Latin America Sports Daily for Thursday, June 11, 2026

01

The World Cup is here — what South America’s six nations are walking into

World Cup

Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City today at 3pm ET begins the 2026 FIFA World Cup: 104 games, 48 nations, 16 venues across Mexico, the United States, and Canada over 39 days.

The final is July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the same building where Brazil play Morocco on Saturday.

Six South American nations are in the field for the first time since 1974, and their opening fixtures stack up across the next seven days like this:

Friday June 12

USA vs Paraguay, 9pm ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California. The host nation against a Paraguayan side that hasn’t been at a World Cup since 2010.

Saturday June 13

Brazil vs Morocco, 6pm ET, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. The South American favourite against the team that surprised everyone at Qatar 2022.

Sunday June 14

Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, 7pm ET, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Ecuador’s 19-game unbeaten run meets their sternest test since Brazil beat them in qualifying.

Monday June 16

Argentina vs Algeria, 9pm ET, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. The defending champions open at their home ground with Messi fit, fresh, and carrying a 69-year-old record on his boots from Tuesday.

Tuesday June 17

Colombia vs Uzbekistan, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. The easiest opener of the six; Luis Díaz and the group’s quiet favourite against the weakest side in Group K.

Sunday June 15

Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia, 6pm ET, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami. Bielsa’s side should win; the question is whether Darwin Núñez looks sharp enough in game one to make the Saudi Arabia game a confidence-builder rather than a grind.

02

Paraguay face the host nation tomorrow — Enciso a doubt, Alfaro keeps quiet

World Cup

Paraguay’s first World Cup match since 2010 arrives tomorrow night against the United States at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it could hardly be more difficult or more significant.

The host nation, ranked 14th in the world and playing in front of a passionate partisan crowd in the Los Angeles area, is the kind of opener that defines how a tournament goes for a smaller South American nation.

Paraguay qualified sixth in CONMEBOL on 28 points, the same total as Brazil, Uruguay, and Colombia, meaning they earned their place on merit and are not here simply to make up the numbers.

But the question of Julio Enciso, their most inventive attacking player, remains open. The 21-year-old Strasbourg forward left their June 5 friendly against Nicaragua in tears; he has not been confirmed fit for tomorrow.

Coach Gustavo Alfaro has kept his team selection private throughout the preparation, which is consistent with his approach: in CONMEBOL qualifying he regularly surprised opponents with lineups that prioritised defensive shape over name recognition.

Without Enciso, Paraguay’s attack relies more heavily on Miguel Almirón and Ramon Sosa for creativity, and the tactical answer against the USA is probably to be hard to beat first and look for the counter.

A draw would be a genuine result. A win would be a sensation.

03

Brazil two days from Morocco — Neymar in the stands, Ancelotti has his team

Brazil WC

Brazil held their final training session of the pre-Morocco preparation period at Columbia Park on Wednesday, with Ancelotti confirming that the team is settled and ready.

The starting lineup against Morocco on Saturday at 6pm ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will feature Danilo at right-back following Wesley França’s withdrawal, with the rest of the XI unchanged from the Egypt game structure.

Neymar is in the squad and continues his rehabilitation; he will not be in the matchday selection on Saturday.

The CBF’s Monday MRI showed “good progress within expected parameters,” and the camp has quietly shifted its target from Morocco to Haiti on June 19 as Neymar’s realistic first appearance.

Éderson, the Atalanta midfielder who replaced Wesley as the late call-up, has been integrated into training but is not expected to factor in Ancelotti’s first-choice plans for the group stage.

Morocco, who drew 1-1 with Norway at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison on Sunday, are based at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, a 15-minute drive from Brazil’s Columbia Park.

The two squads have been neighbours in New Jersey for nearly two weeks without meeting competitively.

That changes Saturday evening.

04

Ecuador, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay — all four settled and ready

World Cup

Ecuador

Open Group E on Sunday June 14 vs Ivory Coast in Philadelphia (7pm ET). Nineteen games unbeaten, Beccacece rotating his squad, Pacho and Caicedo both fit; Ecuador’s preparation has been the calmest of the six.

Argentina

Open Group J on Monday June 16 vs Algeria in Kansas City (9pm ET). Messi broke a 69-year scoring record against Iceland on Tuesday; the defending champions carry the most injury concerns but the man who matters most is fit.

Colombia

Open Group K on Tuesday June 17 vs Uzbekistan at Estadio Azteca. Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich) leads the attack; the 0-0 draw with Jordan on Wednesday was a calm final tune-up for the most open group draw of any South American nation.

Uruguay

Open Group H on Sunday June 15 vs Saudi Arabia in Miami (6pm ET). Bielsa’s final Mayakoba session was their best of the preparation period; Darwin Núñez, Valverde, and Bentancur make this a side quietly capable of going deep.

05

Down 29, won by one — the Knicks just made the greatest Finals comeback ever

NBA

The Spurs led by 27 at half-time, were up by 29 in the third quarter, and were still up by 20 with nine and a half minutes to play in the fourth.

They lost.

Jalen Brunson kept scoring: 36 points in total, and OG Anunoby kept shooting, finishing with 33 on 10-for-15 from the floor and seven three-pointers in 41 minutes.

The Knicks chipped away at the lead through the fourth quarter, Brunson cutting it to one with a floater with 82 seconds left to give New York their first lead of the entire night.

Stephon Castle hit two free throws to put the Spurs back in front 106-105 with 30 seconds remaining; then, with 5.7 seconds to play, De’Aaron Fox drove for the basket and Anunoby swatted the ball away, giving it back to the Knicks.

Brunson launched a three from deep with 1.2 seconds left and it rattled off the front iron.

Anunoby, airborne, tipped it in.

The Spurs’ first half was genuinely extraordinary: 14 three-pointers made before the break (a Finals record), 76 points on 59.6% shooting, a halftime lead described as the third-largest in Finals history.

In the second half they scored 30 points on 20.5% shooting and turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter alone.

Knicks lead 3-1; they are one win from their first title since 1973.

Game 5 is Saturday in San Antonio, the same evening Brazil play Morocco at MetLife Stadium.

06

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

When do South America’s World Cup teams play their opening games?

Paraguay open first, against the host nation, the United States, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Friday June 12 at 9pm ET.

Brazil vs Morocco Saturday June 13 (MetLife, 6pm ET); Ecuador vs Ivory Coast Sunday June 14 (Philadelphia, 7pm ET). Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia Sunday June 15 (Miami, 6pm ET); Argentina vs Algeria Monday June 16 (Kansas City, 9pm ET); Colombia vs Uzbekistan Tuesday June 17 (Azteca).

What happened in NBA Finals Game 4?

The New York Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, overcoming a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday June 10.

Brunson 36, Anunoby 33; the game-winner was Anunoby’s tip-in off a missed Brunson three with 1.2 seconds left, after Anunoby blocked Fox’s layup with 5.7 seconds remaining.

The Spurs scored 76 first-half points (59.6%) then just 30 in the second half; Wembanyama had 24/13/7 but could not prevent the collapse. Knicks 3-1, one win from their first title since 1973; Game 5 Saturday June 13 in San Antonio.

Will Neymar play in Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco?

No. The CBF confirmed this week that Neymar will not be in Brazil’s matchday squad for the Morocco game on Saturday June 13.

Recovering from a Grade 2 calf tear (May 17), his MRI showed “good progress”; the camp targets Haiti on June 19 in Philadelphia as his first appearance.

Even then he would come from the bench. Danilo starts at right-back in place of Wesley; Éderson (Atalanta) is the late squad replacement.