Santanyí · Tercera División RFEF - Promotion - Play-offs · Attacker · #0 · Brazil · 29 yrs
With Brazil facing Egypt on Saturday, Neymar will miss the trip for the friendly to continue his recovery ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Neymar is currently locked into a rehabilitation program that has kept him separated from the main group during Brazil‘s training sessions. To maximize his chances of being fully fit for the Selecao‘s looming 2026 World Cup opener, the Santos superstar has been completely omitted from the traveling squad for their upcoming friendly against Egypt, remaining behind at the team’s base camp. Brazil is scheduled to square off against Egypt on Saturday, June 6, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, marking their final exhibition match before launching their World Cup campaign against Morocco. However, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed in an official statement released on Thursday that Neymar will not board the plane with his teammates. Instead, the veteran attacker will remain at the team’s primary headquarters in New Jersey to focus on his recovery. Nursing a Grade 2 calf strain that he suffered during domestic play back on May 17, the medical staff’s blueprint mandates that Neymar undergo intensive, specialized physical therapy to accelerate the healing process rather than endure the fatigue of travel. While the injury previously kept him out of action, Neymar still took his place on the substitutes’ bench to support his teammates during Brazil’s prior friendly at the Maracana, where several opposing players even snapped photos with the former Barcelona star. This time around, the federation has opted against a similar arrangement, choosing to keep the 34-year-old entirely isolated from the matchday environment. Neymar Jr. of Brasil speaks to teammates Vinicius Junior and Bruno Guimaraes. What lies ahead for Neymar? Despite growing external anxiety surrounding his overall durability, head coach Carlo Ancelotti has repeatedly reassured the public that Neymar’s place on the final 26-man roster remains completely secure. While Neymar faces stiff internal competition from elite wingers Vinicius Junior and Raphinha for a spot in the starting XI, his inclusion in the tournament squad is a certainty, even if his initial workload is somewhat restricted. The five-time world champions will officially kick off their tournament run on June 13 against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Given that he has yet to participate in standard team drills, expectations are increasingly mounting that the legendary playmaker will be forced to sit out the highly anticipated Group C curtain-raiser. Nevertheless, the CBF medical department plans to monitor Neymar’s physical progression on a daily basis over the next week, with an additional MRI scan scheduled for June 12, exactly 24 hours prior to the Morocco clash. The definitive data from that final imaging session will ultimately allow the coaching staff and team doctors to make a late game-time decision on his availability.
Unimpressive in qualification, fans will be hoping Carlo Ancelotti can get the best out of Vinícius Júnior, as he did at Real MadridThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Continue reading...
UEFA and FIFA reportedly have different views regarding certain upcoming rule changes. Several weeks ago, FIFA approved two rule modifications that will be implemented starting with the 2026 World Cup. While the global governing body intends for these new measures to eventually be adopted worldwide, reports indicate UEFA has other plans. “UEFA has opted against following FIFA’s lead and introducing automatic red cards for players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent or leave the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision,” The Guardian reported on Tuesday. The ban on players covering their mouths while interacting with opponents was promoted by FIFA following an incident that actually involved UEFA competition, as it took place during a Champions League match. It was the well-known episode involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. That incident resulted in a six-match suspension for Prestianni imposed by UEFA, which was later extended to the international level as well, potentially affecting the forward’s chances of making Argentina’s roster for the World Cup. FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The other situation that motivated these rule changes took place during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, when Senegal players temporarily walked off the field during the final against Morocco in protest of refereeing decisions. Although they later returned and secured a 1-0 victory, CAF ultimately awarded the title to Morocco in a controversial ruling that is now in the hands of the CAS. UEFA to closely monitor the World Cup Although FIFA approved these rule modifications following the latest meeting of the International Football Association Board, the decision has not been imposed as mandatory worldwide. That means each continental confederation and local association can evaluate whether implementing the changes is appropriate. “UEFA’s executive committee will meet for the final time this season in Istanbul on Wednesday and it is understood no regulation changes are on the agenda,” The Guardian reported. However, that does not necessarily mean the decision is permanent, as the issue is expected to be revisited in the near future. “UEFA sources said that its referees committee would monitor the impact of the new regulations during the World Cup with a view to discussing potential changes during next season,” the report added. The possibility of seeing a situation similar to the Africa Cup of Nations final happen again during the World Cup is extremely unlikely given how unusual that episode was. However, players covering their mouths while speaking to opponents is far more common, so it will be interesting to see whether that behavior disappears during the World Cup and, if not, whether referees will consistently enforce the new rules with the strictness FIFA intends.
Barcelona sealed their second consecutive La Liga title on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico. Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres got the goals, which sparked jubilant scenes both...
