Neymar Available for Scotland Clash but Not Certain to Play, Brazil Coach Says

 Brazil's forward #10 Neymar takes part in a training session at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morristown, New Jersey on June 22, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
Brazil's forward #10 Neymar takes part in a training session at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morristown, New Jersey on June 22, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
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Neymar Available for Scotland Clash but Not Certain to Play, Brazil Coach Says

 Brazil's forward #10 Neymar takes part in a training session at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morristown, New Jersey on June 22, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
Brazil's forward #10 Neymar takes part in a training session at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morristown, New Jersey on June 22, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

Neymar is available for Brazil's third World Cup group match against Scotland but coach Carlo Ancelotti declined to say if he would play a role in the Miami Stadium clash.

The 34-year-old forward was recalled by the Italian for the World Cup after almost three years away from the national team but has yet to play at the tournament because of a calf injury.

"Neymar is available," Ancelotti told reporters on Tuesday. "He worked this week and can be available for the match. We are very happy that he is back because, obviously, with his quality, he can help the team.

"I've really got to know him well. He ‌has worked very ‌seriously, trying to recover as quickly as possible.

"I'm very happy ‌with ⁠him. Even if ⁠he doesn't play, he brings experience, he brings knowledge of the game, he helps the younger players. He is doing very well."

Asked how much of the match Neymar could play, Ancelotti joked: "He can play 90 minutes -- walking. No, he's fine, he worked very well, he trained very well."

Brazil, who drew 1-1 with Morocco and beat Haiti 3-0 in their first two Group C matches, will reach the Round of 32 with a victory over the Scots and Ancelotti ⁠said he felt a decent performance was brewing.

"Obviously we have a ‌very big commitment, representing this shirt in the ‌World Cup," he said.

"I think the first match wasn't the best, the second match was better, and ‌we are confident that the third match will be the best."

RAPHINHA REPLACEMENT NEEDED

Ancelotti also ‌needs to find a replacement for Raphinha, who has been sidelined by a hamstring problem, but again declined to share who would take the winger's place in the starting lineup.

Scotland, with a win and a loss, are more than likely competing to be one of the eight teams who ‌will go through to the next round from third place in their groups, but Ancelotti was expecting a tough game.

"Scotland has quality," ⁠the 67-year-old added. "They ⁠are fighters, they are very well-organized.

"(Scott) McTominay and (John) McGinn are experienced players who are used to this kind of game.

"So it will be a difficult game, as usual. I think easy games in the World Cup finished a long time ago. So we are ready to play a difficult match."

Brazil's flight to Miami from their New Jersey base was delayed on Tuesday, pushing back Ancelotti's press conference, but the Italian said he was not going to let it spoil his enjoyment of his first World Cup as a coach.

"Before today everything was perfect. Today we had a small problem, but that can happen," he said.

"I think we have the quality and the confidence for this to be a good World Cup for us. In football, anything can happen but in any case, it will be a very beautiful experience -- even if I had to do a press conference at nine o'clock at night."



Roger Federer Celebrated Upon His Return to the US Open for an Exhibition Against Andy Roddick

Swiss former tennis player Roger Federer reacts to spectators during the “Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York” exhibition match during US Open Fan Week at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, US, 25 August 2026. (EPA)
Swiss former tennis player Roger Federer reacts to spectators during the “Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York” exhibition match during US Open Fan Week at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, US, 25 August 2026. (EPA)
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Roger Federer Celebrated Upon His Return to the US Open for an Exhibition Against Andy Roddick

Swiss former tennis player Roger Federer reacts to spectators during the “Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York” exhibition match during US Open Fan Week at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, US, 25 August 2026. (EPA)
Swiss former tennis player Roger Federer reacts to spectators during the “Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York” exhibition match during US Open Fan Week at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, US, 25 August 2026. (EPA)

Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night to play one last match for fun against longtime rival and friend Andy Roddick.

The event billed as “An Icon Returns to New York” packed the stands full of fans there to watch the 45-year-old from Switzerland face Roddick — soon to be 44 — in a prime time exhibition. Many wore hats with the distinctive “RF” logo that became commonplace in the sport during Federer's decade and a half of dominance featuring 20 Grand Slam titles.

“It's great to be back in New York,” Federer said. “I have incredible memories, obviously, of this court, of the fans here, of the city.”

Federer reminisced about visiting for the first time to play juniors in 1998 and reaching the final. Three years later, his debut on center court was a straight-sets loss to Andre Agassi.

“He smashed me 6-1, 6-2, 6-4,” Federer said. “I had no shot. And I was like, ‘OK, not so easy, not fast, Roger.’ But, still, I’ll remember this center court forever.”

In 2005, Federer defeated Agassi to win the US Open for the second of five in a row through ’08.

“The one against Andre, I think, was extremely special: playing a legend that was coming towards the end of his career — that we had a chance to play against each other,” Federer said. “And every player I was able to play against in the finals here also was a US Open champion. It’s been an incredible run. I loved it.”

Roddick, who won the tournament in '03, credited the fans and Federer for his return.

“It comes down to Roger,” Roddick said. "Obviously we played a bunch and he beat me a bunch, but we were always able to navigate a friendship through the middle of our careers that’s lasted till now and will hopefully last forever. It’s just about showing up when Roger asks you to.”

Federer, who last competed at the US Open in 2019 and retired in 2022, then teamed up with John McEnroe and faced Roddick and Agassi in a doubles exhibition.


Leipzig Re-Sign Forward Nkunku on Loan from AC Milan

Leipzig's French forward Christopher Nkunku (R) celebrates scoring 2-0 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and FC Schalke 04 in Leipzig, eastern Germany on May 27, 2023. (AFP)
Leipzig's French forward Christopher Nkunku (R) celebrates scoring 2-0 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and FC Schalke 04 in Leipzig, eastern Germany on May 27, 2023. (AFP)
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Leipzig Re-Sign Forward Nkunku on Loan from AC Milan

Leipzig's French forward Christopher Nkunku (R) celebrates scoring 2-0 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and FC Schalke 04 in Leipzig, eastern Germany on May 27, 2023. (AFP)
Leipzig's French forward Christopher Nkunku (R) celebrates scoring 2-0 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and FC Schalke 04 in Leipzig, eastern Germany on May 27, 2023. (AFP)

RB Leipzig ‌have signed French forward Christopher Nkunku from AC Milan on loan with an option to buy, the Bundesliga club said on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old returns to Leipzig after playing for the club from 2019 to 2023. He ‌scored 70 ‌goals and won ‌two ⁠German Cups during ⁠that stint, and finished as joint top scorer in the 2022–23 Bundesliga season.

"He has already shown the exceptional talent that he brings ⁠to the table and ‌that he ‌can make a difference in games," ‌Leipzig's managing director for sport ‌Marcel Schaefer said in a statement.

Nkunku, who began his career at Paris Saint-Germain, moved ‌to Chelsea in 2023 and struggled with injuries at ⁠Stamford ⁠Bridge, but won the Conference League and Club World Cup with the Premier League side.

He signed for Milan last year and scored eight goals in 35 appearances in the 2025-26 season.

He has made 18 international appearances for France.


North Korea to ‘Bring Joy’ to Kim with 100 Athletes at Asian Games

Asian Games - Hangzhou 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Hangzhou, China - September 23, 2023 Athletes from North Korea hold their national flag at the Opening Ceremony. (Reuters)
Asian Games - Hangzhou 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Hangzhou, China - September 23, 2023 Athletes from North Korea hold their national flag at the Opening Ceremony. (Reuters)
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North Korea to ‘Bring Joy’ to Kim with 100 Athletes at Asian Games

Asian Games - Hangzhou 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Hangzhou, China - September 23, 2023 Athletes from North Korea hold their national flag at the Opening Ceremony. (Reuters)
Asian Games - Hangzhou 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Hangzhou, China - September 23, 2023 Athletes from North Korea hold their national flag at the Opening Ceremony. (Reuters)

North Korea will send about 100 athletes to compete across 14 sports at the Asian Games in Japan next month, a senior official said, aiming to "bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un".

The nuclear-armed state suspended participation in international sporting competitions during the Covid pandemic but returned at the Asian Games in China in 2023 and also took part in the Paris Olympics.

The team for the regional Games in Nagoya and the Aichi region includes two Japan-based ethnic Koreans competing in women's football and karate, said Ko Chol Ho, secretary general of North Korea's Olympic committee.

"Our delegation will send more than 100 athletes to compete in 14 sports, including men's and women's football, weightlifting, boxing and wrestling," Ko told Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korean publication based in Japan, during an interview in Pyongyang.

"We are making every effort, driven by a strong desire to live up to the expectations of our country and people by achieving even greater results at the upcoming Games," the official said, in remarks published Tuesday.

He noted that the delegation would be smaller than the one sent to the Hangzhou Games of 2023 but said he hoped it would win more medals.

Authoritarian North Korea won 11 golds last time, half of them in weightlifting.

The official said that morale among the athletes was high for the event, which runs from September 19 to October 4, and they were motivated to win for their leader.

"Our athletes are training tirelessly every day, determined to bring joy to Marshal Kim," he said.

North Korea has recently been hurling criticism at Japan, a former regional colonial power, over what Pyongyang describes as its remilitarization.