Guillermo Ochoa and Santiago Gimenez are not part of Mexico’s starting lineup against South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off this Thursday at Estadio Azteca with Mexico taking on South Africa. The hosts will be without two of their biggest stars in the starting XI, as head coach Javier Aguirre has opted to leave Guillermo Ochoa and Santiago Gimenez on the bench. Following the opening ceremony, the official lineups for both teams were announced ahead of the tournament opener. Among Mexico’s starting eleven, the absence of Ochoa stood out, as he will not begin the World Cup as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper. Instead, Raul Rangel will get the nod, a decision that comes as little surprise considering he started Mexico’s last eight friendlies during the team’s preparation for the FIFA tournament. As a result, Ochoa and Carlos Acevedo will serve as backup goalkeepers. Ochoa still reaches a World Cup record Even though he is not part of Mexico’s starting lineup, Guillermo Ochoa will still achieve a FIFA World Cup milestone on Thursday while sitting on the bench—one that no other player has reached before in the tournament’s history. Javier Aguirre, Head Coach of Mexico. Ochoa is the first player ever to be part of six different FIFA World Cup editions. His first experience came at Germany 2006, and he has been included in every Mexico squad at the tournament ever since. In the coming days, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will match that mark, though with one key difference: the stars of Argentina and Portugal have played matches in all six of their World Cup appearances and, barring any unforeseen issues, will do so again this summer. Ochoa, meanwhile, was an unused substitute in both 2006 and 2010 and appears likely to remain without minutes in 2026 as well. Santiago Gimenez awaits his opportunity off the bench Just like Guillermo Ochoa, Santiago Gimenez will begin the 2026 World Cup among the substitutes and will have to wait for his opportunity to make an impact in the FIFA tournament. The 25-year-old striker appears to have fallen behind Raul Jimenez in Aguirre’s pecking order, with the veteran forward earning the starting role on Thursday. The 2025-26 season was a difficult one for Gimenez. He managed just 18 appearances for AC Milan due to physical setbacks, recording one goal and three assists across Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana. That lack of playing time also affected his standing at the international level, allowing Raul Jimenez to move ahead of him in the battle for the starting spot.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are very much interested in bringing Randal Kolo Muani back to Turin this summer. They’ve already spoken to the Paris Saint-Germain hierarchy on this subject ahead of the Champions League final in Budapest, and further talks are expected to take place in the coming days. Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti […] The post Juventus and PSG in Kolo Muani talks appeared first on SoccerNews.
Neymar spoke about his physical condition before joining Brazil’s training camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Neymar was the biggest headline inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, in the days that followed, concerns over his fitness became a major topic in Brazil — something the star himself was quick to downplay. Over the past week, the 34-year-old was sidelined for Santos’ final three matches of the semester — two in the Copa Sudamericana and one in the Brazilian Serie A — because of a reported muscle issue. “How’s the calf?” a reporter asked Neymar on Tuesday night after Santos’ victory over Deportivo Cuenca, which secured the Brazilian club a place in the Copa Sudamericana playoffs. “It’s here, fully intact,” the forward replied. “Do you think it’ll be a problem or not for the World Cup?” the reporter followed up, prompting Neymar to answer casually: “What problem?” With that response, the star appeared to make it clear that the muscle issue is not serious and will not prevent him from competing with Brazil at the 2026 World Cup in North America. Repórter para Neymar: “Como está a panturrilha?”Neymar: “Tá aqui, inteira.”Repórter: “Você acha que vai ser problema ou não para a Copa?”Neymar: “Problema do quê?”🎥 @ESPNBrasil | @SportsCenterBR pic.twitter.com/kyy2qOSVU6— Planeta do Futebol 🌎 (@futebol_info) May 27, 2026 What’s next for Brazil Although Santos still have one official match left this semester — Saturday against Vitoria — Neymar will leave the club early to begin a special fitness program with the Brazil national team. Still, it appears unlikely that the forward will be available for the friendly matches Brazil will play before the start of the World Cup. On May 31, Brazil will say goodbye to their fans at the Maracana by facing Panama. Then, on June 6 in Cleveland, they will play their final tune-up match against Egypt. Reports indicate Neymar will not feature in either match, as the focus will be on prioritizing his recovery and physical preparation so he can be fully fit for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13. Neymar to wear Brazil’s No. 10 jersey Despite being absent from the national team for nearly three years, Neymar remains Brazil’s biggest star. That is evident in the fact that his iconic No. 10 jersey will be handed back to him for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being worn by other players in recent years. One of those players was Vinicius Junior, who made it clear that Ney is the rightful owner of the number. “I don’t know what number I’ll wear at the World Cup, but the No. 10 belongs to Neymar, that’s obvious,” said the Real Madrid winger in a recent interview with CazeTV.
Despite numerous injuries, Juventus are pushing to secure the contract renewal of Dušan Vlahović. However, the Serbian striker is reportedly moving closer to Chelsea at the request of Xabi Alonso, amid links between João Pedro and FC Barcelona. Dušan Vlahović is not coming off his best season in Serie A. After suffering four injuries throughout the season, he missed numerous matches, leaving him with only 1,162 minutes played. Despite this, Juventus are pushing to renew his contract and make him their starting striker. However, the Serbian forward is reportedly moving closer to Chelsea at the explicit request of Xabi Alonso. With this, rumors linking João Pedro with Barcelona are gaining momentum. According to Fabrizio Patania via Corriere dello Sport, contacts between Dušan Vlahović and Juventus are not progressing as expected, as the failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League is generating doubts for the player. In addition, the 26-year-old star is reportedly moving closer to Chelsea, as he was seen in London and would be an explicit request from Xabi Alonso. With this, the Serbian star would be the starting striker for the 2026–27 season. Amid his injuries, Dušan Vlahović has still proven to be a highly efficient goalscorer. After playing 23 matches for the Juventus, he has scored 10 goals and provided two assists. Despite his physical issues, the Serbian forward is coming off two consecutive seasons with more than 17 goals. Under Xabi Alonso, he could unlock his best version, aiming to replicate the impact of Victor Boniface at Bayer Leverkusen, as they have a similar profile. If the Blues are already pursuing a striker such as Vlahović or Osimhen, João Pedro may no longer have his starting role guaranteed. Following this, the 24-year-old striker could push for a move to Barcelona, despite Chelsea reportedly considering him untouchable. Since he is not a physical striker preferred by Xabi Alonso, he could be forced to play as a winger, potentially leading him to push for an exit if he no longer feels central to the sporting project. Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus celebrates scoring a goal. Report: Vlahovic also attracts Bayern Munich and Newcastle United Looking ahead to the 2026–27 season, Dušan Vlahović remains one of the most attractive players in Europe, as he would arrive as a free agent. Not only are Juventus and Chelsea pursuing him, but he also continues to attract interest from Bayern Munich and Newcastle United, reports Corriere dello Sport. With this in mind, the financial aspect becomes less of a crucial factor, while his role in the project and the club’s ambition become determining elements. Although Dušan would be a backup to Harry Kane at Bayern Munich, he could soon take over from the starting striker. While the Englishman is 32 years old, the Serbian is 26, giving him a chance to become a starter. However, he could be an undisputed starter at Newcastle United, with the Premier League serving as a major stage. Despite this, Chelsea’s potential offer could still be the most attractive, as Xabi Alonso offers an appealing project. With Luciano Spalletti as his main supporter at Juventus, Dušan Vlahović may not completely rule out a contract renewal. Offered a deal until 2028 with a salary of €6 million per season, the Serbian has decided to reject it, pushing for a higher income. However, the Vecchia Signora reportedly remain hopeful of renewing the Serbian striker’s contract and making him their undisputed starter for the 2026–27 season.
We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors.This week, from 2023: a series of financial scandals have rocked Italy’s most glamorous club. But is the trouble at Juventus symptomatic of a deeper rot in world football?By Tobias Jones. Read by Daniel Alexander Continue reading...
