Lionel Messi has backed former Barcelona teammate Neymar to be included in Brazil’s squad for this year’s ​World Cup, describing the forward as one of ‌the world’s best despite concerns over his fitness.

Neymar, Brazil’s all‑time leading scorer with 79 goals, has not played for the national team ​since suffering a serious knee injury in October ​2023 and has struggled with consistency since returning ⁠to Santos last year.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has repeatedly ​said Neymar will be considered if he is fully fit, ​adding in April that the striker has two months to show he is ready.

“We want the best players to be there (at the World ​Cup) and Neymar, no matter his form, will always ​be one of them,” Messi said on Lo del Pollo show.

“It ‌would ⁠be wonderful to see him at the World Cup because of what he means to Brazil and to football.”

Messi, who captained Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar ​in 2022 ​and is ⁠expected to make his final appearance at the tournament, also listed Brazil among the contenders ​for the 2026 edition, alongside Spain and ​France.

“I ⁠still believe Brazil is always a contender and has the players necessary to compete for the title in any major ⁠tournament,” ​he said.

The 2026 World Cup, co‑hosted ​by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will begin on June 11.

-Reuters

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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday appeared to roll back an announcement by her education minister that school holidays will start more than a month sooner than scheduled this summer ​due to the heat and the World Cup, saying the proposal was not yet final ‌amid outrage from parents’ associations.

“Many Mexicans love soccer, we’re looking forward to the World Cup, so this proposal was made to bring the holidays forward, but we also have to take into account the children’s school days,” Sheinbaum told journalists ​at her daily morning press conference, adding that “there isn’t a set timeline yet” for the ​proposed reduction in the academic calendar.

The announcement to cut the school year was made ⁠in a post on X, opens new tab on Thursday by Secretary of Education Mario Delgado, who said the National Council ​of Educational Authorities made the “modification” in response to a heat wave in the country as well as the ​hosting of the World Cup.

“It will be ensured that all provisions of the curriculum are met and that the academic progress of all students is maintained,” Delgado wrote, without detailing how that would be achieved.

Under the proposed schedule, the academic ​year would end on June 5 instead of July 15. Schools would start the new academic year ​on August 31, one day earlier than in 2025.

“Using the FIFA World Cup as an argument to shorten the school ‌calendar ⁠is unacceptable. Our children’s education cannot be sacrificed for a sporting event that will take place in just three of the country’s 2,500 municipalities,” Mexico’s National Union of Parent Associations said in a statement, adding that high temperatures were nothing new.

Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara are hosting a total of 13 World Cup ​matches in June and ​July. Closing schools could ⁠ease traffic and congestion in those cities for the hundreds of thousands of tourists expected to descend on the country.

Mexico’s powerful teachers’ union last week also ​threatened to strike during the World Cup’s opening match, having long demanded higher pay ​and changes to ⁠the law governing teachers’ pensions.

According to official data, around 90% of students in Mexico attend public schools, while approximately 10% attend private institutions, which are not subject to the new calendar year announced by the education ⁠minister.

Mexico is ​currently experiencing a severe heat wave with temperatures in parts ​of the country hitting 45 degrees Celsius. But such temperatures are not unusual and typically begin to dissipate in June with the arrival ​of the rainy season.

-Reuters

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FIFA is preparing an unprecedented entertainment rollout for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with separate opening ceremonies planned for each of the first matches involving the three host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico.

According to a report by The Athletic, the ceremonies will take place before the opening matches of the host countries during the tournament scheduled for June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Canadian music stars Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette and Alessia Cara are reportedly set to perform at Canada’s opening group game against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12.

Later that day, the United States will face Paraguay at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, where pop icon Katy Perry is expected to headline the entertainment show.

The report added that rapper Future and DJ Sanjoy are also among the performers engaged for the tournament festivities.

Planning documents seen by The Athletic indicate that fans will be encouraged to arrive at venues 90 minutes before kick-off to witness the ceremonies.

Mexico’s pre-match show is expected to run for more than 16 minutes, while ceremonies in the United States and Canada are expected to last about 13 minutes each before the teams begin warm-ups.

FIFA is also planning a major opening ceremony and half-time show for the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

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