Brazil begin their World Cup campaign on Saturday against Morocco, but Neymar will miss out for Carlo Ancelotti's side due to injury. The post Neymar to miss Brazilâs World Cup opener, confirms Ancelotti appeared first on SoccerNews.
Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© addressed the relentless criticism aimed at Kylian MbappĂ©, firmly backing his international teammate ahead of the tournament. Just days before France kicks off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Iraq, captain Kylian MbappĂ© has drawn heavy criticism across his country after temporarily leaving the national team camp for personal reasonsâa departure that was fully authorized by the French coaching staff. Amid the brewing media storm surrounding the forward, his longtime international teammate Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© stepped up to defend the Real Madrid superstar. âThey have been very unfair to him. They go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian because he is an incredible player and a great person off the pitch,â DembĂ©lĂ© stated in an exclusive interview with MARCA. âIâve known him for a long time. They cross the line with the criticism simply because itâs Kylian MbappĂ©. People donât need to be so harsh on himâ. MbappĂ© has found himself in the eye of a media hurricane since before even reporting for international duty. During the final stretch of Real Madridâs domestic season, the forward suffered a minor injury. While undergoing rehabilitation, he was spotted traveling with his partner, a move that sparked significant frustration among the demanding fan base of the Spanish giants. âœđ El BalĂłn de Oro @dembouz se sienta con MARCA antes del debut de Les Bleus ante Senegal: MbappĂ©, Messi, Luis Enrique, Deschamps o Zidane, sobre la mesa, y por supuesto, España âïž @polomarca https://t.co/C873RrkBsVâ MARCA (@marca) June 12, 2026 For DembĂ©lĂ©, the constant scrutiny directed at MbappĂ© has transcended footballing matters, crossing a line into absurd territory. âIf he ties his shoelaces, if he doesnât tie them, if he pulls up his socks, if he doesnât⊠itâs just too much,â the Paris Saint-Germain winger continued. âAt the end of the day, he is still a human being, as well as being a player of exceptional qualityâ. DembĂ©lĂ© defends MbappĂ©âs leadership role with France Rumors regarding a fractured locker room within the French national team began to surface following Les Bleusâ shocking 2-1 friendly defeat to the Ivory Coast before the 2026 World Cup kick off. During the pre-match buildup, clip segments went viral showing an alleged tension point where veteran midfielder NâGolo KantĂ© and MbappĂ© supposedly bypassed shaking hands before stepping onto the pitch. The viral footage ignited immediate controversy, causing media outlets to question MbappĂ©âs standing and influence within the national team dynamic. However, DembĂ©lĂ© was quick to silence the speculation, emphasizing that MbappĂ© remains an exemplary leader who commands total respect from the locker room. âHere in the French national team, he gets along great with all of us. He is a leader, the captain of our team, and an incredibly important player for what we want to achieve,â DembĂ©lĂ© concluded. As France prepares to begin their quest for a third global title, Didier Deschamps and his squad are actively closing ranks, choosing to ignore the outside noise as their captain prepares to rejoin the group ahead of the opening whistle.
Later today, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will get underway. There are two matches on Thursdayâs docket: Host team Mexico gets things started against South Africa, while a little later South Korea will square off with Czechia. And in short order, the other 44 teams will join the fray. Here, we are keeping track on [âŠ]
Former Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo thinks it will be "a massive step forward" should Che Adams become the first black player to play for the nation's men's team at a World Cup. Iwelumo was himself a standard bearer when he earned four caps more than 15 years ago, but he never made it to a major finals. "I think it's a massive step forward, but the country is a very, a very different landscape to what it was when we were growing up," Iwelumo said of Adams' success for Scotland and Torino.
President gave ticket to a young female soccer fanâI gave it to someone who couldnât go, who loves footballâThe Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, explained on Friday why she was absent from the Estadio Azteca during Mexicoâs opening match with South Africa, saying tickets to the match were unaffordable for most Mexicans and that she had given her ticket to a young female soccer fan.âStadium tickets are very expensive,â Sheinbaum said during her daily morning news conference. âAs president itâs better that I give my place to someone who couldnât have gone, who loves football, especially a young woman, and I can celebrate it with the people for free.â Continue reading...
Goals, goals, goals! The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway and we had five goals scored on the first day of action across two games. The first game on offer saw host nation Mexico dispatch South Africa 2-0. Even though El Triâs goals were historic for different reasons, there ended up being more red [âŠ]
Brazil and Morocco will meet at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday evening, as both nations begin their 2026 World Cup campaigns with one of the most interesting fixtures of the opening round. The Selecao will want to start Group C with a statement result under Carlo Ancelotti, while Morocco arrives with the ambition [âŠ] The post Prediction: Brazil vs Morocco appeared first on SoccerNews.
Loan James McAtee - he needs guaranteed game time to regain his confidence. Sell Dan Ndoye as he hasn't shown progress over the season but is suited to European leagues and will probably have an excellent World Cup. Paul: I'd keep Bakwa, who after a tough first season has shown glimpses of his potential.
