North America will host this summer’s tournamentEuropean fans encouraged to visit Canada for World CupCanada’s sports minister, Adam van Koeverden, has expressed confidence that hosting the World Cup this summer could be the key to agreeing a new trilateral trade deal with the United States and Mexico.The three World Cup hosts are facing a deadline of 1 July for a mandatory review of the existing free trade agreement between the countries, the USMCA, and initial discussions have been problematic. Continue reading...
Rodrigo De Paul spoke about how he and Lionel Messi are preparing to compete with Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For years, there has been uncertainty surrounding whether Lionel Messi would be part of Argentina’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has never publicly confirmed it and has consistently cast doubt on the possibility because of his age, but over the last few days the picture has become much clearer. First, Lionel Scaloni included him in the preliminary 55-man roster, and now Rodrigo De Paul has revealed that both players have been preparing for the tournament for quite some time. “I talk a lot with Leo about the World Cup and the excitement we have,” De Paul said during a recent interview on Lo Del Pollo. “For the last two or three months, we’ve been preparing for it with a training plan beyond what we do at the club level, thinking about the World Cup.” The Inter Miami midfielder then provided more details about those preparation sessions: “The two of us push ourselves physically to arrive in the best possible shape. We’re doing double sessions that we planned ourselves, and we have our own fitness coach. We’ve been working hard and things are going well.” This is closely connected to the doubts Messi had publicly expressed whenever he was asked about the 2026 World Cup. Considering that he will turn 39 during the tournament, his main concern has always been whether he will feel physically capable of competing in the most demanding soccer event in the world. “I’m very excited. I think Argentina will once again be one of the main contenders,” De Paul assured. “I see conviction and hunger in my teammates to keep achieving things. This team is fully committed to giving everything it has.” The mental aspect of preparing for the World Cup During the same conversation, Rodrigo De Paul spoke about how he and Messi are preparing not only physically, but also mentally for this summer’s tournament in North America. “You live constantly thinking about the World Cup. As it gets closer, those thoughts come into your head much more often. You live with fear, uncertainty, excitement and a lot of emotions that come with the World Cup,” the midfielder explained. “I motivate him a lot, I build him up all the time,” De Paul admitted while describing his relationship with Messi. “He motivates me too, but he’s more steady than I am. I’m more up and down, so I have a lot of low moments and he helps me. When I go low, I really go low. He stays balanced and consistent. We complement each other well.” True to his personality, Rodrigo also joked about what those training sessions with Messi are like. “I record everything. ‘No, stop it, why are you filming me?’ he tells me. ‘Well, Shorty, maybe things work out for us, we make a documentary or something and make some money,’” De Paul revealed. Argentina’s final roster is getting closer Argentina were one of the few national teams that publicly released the 55-man preliminary roster submitted to FIFA earlier this week. Lionel Scaloni now has two more weeks to make the final cuts and confirm the official 26-man squad. Reports indicate that the head coach will take as much time as possible before making the announcement, considering the deadline is June 1 and club competitions will not conclude until May 30 with the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.
The Brazil Football Federation has announced that Carlo Ancelotti will remain at the head coaching role until the 2030 World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti originally committed his future to the Brazil national team back in May 2025, tasked with bringing stability to the Selecao during a period of transition. Nearly a year into his tenure, the Italian tactician has doubled down on his commitment, signing a new contract extension that keeps him at the helm through the 2030 World Cup. On Thursday, May 14, the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) released an official statement announcing the four-year extension for Ancelotti. While his initial agreement was only set to carry the national team through the 2026 tournament, he is now fully integrated into the federation’s long-term vision for the program. In a video released by the CBF, Ancelotti reflected on his first year in South America and the significance of the role: “I arrived in Brazil one year ago. From the first minute, I understood what football means to this country. For a year, we have been working to bring the Brazilian National Team back to the top of the world. But the CBF and I want more. More victories, more time, more work.“ Now officially leading the project that will take Brazil into the World Cup’s centennial celebration, Ancelotti expressed his gratitude for the support he has received from the fans. “We are very happy to announce that we will continue together for four more years. We are going together to the 2030 World Cup. I want to thank the CBF for their trust. Thank you, Brazil, for the warm reception and for all the affection,” he added. Brasil 🤝 Carlo Ancelotti até 2030!O Brasil segue no comando de um dos maiores treinadores da história!Compromisso, continuidade e confiança para levar a Seleção Brasileira ainda mais longe.A caminhada continua. Nosso sonho também.Saiba mais em https://t.co/pkHuBcm04I pic.twitter.com/DZdRZofPpN— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) May 14, 2026 In less than a year in charge, Ancelotti has overseen ten Brazil matches, including the final stages of the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifiers and six friendly fixtures, compiling a record of five wins, two draws and three defeats. Beyond the 2026 World Cup, his remit now includes the 2028 Copa América and the 2030 World Cup. How old will Ancelotti be at the 2030 World Cup? More than 30 years have passed since Ancelotti first stepped into the dugout with Italian side Reggiana in 1995, a journey that has made him one of the most decorated managers in the history of the game. The Brazil role holds a unique distinction in that history, representing his first experience managing a national team, and the extension means he will now lead that project for the better part of a decade. Born on June 10, 1959, Ancelotti will turn 71 by the time his new contract concludes. The 2030 World Cup will feature inauguration matches in South America before shifting to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and the Italian has made clear his intention to add to the Pentacampeões’ legacy before his tenure is done. Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad announcement imminent The extension announcement comes at a critical moment, with Ancelotti set to reveal his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup in just days. The official unveiling is scheduled to take place at the Museu do Amanhã in Rio de Janeiro on May 18. A preliminary list of 55 players has already been submitted to FIFA, with Neymar’s inclusion among the most closely watched names on the longlist. While the former Barcelona and PSG star’s potential participation has captured significant public attention, Ancelotti has been unambiguous in stating that fitness will be the deciding factor for every player on the list, Neymar included.
Hearts' fan owners have expressed "extreme concerns" over refereeing decisions in the title run-in. Celtic faced the task of needing a three-goal win over long-time leaders Hearts on Saturday before a controversial last-gasp penalty award allowed the defending champions to snatch a dramatic winner at Motherwell on Wednesday night. Now any victory will do for Celtic in the title decider, while Hearts can win the league by avoiding defeat.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti praised the development made by Neymar to reach full fitness once again, but also highlighted that he has "no pressure" on including him in Brazil's roster for the 2026 World Cup. Neymar’s potential inclusion in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad has become the flashpoint of sports debate across South America. With less than a month until the tournament kicks off, head coach Carlo Ancelotti has lauded the Santos star’s recent progress but made it clear he feels “no pressure” to include the veteran forward on his final 26-man list. Lingering fitness concerns have forced Ancelotti to omit Neymar from recent international windows, meaning the legendary attacker hasn’t suited up for Brazil national team since suffering a devastating ACL injury in October 2023. However, a vocal contingent of fans and teammates has aggressively lobbied for his return, putting the Italian manager in a delicate position where sentimental value and match fitness are at odds. In an interview with Reuters on Tuesday, Ancelotti acknowledged the forward’s recovery while emphasizing that a final decision is still pending: “When you have to choose, you have to consider many things. Neymar is an important player for this country because of the talent he has always shown. But he has had problems and is working hard to recover. He has improved a lot recently and is playing regularly. It is, obviously, not such an easy decision for me. We have to weigh up the pros and cons carefully.“ While Ancelotti took the initial step of naming Neymar to the preliminary roster, he remains cautiously optimistic about the playmaker’s 2026 form. “He has improved his fitness a lot in recent matches. He has played some very good matches lately. His fitness has improved. He can maintain a high intensity in a match. But there are matches and matches,” he stated. Neymar Jr. of Santos Since recovering from knee surgery in late 2025, Neymar has logged 13 appearances for Santos in 2026, tallying six goals and three assists. Most notably, between April 28 and May 10, Neymar featured in three out of four Santos games, scoring twice and logging 262 minutes, which are encouraging numbers for the demands of a World Cup schedule. Ancelotti refuses to bow to outside influence Raphinha, Casemiro, Lamine Yamal, and even Lionel Messi have recently joined a growing list of global stars eager to see Neymar suit up for the 2026 World Cup, backed by unwavering support from the Brazilian faithful. While Carlo Ancelotti has been repeatedly pressed for answers, his stance remains unchanged: if Neymar is fit, he will play. The Italian tactician doubled down on his independence, insisting that the final roster will be his and his alone: “I haven’t been pressured by anyone to call up Neymar. I have complete autonomy. The decision will be 100% professional. I will only take into account how he is performing as a footballer. Nothing else.“ While Ancelotti respects the immense affection for Neymar within the locker room, he is confident that his final decision, whatever it may be, won’t fracture the team’s chemistry. “I think it’s normal for the players to express their opinion. I’m grateful to everyone who has given me advice; I thank you all. But ultimately, the right person to make this decision, the one best placed to do so, is me,” he stated.
