professional footballer at Tottenham Hotspur, travelled to Connemara to attend his grandfather’s funeral, highlighting the importance of his family’s Irish connections.

Just a few years later, Kane would become one of the biggest names in world football, captain England and win the Golden Boot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The Family Still Has Strong Ties to Letterfrack

The Kane family’s links with Connemara remain strong.

Harry’s cousin, Liz Kane, one half of the acclaimed traditional Irish music duo The Kane Sisters, spoke proudly about their famous relative during the 2018 World Cup.

“We’re super proud of him and his achievements.”

“Someone said to me the other day that it gives us a reason now to support England because he is a Connemara man – it’s hilarious.”

Liz also revealed that Harry’s father Pat, along with his brothers Michael and John, are well known around Letterfrack whenever they return home.

The Man Who Helped Shape Harry Kane

Football was always a huge part of family life, and Harry’s father Pat played a major role in his son’s development.

From taking him to training sessions and matches to supporting him through setbacks, Pat was a constant influence throughout Harry’s childhood.

When Harry was released by Arsenal as a youngster, many players would have seen their dream come to an end.

Instead, his family encouraged him to keep believing in himself, continue working hard and never give up.

That resilience became one of the defining characteristics of Harry Kane’s career.

Could Harry Kane Have Played for Ireland?

Because of his Irish family heritage, Harry Kane was eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland before committing his international future to England.

Instead, he chose England, where he would go on to become captain, break the national scoring record and establish himself among the greatest strikers in football history.

For Irish football supporters, it remains one of the sport’s great “what ifs”.

A Little Bit of Banter…

Of course, we’re only joking… but Britain has never been shy about claiming Irish actors, musicians and sporting heroes when it suits.

So maybe it’s finally Ireland’s turn.

After all, if Harry Kane’s roots stretch all the way back to Dawros in Letterfrack, perhaps Irish fans are entitled to cheekily claim one of the world’s greatest goalscorers as having a little bit of green in him too!

The Question That Will Always Be Asked

What if Harry Kane had chosen Ireland instead of England?

It’s a question that will never be answered—but one thing is certain: one of world football’s greatest strikers has a story that begins in the hills of Connemara.

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Croatia’s Luka Modric (AP/PTI)

Luka Modric’s exit from the World Cup stage and, with it, possibly international football as well, did not turn out to be the beau idéal or a perfect 10, a number he has so adoringly and alluringly made his own over the years. The end was, though, dramatic — and cruel. As Croatia thought Josko Gvardiol’s late equaliser against Portugal was enough to defy the inevitable, enter VAR with its usual plot twist to turn it into a cause célèbre. Modric, looking stoically detached from the chaos around him, his face reflecting a sobering resignation to fate, was slowly enveloped in a warm hug from Cristiano Ronaldo. It was a moment of catharsis. Of the two middle-aged men, Ronaldo will now go deeper into the tournament, but Modric’s fifth bid for the biggest prize will remain elusive. “I played with Luka for many years. We’re almost the same age. He’s a football legend; he’s still a football legend because he keeps playing so well and with such great quality. It’s incredible,” Ronaldo later let his feelings be known to the world. The 40-year-old Croatian — often hailed as the greatest player from the tiny, proud Central European country — is ringing the curtain down on his World Cup career with a silver and a bronze medal, with the Golden Ball and the Bronze Ball to boot. A sportsperson’s eternal thirst for completing an endeavour often comes with its presumed value and a reassuring order, but judging Modric through this perception is anything but a conventional valediction. Because pity has never been a requisite for generating passion in his play, because his football has always throbbed with its life-affirming nature. This is where he is unique, perhaps offering a more humane conception of a sporting hero. If Davor Suker — a goal-machine par excellence — represented a symbol of hope and happiness for a newly independent Croatia by helping them finish third in the 1998 World Cup, Modric has extended that legacy, serving as a bridge between the country’s astounding arrival and its new identity in the 21st century as a football powerhouse. Modric himself was a child of Croatia’s battle for independence, his early years turning him into a refugee moving from one place to another in search of survival. Luckily, instead of picking up arms, he found in football the calm amid the chaos. His football has since sought to restore order to disorder, and this has helped him rise above the mediocre. In his delightfully alluring presence, in those sumptuous outside-of-the-boot flicks or crosses, beauty has resided like an object of transcending elegance, like Roger Federer’s backhand — conjuring up a mystique in how it transitions defence into attack, and attack into a winner before opponents could even get a grasp of it. Like every No. 10, he has been a quintessential dreamer with the ball. Tottenham gave him the platform to announce his arrival, and it was at Real Madrid where he truly found his dramatic stage to realise his dream, marrying his method with an unflinching rhetorical fancy. It was never stereotypical, but rather a symphony of pure joy. His rise as the heartbeat of the Spanish club coincided with Croatia’s most successful period in international football, finishing second in the 2018 World Cup and third four years later in Qatar. In his last dance on the world’s stage, he might have tumbled like an ageing king, but not before thrilling the crowd. Football will feel a bit empty now, but Modric’s legacy will be a lasting one.