Brazil Coach: Neymar Will be Available to Play vs. Scotland

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - June 13, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks on before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - June 13, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks on before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
TT

Brazil Coach: Neymar Will be Available to Play vs. Scotland

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - June 13, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks on before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - June 13, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks on before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

After Brazil defeated Haiti 3-0 in their second World Cup match on Friday night, Selecao coach Carlo Ancelotti said he expects Neymar to be available for the Group C finale.

Neymar, 34, has been rehabbing a right calf ailment. He last played for Santos in Brazil's top flight on May 17.

The Selecao will oppose Scotland on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Fla., needing only a win or a draw to advance to the round of 32.

"Neymar will be training tomorrow individually, and on Monday, he's going to be training with the rest of the team," Ancelotti said in the post-match press conference via an interpreter. "He will be available for ⁠the match against Scotland."

Injuries ⁠limited Neymar during Brazil's 2026 qualifying campaign. However, he was influential when he played, scoring twice and contributing three assists in four appearances.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti did not commit to continuing with Matheus Cunha at center forward despite the Manchester United player's first-half brace against Haiti. Cunha started in place of Igor Thiago after coming on in the ⁠61st minute of Brazil's 1-1 draw with Morocco in their tournament opener.

"He may," Reuters quoted Ancelotti as saying when asked if Cunha would remain in the center forward role.

"I think that Matheus' position was a good position for creating problems to the defense," Ancelotti said. "And he filtered his passes very well, and his position was a good position to be effective at the front.

"It can be an option. We discussed this yesterday. I don't want a clear identity. Maybe we will change this on the next match."

Brazil, on four points, currently lead ⁠Morocco on ⁠goal-difference in Group C after the Atlas Lions defeated Scotland 1-0 earlier Friday.

The Scots could be playing for their tournament lives on Wednesday, but Ancelotti insisted he is focusing on the bigger picture.

"We don't think about knocking out. We think about playing well and improving, and we analyze the match," Ancelotti said. "If we can reach the first position of the group, that would be important for the future. So we want to prepare well for that match.

"Scotland has its features. It can create a problem. It created problems to Morocco today. And so we have to focus on the match and be calm and be tranquil and keep on working to improve."



Marquez Snatches San Marino MotoGP Sprint Ahead of Bezzecchi

Ducati Lenovo Team rider Marc Marquez of Spain leads the Sprint Race of the Motorcycling Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Misano Adriatico, Italy, 12 September 2026. EPA/DANILO DI GIOVANNI
Ducati Lenovo Team rider Marc Marquez of Spain leads the Sprint Race of the Motorcycling Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Misano Adriatico, Italy, 12 September 2026. EPA/DANILO DI GIOVANNI
TT

Marquez Snatches San Marino MotoGP Sprint Ahead of Bezzecchi

Ducati Lenovo Team rider Marc Marquez of Spain leads the Sprint Race of the Motorcycling Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Misano Adriatico, Italy, 12 September 2026. EPA/DANILO DI GIOVANNI
Ducati Lenovo Team rider Marc Marquez of Spain leads the Sprint Race of the Motorcycling Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Misano Adriatico, Italy, 12 September 2026. EPA/DANILO DI GIOVANNI

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez led almost all the way to win the San Marino Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday ahead of his Aprilia rivals.

The Ducati star beat his two main world title rivals, both riding Aprilias, finishing 1.068sec ahead of Italian Marco Bezzecchi, with fellow Spaniard Jorge Martin crossing third in northern Italy.

Bezzecchi had started from pole position after setting a Misano track record in qualifying, but Marquez got off to a better start and overtook on the inside at the first corner.

From there on it was a dominant display for Marquez who is targeting his eighth top-class championship and his 10th overall.

At the controls of his factory Ducati, the 33-year-old had a one-second lead over his rivals after five laps, AFP reported.

Bezzecchi fought back and managed to close the gap slightly but had no real chance of catching up to the older of the Marquez brothers.

Championship leader Martin, starting from the second row, moved into third place halfway through the 13-lap race.

The battle for the riders' title is heating up among the three contenders, with Martin 14 points ahead of Marquez and Bezzecchi 22 points off the leader.

Bezzecchi is targeting his first MotoGP world title this year after finishing third last season.


Norris Beats Antonelli to Pole for Spanish GP

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix in Madrid, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix in Madrid, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
TT

Norris Beats Antonelli to Pole for Spanish GP

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix in Madrid, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix in Madrid, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Lando Norris pipped Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli to pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix at Madring on Saturday.

The reigning world champion edged Mercedes' Antonelli by just 11 thousandths of a second, with Max Verstappen qualifying third-fastest for Ferrari for Sunday's race.

"I'm shocked, I'm a little bit surprised to be here now. My god, it was one of the best laps I've done in my career," said Norris, after clinching his third pole in four races.

"The adrenaline was high on the last lap, you have to relax and let it all flow."

Lewis Hamilton will line up next to Verstappen on the second row of the grid, AFP reported. Hamilton's Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc qualified in fifth ahead of George Russell in the second Mercedes.

Oscar Piastri will start seventh for McLaren, with Red Bull's Liam Lawson eighth, Franco Colapinto ninth and Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad 10th.


Antonio Returns to English Football with Watford Move

Soccer Football - UEFA Europa League - Nottingham Forest v FC Porto - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - October 23, 2025 TV pundit and footballer Michail Antonio REUTERS/David Klein
Soccer Football - UEFA Europa League - Nottingham Forest v FC Porto - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - October 23, 2025 TV pundit and footballer Michail Antonio REUTERS/David Klein
TT

Antonio Returns to English Football with Watford Move

Soccer Football - UEFA Europa League - Nottingham Forest v FC Porto - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - October 23, 2025 TV pundit and footballer Michail Antonio REUTERS/David Klein
Soccer Football - UEFA Europa League - Nottingham Forest v FC Porto - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - October 23, 2025 TV pundit and footballer Michail Antonio REUTERS/David Klein

Watford have signed Michail Antonio on a free transfer on a one-year deal, bringing the former West Ham United forward back to English football.

The 36-year-old, West Ham's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, was in a serious road accident in December 2024 when his car hit a tree on the way home from training. He broke his ⁠thigh bone in ⁠four places and did not play for the club again.

Antonio left West Ham in August 2025 after the London club opted not to renew his contract. They were relegated ⁠to the second-tier Championship after finishing 18th in the Premier League the last season.

He joined Qatari side Al-Sailiya in March, his first club since undergoing surgery following the accident.

"It's a good set of boys here," Reuters quoted Antonio as saying in a statement on Friday. "They are focused and ready to show their ⁠abilities ⁠this season.

"Watford is a big club and hopefully I can come in and bring success and help wherever I can.

"I've scored a few goals against Watford! So hopefully I can score some for Watford now when I'm fully up to speed."

Watford are 12th in the Championship with eight points from six matches.