Latin America Sports Daily for Thursday, June 19, 2026

01

Neymar stays in New Jersey — Haiti will not see him, and Scotland is now a doubt too

Brazil WC

The CBF issued a statement on Thursday afternoon that ended any remaining hope about Neymar featuring in Brazil’s second group game.

“He will remain in New Jersey to optimise the final phase of his recovery process, making use of the excellent facilities at The Ridge hotel and the Columbia Park training centre.”

The statement is careful and professional, but it is also a story about what has not happened: Neymar has been in New Jersey since early June, has not played since May 17, has not trained fully with the group, and has now missed two of Brazil’s three group games through injury.

He did join the squad’s warmup drills on Wednesday for the first time, a small step, described in Fabrizio Romano’s Thursday reporting as the first moment of real physical contact with the group. It was not enough to travel.

With Haiti ruled out, attention shifts to the Scotland game on June 24 in Miami, Brazil’s group finale. Even that, according to reporting from Yahoo Sports and Goal, “remains a major doubt” as the medical team opts for the cautious approach.

Ancelotti, speaking before the Morocco game, gave the clearest statement of his position: “Neymar is working very hard to recover as soon as possible. Our expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week.”

That expectation now rests on Scotland on June 24. The alternative is that Brazil’s record goalscorer, with 79 international goals, one more than Pelé, which means he would attend the 2026 World Cup entirely as a supporter.

02

Brazil vs Haiti tonight — they need three points and they need to look like themselves

World Cup

Brazil drew Morocco 1-1; Scotland beat Haiti 1-0. The Group C table has Scotland top on three points, Brazil and Morocco both on one.

A win tonight at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia takes Brazil back to the front of the group; anything less and the Scotland game on June 24 becomes a must-win for qualification.

Ancelotti’s available lineup is healthy; the early Casemiro and Danilo substitutions against Morocco appear precautionary and both are expected to travel. Endrick started both Egypt and Morocco games; his pace and pressing remain the attacking reference up front.

Haiti were organised and difficult against Scotland in Foxborough. They are not here to make up the numbers; they are the first Caribbean nation to qualify for multiple World Cups and Steve Clarke’s side needed a deflected goal to beat them 1-0.

The pressure is not about the result but the performance. A draw with Morocco was forgivable; dropping points against Haiti would be a crisis.

Kick-off at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia at 9pm ET tonight.

03

Paraguay vs Türkiye tonight — win or go home for both sides after matchday one

World Cup

Group D after matchday one: USA three points, Australia three points, Paraguay zero, Türkiye zero. The bottom two of that table meet tonight at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California at 11pm ET.

The arithmetic is unforgiving; a draw keeps both alive in theory but the only realistic path to the round of 32 is a win tonight followed by a win in game three. A loss is functionally an elimination.

Paraguay’s 4-1 defeat to the host nation was worse than the scoreline suggested in terms of how it unfolded: the seventh-minute own goal from Bobadilla put Paraguay into a deficit they were never going to recover from on that night in Los Angeles.

Gustavo Alfaro is expected to change his system tonight, and Julio Enciso’s fitness is the persistent question that has followed this squad since the June 5 injury against Nicaragua. If Enciso is available from the bench, Paraguay have a creative option they lacked against the USA.

Türkiye lost 2-0 to Australia, a decent side that is difficult to break down, and they carry a better overall shape than the scoreline implied. Their qualification since 2002 makes this tournament a rare stage for a country that should be competing at this level regularly.

For Paraguay, this is the most consequential game their football has seen in sixteen years.

04

Mexico win again — the Azteca hosts are one point from the round of 32

World Cup

Mexico’s World Cup is going exactly as they hoped. A 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday means they have six points from two games and need only a point against Czechia on June 24 to advance from Group A.

It was not as emotional as the opener, without Raúl Jiménez tears, no moment like the ninth-minute Quiñones goal, but the professional solidity of a 1-0 win on the road to qualification was its own kind of satisfaction for a country hosting the World Cup for the third time.

In the other Group A game, Czechia drew 1-1 with South Africa in Atlanta, which means South Korea and Czechia both sit on three points and South Africa on one.

Group A final matchday (June 24): South Korea vs South Africa in Monterrey, Mexico vs Czechia at Estadio Azteca. South Korea and Czechia both need a win to be certain; Mexico are effectively through.

05

Ecuador tomorrow, Uruguay Sunday — South America’s matchday two continues

World Cup

Tomorrow — Friday June 20: Ecuador vs Curaçao (Toronto, 6pm ET)

Ecuador were unlucky against Ivory Coast but the tournament does not reward bad luck; a convincing win with goals to spare is the only acceptable result here. Germany beat these same Curaçao players 7-1.

Sunday June 21: Uruguay vs Cape Verde (Miami, 6pm ET)

Cape Verde held Spain 0-0 while Uruguay drew Saudi Arabia 1-1 without De Arrascaeta and Araújo. Without those two, Sunday is exactly the type of low-block game Uruguay struggled with in Miami.

Ongoing: Argentina, Colombia

Argentina (three points from the Algeria win) and Colombia (three points from the Uzbekistan win) both have their next games next week; Argentina face Austria on June 22 in Arlington; Colombia face DR Congo on June 23 in Guadalajara.

06

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Why is Neymar not playing against Haiti?

Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil’s Haiti game by the CBF after failing to recover sufficiently from the right calf injury he sustained on May 17. He will remain at The Ridge hotel and Columbia Park training facility in New Jersey rather than travelling to Philadelphia with the squad.

He joined warmup drills on Wednesday, his first physical contact with the group since the camp began. It was not enough to travel; the CBF issued its statement Thursday.

What does Brazil need from the Haiti game tonight?

Brazil need a win to reclaim first place in Group C, where Scotland currently lead on three points after beating Haiti 1-0 in their opener. A Brazil win tonight takes them to four points, one ahead of Scotland and Morocco going into the final matchday on June 24.

Anything less than a win makes the Scotland game on June 24 a must-win; Haiti organised well against Scotland and held them 1-0 for 89 minutes. Brazil play at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia at 9pm ET.

How important is Paraguay vs Türkiye tonight?

Paraguay lost 4-1 to the USA; Türkiye lost 2-0 to Australia. Both sit bottom of Group D on zero points while the USA and Australia sit on three each.

The winner can genuinely challenge for Group D’s final qualifying spot; the loser faces near-impossible odds against one of the top two teams. Kick-off at 11pm ET, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara; Paraguay’s most important game since 2010.