Neymar did not train with Brazil on Monday. Instead, the 34-year-old was in the gym at the New York Red Bulls' training facility while his teammates worked outside — and the MRI results that emerged offered a carefully worded kind of reassurance. He is "recovering well" and "making good progress," according to the Brazilian Football Confederation. Which is the kind of language used when the news isn't bad enough to panic, but not good enough to commit.
Brazil open against Morocco at MetLife Stadium on Saturday. Carlo Ancelotti said last week he's "in no rush" to bring Neymar back, which is probably the right call for a player who hasn't represented his country since 2023 and has been nursing various fitness issues throughout this club season. If he starts that game, it's a story. If he comes off the bench in game two, that's probably the realistic plan. Either way, Brazil's early tournament odds don't hinge on him — they have enough. But Neymar availability shifts the ceiling of what this team can do.
A referee barred, a tournament embarrassed
The most troubling story of the day has nothing to do with football. Omar Artan — Africa's referee of the year in 2025, the first Somali ever selected to officiate at a World Cup — was denied entry into the United States at Miami International Airport on Saturday. FIFA confirmed he will play no part in the tournament.
Artan had a valid visa. He flew back to Istanbul.
US Customs and Border Protection cited "vetting concerns." Somalia sits on the Trump administration's travel ban list. FIFA, predictably, issued a statement explaining it has no power over host country immigration decisions — technically true, practically a shrug. The tournament sold itself as a global celebration of football. Barring the continent's best referee on the eve of the opening matches tells a different story. "Denying him entry undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play," said Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports. Hard to argue with that.
Irankunda keeps his number, USA fans set expectations
On the lighter end of the day's news: Nestory Irankunda cleared up why Australia's most exciting attacking player is wearing No.17 at this World Cup rather than something more prominent. It's sentimental — he wore it with the Joeys junior side and wanted to carry it through. "To wear it again at a World Cup now after so many years playing with the juniors, it's going to be crazy," the Watford winger said. Simple as that.
The 20-year-old drew the loudest praise in Australia's final pre-tournament friendly against Switzerland — a 1-1 draw — where he hit the crossbar from distance and generally caused chaos. Debutant Tete Yengi, who scored Australia's goal, called him "almost unstoppable" when he's on form. Tony Popovic hasn't confirmed whether Irankunda starts against Türkiye on Sunday or comes off the bench as a game-changer. Given what he showed against Switzerland, starting him feels like the less risky option.
Reports of Everton and Crystal Palace tracking Irankunda — with a potential fee around $32.5 million — haven't gone away, but the man himself is staying focused. He left Bayern Munich for regular minutes, got them, and earned his World Cup place. The transfer noise can wait.
Meanwhile, 5,500 US fans attended an open training session in Irvine, California — picked from a lottery of 33,000 — and made their feelings clear. Quarter-final is the floor, not the ceiling. "Anything less, I would be a little disappointed," said 16-year-old Paige Dixon. Chris Richards returned to full training after his ankle injury, which steadies a US backline that looked uncertain without him in recent friendlies. Tyler Adams was absent with "load management" after a quadriceps problem late in the Premier League season — his fitness will matter far more than the optimism of the crowds when Paraguay come to Los Angeles on Friday.
