It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just hours away, with the best players on the planet having descended on the United States, Canada and Mexico for what promises to be a superb summer of football. While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in late-July will go down as failure. We're set, then, for five-and-a-half weeks of drama, filled with joy and heartbreak in equal measure.
Barcelona winger Raphinha has expressed immense confidence in Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and himself to lead Brazil to their sixth World Cup triumph this summer. Speaking from the national team's training camp ahead of the 2026 tournament, the attacker highlighted the crucial blend of youth and experience required to succeed, as they look to end a drought dating back to 2002.
Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos believes that Lionel Messi can comfortably play in another World Cup after the 2026 tournament. Speaking ahead of the global showpiece, the iconic left-back also assessed Neymar's crucial role under Carlo Ancelotti as the forward races to return to full fitness for the Brazil national team following recent injury struggles.
Brazil have received encouraging news on Neymar's fitness after the forward underwent a scheduled MRI scan. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed the Santos star is progressing as expected in his recovery from a calf injury, although the Selecao are set to remain cautious over his return as they begin their World Cup campaign.
It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just a two days away, with the best players from around the globe descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for what promises to be a superb summer of football. While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in late-July will go down as failure. We're set, then, for five-and-a-half weeks of drama, filled with joy and heartbreak in equal measure.
Neymar is pulling out all the stops to ensure he is fit for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup campaign, including the use of specialised space-age equipment. The Selecao icon, who is undergoing intensive rehabilitation for a chronic calf injury in New Jersey, was spotted sporting a fresh haircut.
Benni McCarthy, Aaron Mokoena and Quinton Fortune to lead studio coverage as SportyTV offers South Africans the complete World Cup experience for just R10.
We are now just days away, and World Cup fever is gripping the globe as teams from 48 countries descend on the United States, Mexico and Canada for the biggest tournament FIFA have ever staged. Managers are making their final plans ahead of the opening round of group games, but for some there are still massive decisions to be made.
Brazil's final World Cup preparations have been rocked by a significant injury scare involving Roma full-back Wesley. The defender was forced off early during the Selecao's 2-1 friendly victory over Egypt, leaving the pitch in visible distress as the tournament approaches. The situation has left manager Carlo Ancelotti concerned about Wesley's condition.
Endrick shone brightly in Brazil's last friendly before the World Cup, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Egypt. The young striker took advantage of the euphoria to send a strong message to Carlo Ancelotti, reaffirming his commitment to the Brazilian National Team.
Chelsea starlet Estevao Willian has opened up on the devastating emotional toll of the injury that cost him a place in Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad. The 19-year-old was a certain inclusion for Carlo Ancelotti's side before a serious muscular issue ended his hopes of representing the Selecao on the world stage.
FIFA has announced a significant protocol modification that will see every squad member take part in the pre-match national anthems at the upcoming World Cup. Moving away from traditional sporting custom, football's global governing body has mandated that both starting line-ups and substitutes congregate together on the pitch ahead of kick-off.
Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he will be supporting England and Brazil at the 2026 World Cup. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion says his home nation and the Selecao are equally close to his heart, with his admiration for Brazilian football rooted in the country's culture, history and style of play.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic that injured talisman Neymar will recover from a calf injury in time to feature at the 2026 World Cup. The Italian tactician confirmed that the 34-year-old forward is making excellent progress individually and will undergo a decisive medical scan on Monday before potentially rejoining full squad training next week.
Brazil are in a bad way. We know this because Neymar's fitness has been a topic of national debate for the past few months. Believe it or not, there are a significant number of Brazilians that believe that the Selecao has no chance of winning this summer's World Cup without a 34-year-old forward who has neither been fit nor good enough to play for his country since 2023.
Nike has unveiled its new "Rip the Script" campaign ahead of the 2026 World Cup, bringing together some of football's biggest names and global celebrities. Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior headline the film, which promotes creativity and instinctive play while showcasing the brand's latest football innovations.
Brazil forward Endrick has opened up about his testing spell at Real Madrid, revealing how Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold sustained him through regular phone calls. The teenage striker credited their unwavering support for rebuilding his confidence ahead of a transformative six-month loan spell with French outfit Lyon, even though he struggles to understand the pair.
Brazil will have to face the friendly against Egypt - their final World Cup warm-up – without their talismanic figurehead, as Neymar has been officially ruled out of the upcoming trip to Cleveland. The Santos star is set to remain at the national team's training base to undergo intensive physiotherapy in a desperate race against time.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has seen a remarkable 350 per cent surge in his shirt sales following his crucial penalty miss against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Despite the heartbreak of the shootout defeat, the Gunners' fanbase has rallied behind the centre-back, making his name the most requested on replica kits.
The World Cup has had no shortage of iconic moments across nearly 100 years of history. Every four years, billions of fans congregate to watch a tournament that has provided more drama, heartbreak and joy than any other event in sporting history. Football's grandest stage, the World Cup has always offered a platform for legends to be born, but it has also seen reputations destroyed and the downfall of so many famous faces.
Brazil have officially confirmed their squad numbers for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, putting an end to the speculation surrounding their talismanic forward. Despite lingering fitness concerns and a fight to secure his place in the final setup, Neymar has been handed the iconic No. 10 jersey once again.
Carlo Ancelotti has delivered a blunt assessment of his current Brazil squad, suggesting the Selecao no longer boast the individual icons of years gone by. The Italian tactician claims that the five-time world champions must now lean on a collective effort rather than expecting a single superstar to carry the nation to glory.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has delivered a major update on Neymar’s availability for the upcoming World Cup, insisting the superstar forward remains a core part of his plans despite ongoing fitness concerns. Speculation had grown regarding the Santos star's status after he arrived at the national team camp nursing an injury. Still, the Italian tactician has moved quickly to dismiss any talk of dropping the 34-year-old from the roster.
Brazil
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