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Coach Says Neymar Is Not Ready for an Imminent Return to Al-Hilal

Football - Asian Champions League - Group D - Nassaji Mazandaran v Al Hilal - Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran - October 3, 2023 Al-Hilal's Neymar scores their second goal Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Football - Asian Champions League - Group D - Nassaji Mazandaran v Al Hilal - Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran - October 3, 2023 Al-Hilal's Neymar scores their second goal Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
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Coach Says Neymar Is Not Ready for an Imminent Return to Al-Hilal

Football - Asian Champions League - Group D - Nassaji Mazandaran v Al Hilal - Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran - October 3, 2023 Al-Hilal's Neymar scores their second goal Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Football - Asian Champions League - Group D - Nassaji Mazandaran v Al Hilal - Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran - October 3, 2023 Al-Hilal's Neymar scores their second goal Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Neymar is not ready for an imminent return to play for Al-Hilal, the head coach of the Saudi Arabian club has announced.

The Brazilian star signed for the Riyadh team in August 2023 but played just five games when he underwent surgery after rupturing his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee while on international duty in October.

After Neymar, 32, returned to training in July, speculation grew that he was close to a return but coach Jorge Jesus dampened expectations in a post-match media conference.

“Neymar is an important player for Al-Hilal and the league in general,” Jesus, who led Al-Hilal to a 19th league title in May, said on Tuesday. “I can’t, however, specify a date as to when he will return but we will look at the situation in January.”

Neymar will be able to be registered by Al-Hilal in January for the second half of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) season.

With SPL teams allowed to register a maximum of eight foreign players over the age of 21, Neymar’s place in the roster for the first half of the league campaign was taken by Marcos Leonardo, signed from Benfica earlier in September.

Upon return to fitness Neymar, whose two-year contract ends next August, is eligible, however, to appear in Al-Hilal’s ongoing AFC Champions League Elite campaign as the continental competition has no restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed.

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Magic Johnson Urges Fans to Make Los Angeles their World Cup Destination

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Community Ambassador, speaks during the 30 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026 media event at SoFI Stadium before the pitch installation and temporary renaming to Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California on May 12, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Community Ambassador, speaks during the 30 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026 media event at SoFI Stadium before the pitch installation and temporary renaming to Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California on May 12, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
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Magic Johnson Urges Fans to Make Los Angeles their World Cup Destination

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Community Ambassador, speaks during the 30 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026 media event at SoFI Stadium before the pitch installation and temporary renaming to Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California on May 12, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Community Ambassador, speaks during the 30 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026 media event at SoFI Stadium before the pitch installation and temporary renaming to Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California on May 12, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

Los Angeles sports royalty and former NBA great Earvin "Magic" Johnson on Tuesday urged fans from around the world to make Los Angeles their World Cup destination, calling the city the "sports capital of the world."

A '30 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026' event at SoFi Stadium highlighted the sprawling city's desire to ensure visitors experience more than an in-and-out soccer stop, Reuters reported.

"The world game is coming to the greatest city in the world," Johnson said, beaming, at the event designed to entice travelers not only for the tournament but also for the city’s attractions and its role as a global sports hub.

Johnson, a five-time National Basketball Association champion and three-time Most Valuable Player, said this was the time to be in Los Angeles ⁠because "great events are ⁠coming to our city," including the World Cup, the NFL Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympics.

Los Angeles hosts eight World Cup matches, featuring the national teams of the United States, Paraguay, Iran, New Zealand, Switzerland, Bosnia, Belgium and Türkiye.

The expanded tournament will be played across North America, with matches in 16 host cities in Mexico, the United States and Canada. It will feature 48 national ⁠teams, up from the usual 32.

Local and visiting fans will be able to enjoy a "giant soccer carnival" across the city, said Kathryn Schloessman, President and CEO of Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and host committee CEO.

The city's commitment to affordable transportation options was also underlined, with $1.75 tickets to the stadium standing in stark contrast to some of the prices that have drawn controversy on the East Coast.

The World Cup's local impact has been debated for months. Critics have raised concerns about regional homelessness, poverty and the cost to taxpayers, warning that the most vulnerable could be hit by price increases, housing ⁠pressures linked to ⁠the event and disruption to urban services.

Los Angeles is also hosting the tournament's US opening ceremony on June 12, featuring pop star Katy Perry. The show follows an opening ceremony in Mexico City the day before and another in Toronto earlier on June 12, underscoring the tournament’s three-country footprint.

While best known for US sports powerhouses such as the Lakers, Dodgers, Rams and Chargers, Los Angeles has also attracted high-profile soccer stars late in their careers, including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Steven Gerrard, all of whom played for the LA Galaxy.

The city's World Cup committee has taken advantage of its proximity to Hollywood's famous residents by involving Snoop Dogg, Eva Longoria, Will Ferrell and other celebrities as "community ambassadors."

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Man City Boss Guardiola: VAR Decisions Like the Flip of a Coin

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Brentford FC, in Manchester, Britain, 09 May 2026. EPA/GARY OAKLEY
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Brentford FC, in Manchester, Britain, 09 May 2026. EPA/GARY OAKLEY
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Man City Boss Guardiola: VAR Decisions Like the Flip of a Coin

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Brentford FC, in Manchester, Britain, 09 May 2026. EPA/GARY OAKLEY
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Brentford FC, in Manchester, Britain, 09 May 2026. EPA/GARY OAKLEY

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola compared the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to the flip of a coin on Tuesday and said his side must play well enough to avoid any impact from decisions that go against them.

VAR has been under renewed scrutiny this week after West Ham United’s late equalizer against Premier League leaders Arsenal was disallowed, a decision that could prove crucial in the title ⁠race.

“The only thing ⁠we can do is do it (perform) better, that is only in your control,” Reuters quoted Guardiola as telling reporters ahead of Wednesday's home game against Crystal Palace.

“We lost the two finals of the FA Cup because ⁠the referees didn’t do their jobs they should do, even the VAR. When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR.

"I never trust anything since I arrived (at City) a long time ago. I learned you have to do it better, be in a position to do it better because (if not) ⁠you ⁠blame yourself with what you have to do, because (VAR) is a flip of a coin."

City trail Arsenal by five points but have played one game fewer than the London side.

“We play in this game, we go to Bournemouth and the last game in Aston Villa. The important one is tomorrow and we will see what happens to the next games," Guardiola said.

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Saudi National Team Advances to AFC U-17 Asian Cup Quarterfinals as Group Winner

Saudi players celebrate (Saudi National Team)
Saudi players celebrate (Saudi National Team)
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Saudi National Team Advances to AFC U-17 Asian Cup Quarterfinals as Group Winner

Saudi players celebrate (Saudi National Team)
Saudi players celebrate (Saudi National Team)

The Saudi Arabian under-17 football team advanced to the quarterfinals of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup as the top team in Group A with seven points, following a 5-5 draw against Tajikistan in the third round of the group stage at the auxiliary stadium of King Abdullah Sports City.

The third-round matches in Groups C and D will continue Wednesday.