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Will Neymar be fit to play Brazil’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener vs Morocco? | FIFA World Cup 2022

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Brazil star Neymar Jr.’s hopes of entering the 2026 FIFA World Cup fully fit have suffered a setback after medical examinations confirmed a calf injury that could keep him out for up to three weeks.

 


The veteran forward had earlier brushed aside concerns surrounding his fitness after missing Santos’ previous three matches. While attending Santos’ Copa Sudamericana victory over Deportivo Cuenca earlier this week, Neymar appeared irritated when questioned about the issue and denied there was any serious problem.

 

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However, Brazil’s medical staff later confirmed that the situation was more serious than initially believed.

 


Brazil Medical Team Confirms Grade 2 Calf Injury

 
 

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Neymar arrived at Brazil’s training base in Teresópolis but did not participate in training sessions with the squad. Brazil national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar later revealed that scans detected a Grade 2 calf injury rather than simple swelling.

 


According to the medical update, Neymar is expected to return in approximately two to three weeks, placing his availability for Brazil’s World Cup opener in doubt.

 

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The timing is concerning for Brazil, with the tournament beginning in less than three weeks. Neymar could also miss the team’s warm-up friendlies against Panama and Egypt. 

 

Brazil’s Upcoming Fixtures Before World Cup 

Date

Match

Competition

May 31, 2026

Brazil vs Panama

International Friendly

June 6, 2026

Brazil vs Egypt

International Friendly

June 13, 2026

Brazil vs Morocco

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group Stage

June 19, 2026

Brazil vs Haiti

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group Stage

June 24, 2026

Brazil vs Scotland

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group Stage


Questions Over Neymar’s Role in Brazil Squad

 

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Even before the injury setback, there were already debates regarding Neymar’s place in Brazil’s starting lineup under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

 


The Italian manager avoided giving any guarantees when asked whether Neymar would start during the tournament, suggesting that the forward would need to compete for his place like every other player in the squad.

 

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Brazil’s executive coordinator Rodrigo Caetano also stressed that Neymar understands he is now part of a collective setup rather than an automatic starter.

 


According to Caetano, Neymar accepted the challenge positively and is prepared to fight for minutes and prove his value to the team.

 

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Neymar’s International Return Still Uncertain

 


Neymar has struggled with injuries over the last few years and has not started a match for Brazil since suffering an ACL injury against Uruguay in October 2023.

 

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Since the 2022 World Cup, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer has made only a handful of international appearances. Despite that, the Brazilian coaching staff continue to place strong faith in his experience and quality.

 


Team officials reportedly considered both his physical progress and technical ability before deciding to include him in the preliminary World Cup plans.

 

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At 34, Neymar could be preparing for his fourth FIFA World Cup, but his immediate focus will now be on recovering in time to help Brazil during the tournament.

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Bjorn Baker’s quartet targets 2026 Civic Stakes

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Close-up of a middle-aged man's smiling face with light stubble and pronounced wrinkles around the eyes and mouth.

Despite not being physically present at Royal Randwick this Saturday, trainer Bjorn Baker is set to unleash a strong contingent for the feature race, the Listed Civic Stakes, run over 1400 metres.

Baker has been at Royal Ascot this week, attending to his stable star sprinter Overpass, who put in a gallant third-place effort in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1005m) on Tuesday night. A final decision on whether Overpass will back up on Saturday night to compete against Joliestar in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1207m) is still pending, but the stable will be represented by four runners in the Civic Stakes.

Racing manager Luke Hilton, who is managing the home operations, confirmed that Hollywood Hero, Midnight Dynamite, Amor Victorious, and Point And Shoot are all slated for winter campaigns. “Hollywood Hero was really good the other day. He may need further again, but he was outstanding,” Hilton said. He also mentioned, “Midnight Dynamite was really good the other day too.” On Amor Victorious, Hilton elaborated, “Amor Victorious is coming back off a short let-up. He had a bit of a setback (after Scone) so he had a bit of a break, but he’s in good order now. He doesn’t love wet ground. If we can just not have really wet ground it will suit him.” Adding about Point And Shoot, he stated, “With Point And Shoot, it depends which Point And Shoot turns up.”

Last year’s Civic Stakes winner, Headley Grange, went on to achieve Group One success. While the Baker quartet may not reach those same heights, the winter racing program should offer ample opportunities for stakes victories. “We’re going to roll through with all four of them. You’ve got the Winter Stakes, the Winter Challenge. Unfortunately they’ve probably all got to keep taking each other on, but it’s a good problem to have,” Hilton commented.

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Hollywood Hero requires three scratchings to make the final 15-runner field, while Midnight Dynamite is the current market elect, opening at $3.60 with Jason Collett booked to ride from barrier eight. The Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) is scheduled for Rosehill on July 4, and the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) will take place at Rosehill on July 18.

The online bookmakers will be offering a wide range of racing odds for the Civic Stakes and other upcoming races.

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Hitler look-alike at Germany’s World Cup match?

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On the pitch, the focus in Germany during Sunday’s FIFA World Cup match was on the national team’s convincing 7–1 victory over Curaçao.

Off the pitch, however, many social media users were fixated on something entirely different: an image of a fan inside the stadium wearing a German shirt, holding a German flag, and bearing a resemblance to Adolf Hitler.

The image was shared across several platforms, amassing millions of views.

This post on X, for example, has garnered more than 3 million views, while this one on Instagram has attracted over 460,000 likes. 

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The claim also spread in several languages, including Spanish on Facebook and Russian on Threads.

Some posts also contained undertones of anti-German sentiment, such as a Reddit postthat sarcastically read: “It’s always awesome to see the fans truly show up to support their team!”

However, the image is not authentic.

DW Fact check: Fake and AI manipulated.

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Here’s how we came to this conclusion.

1) Look for the real image

The alleged image of the Hitler look-alike appears to be a screenshot from the television broadcast of the match, complete with a timestamp corresponding to stoppage time in the first half.

This was shortly after Kai Havertz had scored a penalty to make it 3-1 for Germany. The fans were happy and celebrating.

A review of the original broadcast shows the same group of fans celebrating after Havertz’s goal, but with one key difference: the alleged Hitler look-alike is nowhere to be seen. 

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Instead, the original footage shows a gray-haired man who bears no resemblance to Hitler.

You can see the clear differences by sliding between the two images shown above: one is the real broadcast (in this case from German public broadcaster ARD on the right side), while the other one is the image manipulated with AI.

It’s important to note that for major sporting events like the World Cup, an official broadcast is produced by the organizing body (in this case, FIFA) and distributed as a central feed to partner broadcasters.

This means the core images are the same across all channels, with only minor elements customized by individual broadcasters.

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Beyond the central broadcast, another clue to the composition of the fan group can be found by examining images from photo agencies accredited to the match.

For example, this photo below by Imago, a Berlin-based agency that frequently covers major sporting events, captures the same group of fans from a different perspective, again, without any Hitler look-alike.

German fans in the stadium during Germany’s match against Curacao with a red circle highlighting a specific group in the bottom left corner
A review of photos taken by photographers accredited to the match shows the same group of fans, but without any Hitler look-alikeImage: Joao Bravo/Sports Press Photo/IMAGO

While it was not possible to verify the exact moment the image was taken based on the metadata provided by the agency, it can nevertheless be considered further evidence that no such figure was part of the group.

2) Is it AI?

A further step in verifying the image’s authenticity is to determine whether it was created or manipulated using artificial intelligence.

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Several AI chatbots now offer the ability to check whether their systems have been used to generate or manipulate an image.

This is possible because such tools embed a digital watermark. It is invisible to the naked eye, but detectable when using the tool to verify content.

Screenshot of OpenAI verification tool with the words 'generated with OpenAI tools'
OpenAI confirmed its tools were used to generate the fake contentImage: Open AI

A search using OpenAI, the US-based organization behind ChatGPT, indicates that its tools were indeed used to create the image of the Hitler lookalike.

OpenAI’s analysis states that it “found a SynthID watermark that originated from OpenAI.”

A further check using another tool, this time from Google’s Gemini, provides additional clues.

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A search with Google's Gemini SynthID reveals why the image was likely manipulated.
Google’s Gemini said there was a ‘strong’ indication that the image was digitally alteredImage: Google AI

While it indicates that no Google AI systems were used to manipulate the image, it also notes that “a visual analysis and context check strongly indicate that this image has been digitally altered or generated.”

A third tool, X’s Grok, describes the image as a “classic fake,” responding to a user’s question on X under the viral post.

It adds: “This picture is not real. It’s digitally edited (AI or Photoshop) inserting Adolf Hitler into a 2026 World Cup crowd.”

While these tools should always be used with caution, as they can sometimes make mistakes, in this case three independent tools reached similar conclusions, reinforcing the analysis based on the original footage.

3) Think about the context

While the World Cup is known as a celebratory event that showcases fans and cultures from around the world, a supporter resembling the Nazi dictator who initiated World War II and was the central figure responsible for the Holocaust would likely have caused a major controversy in the stands.

Such an incident would likely have drawn immediate attention from broadcasters or stadium officials. It would also likely have been met with strong disapproval from many German fans in the stadium.

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Moreover, it should be noted that the image shows the alleged Hitler impersonator wearing a German jersey in black, red, and gold. These national colors represent Germany’s democratic tradition and the Federal Republic. 

Although right-wing extremists and populists have long attempted to appropriate the colors and the flag for their own purposes, black, red, and gold stand for values that are fundamentally opposed to those of Adolf Hitler and National Socialism. 

For Hitler, these colors symbolized what he viewed as a weak parliamentary system, one he ultimately abolished.

This fake image is part of a broader trend of disinformation, much of it generated or manipulated by AI, that has circulated before and during the World Cup.

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For instance, DW Fact check’s most recent article on the topic examined fake websites claiming to sell World Cup tickets.

Boris Geilert and Torsten Neuendorff contributed to this article.

Edited by: Uta Steinwehr and Wesley Dockery

This article was updated on June 16, 2026 to add more background information.

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Blue Jays sweep Red Sox (home, June 18)

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Blue Jays sweep Red Sox (home, June 18)

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A Vikings Pass Catcher Sails into Perfect Storm for a Trade

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Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell in 2025
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts after a play against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

In T.J. Hockenson, the Vikings appear to have a trade candidate.

The Vikings pass catcher has cooled off in recent years, largely due to recovering from a serious knee injury that ended his 2023 season. He hasn’t been the same player since the dirty hit that sent him to the infirmary for many months. Boasting a new GM, Nolan Teasley, means welcoming a certain degree of change. Quite possibly, the change could manifest itself in moving on from Mr. Hockenson.

Vikings Pass Catcher T.J. Hockenson as a Trade Candidate

A few factors are working against Hockenson.

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The well-paid tight end isn’t an assassin when it comes to scoring. His single-season high for touchdowns comes in at just 6. Worse yet, Hockenson isn’t particularly explosive. Or, at least, he’s not used in a manner where he generates explosive gains. He averaged a measly 8.6 yards per catch last year. Finally, there’s Hockenson’s ability as a blocker, or lack thereof. He has demonstrated improvement but he’s not getting paid meaty money due to being an average blocker.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) misses an open pass during the first half of the NFL game at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. © Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

And then there’s the GM factor.

Already, newcomer Nolan Teasley has been making moves. Some of these decisions have involved front office shuffles but he has made some roster tweaks, as well. More time in the captain’s chair will better equip Teasley to make a major swing, if desired.

Per Over the Cap, T.J. Hockenson carries a $15,605,000 cap charge into the season. That’s a cap hit that arrives after the move to lower his overall compensation but at the cost of setting him free a year early, thereby allowing him to venture into free agency while he’s still in his late-20s.

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Quite possibly, an explosive season will mean being able to land another huge contract before his career is done. Hockenson is working in what is essentially a prove-it year.

Do note, though, that a trade would free $10,250,000 for the Minnesota Vikings. Moreover, a draft pick(s) — think something on Day 3 — would come back, further bolstering the ammunition ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft. More young talent in the pipeline is precisely what these Vikings need, so Teasley will be keen to add picks.

Nov 30, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) makes a catch during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Teasley’s decision therefore involves conducting a cost/benefit analysis.

Quite possibly, a team or two will have interest in acquiring T.J. Hockenson. At this stage, the tight end is a steady player who isn’t the fantastic athlete he was back in 2022 and 2023. He is nevertheless a player with a great build alongside soft mitts, allowing him to be a nice companion for a passer in need of another option for the aerial attack.

Teasley’s task involves seeing if the added draft resources and cap space are worth it. Doing so means having an accurate assessment of how much the TE1 will help the Vikings in the upcoming season before deciding on saying goodbye or rallying around the veteran for another year.

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For whatever it’s worth, a new GM often shows less loyalty to players upon entering the mix. Think back to how Kwesi Adofo-Mensah moved on from talents such as Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Patrick Peterson, Adam Thielen, and others after taking over. So, too, could Teasley make some subtractions involving well-paid veterans who aren’t as formidable as in the games of yesteryear.

T.J. Hockenson runs after a catch against Falcons safety Billy Bowman Jr.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) carries the ball after a reception while defended by Atlanta Falcons safety Billy Bowman Jr. (33) during second-half action on September 14, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Hockenson’s ability to gain yards after the catch remained central to Minnesota’s passing attack as the Vikings worked to establish offensive rhythm. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

T.J. Hockenson is listed at 6’5″ and 250 pounds. At 28, the tight end still has several years of ball ahead of him, but there are concerns about whether his best days are behind him.


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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Roy Jones ranks one world champion above all other opponents he faced: “He could KO you at any time”

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Roy Jones Jr has revealed which of his past opponents he deems to be the greatest of the lot.

Jones competed 76 times throughout his illustrious professional career, which began back in 1989 and went all the way up until 2023.

His peak is considered to have been throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, with Jones becoming a four division world champion at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and even heavyweight.

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In total, Jones shared the ring with nearly 20 current, former or future world champions, but one man stood out when he was asked who was the best fighter he ever faced.

Speaking to The Ring, he gave that honour to three-weight world champion James Toney.

“James Toney probably had the best defence of all of them. You couldn’t hit him flush; he was so elusive. The hip movement and the shoulder roll made it very difficult to land a clean shot.

He had all the tools, he was hard to hit, he could knock you out at any time. He would be right there in your face and you still couldn’t hit him flush.”

Jones had moved up in weight to 168lbs when he faced Toney in November 1994, claiming a unanimous decision win to secure the IBF super middleweight title and hand ‘Lights Out’ the first loss of his professional career.

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Toney also ruled at middleweight and cruiserweight, and had also become WBA heavyweight champion with a win over John Ruiz in 2005, only for the result to be changed to a no contest after he failed a drugs test.

In the end, Toney finished with 77 wins from his 92 professional fights, with his last outing coming back in May 2017 when he earned a stoppage victory over Mike Sheppard.

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South Africa keeps World Cup hopes alive with 1-1 draw against Czechia | FIFA World Cup 2026

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South Africa stay alive in the FIFA WC 2026

South Africa stay alive in the FIFA WC 2026


Teboho Mokoena started the game with tears in his eyes and finished it with a smile on his face after converting a second-half penalty in South Africa’s 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic on Thursday at the World Cup.


Thapelo Maseko’s long range shot late in the match caught the hand of Pavel Sulc in the area.


Mokoena, who was caught on camera with tears rolling down his cheeks during the pre-game national anthem, stepped up to the penalty spot and sent his shot low past Czech Republic goalkeeper Matej Kovar in the 83rd minute.

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Michal Sadilek had given the Czechs the lead in the sixth minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Alexandr Sojka played in Sadilek and he slid a shot past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. 

 


Both teams lost their opening matches, and both knew another setback would seriously hinder their chances of reaching the round of 32.


South Africa faced some strong criticism following its 2-0 loss to co-host Mexico, which raised the prospect of the country extending its run of never having advanced to the knockout phase of a World Cup – even as host in 2010.

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The Czechs lost to South Korea 2-1 in their opening game.


Both teams still have a chance to advance to the round of 32 from Group A. South Africa will next face South Korea on Wednesday, while the Czech Republic will take on Mexico at the same time.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Jun 19 2026 | 3:27 AM IST

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FIFA World Cup: Meet Michel Mboladinga, the DR Congo fan who stands like a statue for 90 minutes | Football News

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FIFA World Cup: Meet Michel Mboladinga, the DR Congo fan who stands like a statue for 90 minutes

NEW DELHI: One of the most recognisable faces of DR Congo football was missing from the stands when the African nation held Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening World Cup match on Wednesday.Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, better known as Lumumba Vea, could not attend the match in Houston because he is currently undergoing a 21-day quarantine following an Ebola outbreak.Mboladinga has become famous around the football world for his unique support of the DR Congo national team. During the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025, television cameras repeatedly focused on the sharply dressed supporter who would stand perfectly still for entire matches, sometimes for 90 or even 120 minutes.His unusual appearance quickly went viral on social media, with many fans calling him “the statue fan”. Mboladinga’s pose is a tribute to Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of DR Congo and one of the country’s most important historical figures. His raised arm mirrors the famous Lumumba monument in Kinshasa, while the vintage glasses, tailored suit and rigid posture are all carefully chosen to honour the independence leader.After gaining worldwide attention during AFCON, DR Congo decided to include him as part of their official delegation for the World Cup.However, his quarantine meant he was unable to watch his country’s historic match against Portugal from the stands.His absence was felt by many supporters who had become accustomed to seeing him during DR Congo matches.

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There is good news, though. Mboladinga is expected to complete his quarantine in time to attend DR Congo’s next World Cup match against Colombia on June 23.On the field, DR Congo produced one of the surprises of the tournament by holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw.Playing in their first World Cup in 52 years, DR Congo became the second African nation to impress against European opposition after Cape Verde’s goalless draw against Spain earlier in the week.Portugal coach Roberto Martinez admitted his side failed to produce their best performance.“The World Cup is a tournament where this happens,” Martinez said. “At times the performance is not up to the challenge.”In front of a crowd of 68,777 at NRG Stadium, most of whom were supporting Portugal, DR Congo earned the first World Cup point in their history after losing all three of their previous matches in the competition.While the result on the pitch was memorable, many fans will be hoping that when DR Congo face Colombia next, their famous “statue fan” will once again be back in his place in the stands.

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Two former world champions added to Errol Spence vs Tim Tszyu ‘USA vs Australia’ card

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Next month, Errol Spence Jr heads Down Under as he ends three years of inactivity and debuts as a super-welterweight against Australian fan-favourite, Tim Tszyu.

Today a ‘USA vs. Australia’ theme has been confirmed for the undercard, as well as a venue for the event.

Whilst Spence-Tszyu was announced a while back, little was known about the fight other than the date of Sunday, July 26, with no other bouts or location being announced, aside from knowledge that it would be in Australia.

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Last month, it was revealed that undefeated two-division world champion, Jermall Charlo (34-0, 23 KOs), would also appear on the bill, for what would be just his third fight since June 2021, looking to announce himself as a threat to the super-middleweight throne.

This morning, No Limit Boxing has unveiled that Charlo will take on Australian super-welterweight champion, Koen Mazoudier (15-4-1, 6 KOs), who will move up two weight divisions for the biggest opportunity of his career.

Meanwhile, continuing the America vs Australia theme, another two-division world champion, Stephen Fulton (23-2, 8 KOs) will take on Australia’s super-featherweight world title hopeful, Liam Wilson (18-3, 10 KOs), who came agonisingly close to dethroning Emanuel Navarrete back in 2023.

Fulton’s last fight took place at ‘lightweight’ on short-notice, after he missed weight ahead of a meeting with O’Shaquie Foster back in December, but the Philadelphian will attempt to make 130lbs once again when he takes on Wilson.

Additionally, away from the style of those fights, Paul Fleming and Ahmad Reda will collide in an all-Australian affair, whilst Paulo Aokuso (10-0, 5 KOs), Callum Peters (7-0, 6 KOs) and Tina Rahimi (0-0) will also appear, against opponents that are yet to be announced.

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The event will take place at Sydney’s 21,000-capacity Afterpay Arena (formerly Qudos Bank Arena)- the largest indoor sports and entertainment arena in the country, with the victor of the main-event linked to another big-name opponent.

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Christian Pulisic trains separately for fourth straight day, could miss next U.S. World Cup game

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SEATTLE — Christian Pulisic trained apart from his U.S. teammates on Thursday for the fourth straight day because of his left calf injury, further raising concerns about his availability to face Australia on Friday in Seattle in the Americans’ second World Cup game.

Pulisic started last week’s 4-1 victory over Paraguay, but came off at halftime after feeling stiffness from a calf injury incurred in training. He did not work out with his teammates earlier in the week at their base in Orange County, nor did he Thursday morning at Husky Soccer Stadium on the University of Washington campus.

The Milan winger joined his U.S. teammates for a pre-warmup huddle while wearing a compression sleeve on his calf, then went inside to do individual work in the gym. Ahead of Thursday’s training session, midfielder Weston McKennie said he did not know much about Pulisic’s recovery, but that he hopes he will be able to play.

“I know he really wants to be in, and he’s doing everything that he can, and the staff is doing everything that they can as well,” McKennie said. “But, that’s also another question that’s better to ask him than me.”

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The 27-year-old Pulisic is the most accomplished U.S. player. He helped create an own-goal by Paraguay in the opening minutes last Friday, and assisted on Folarin Balogun’s first of two goals.

His absence could hinder a team coming off its highest-scoring World Cup performance with a wave of momentum. Midfielder Cristian Roldan said the team is aware of the hype around the group and hopes to capitalize.

“What excites me is that the entire world, the entire nation is behind us,” Roldan said. “I think that they enjoyed watching us play, and at the end of the day what we want to do is inspire and motivate the next generation. … We have to build off it, and that’s the truth. We can’t just talk about it: we have to show out against Australia.”

Should Pulisic not be fit to play against the Socceroos, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino has a few options to replace him.

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The most likely choices appear to be Brenden Aaronson, a winger who had four goals and five assists for Leeds last season, and Marseille forward Tim Weah, who can impact a game with his speed on either wing.

Pochettino’s other options for offense include Gio Reyna, who scored the Americans’ final goal against Paraguay and has provided moments of dynamic playmaking from the wing. Sebastian Berhalter came on at halftime for Pulisic in the opener, while starting midfielder Malik Tillman raised his already impressive game in Pulisic’s absence.

McKennie is hopeful the U.S. won’t have to turn to its reserves to replace Pulisic, and that he can continue to keep his head up during his recovery.

“I think mentally he’s great,” McKennie said. “I think it’s really hard for someone’s mental game to be messed up in these types of conditions in U.S. soccer, and all the guys around, we’re a big family. So, we’re always there to pick someone up if they’re down, and excel them even further if they’re not. So, I think he’s doing good mentally.”

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John Stones ‘suffers’ and Marc Guehi plays waiting game after World Cup surprise

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John Stones was the surprise starter at the heart of England’s defence in the 4-2 win over Croatia, with the man who has effectively replaced him at Manchester City, Marc Guehi, only a substitute in the World Cup opener

John Stones was not the only England player to “suffer” in their World Cup opener, as the outgoing Manchester City centre-half got the nod to kick off the tournament in the starting lineup.

But Three Lions defender Stones struggled against Croatia in the 4-2 win in Dallas, and looked like his lack of game time at club level had caught up with him.

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It felt like England were given a timely reminder of Marc Guehi’s quality even though City’s January signing was only used as a late substitute. Stones and his defensive partner, Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, were exposed at times and Guehi is surely a strong candidate to start England’s next game against Ghana on Tuesday.

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But England boss Thomas Tuchel insists it was not just Stones who struggled but other players too because of the energy-sapping conditions in Dallas and demands of a high-pressure game in a tournament.

Tuchel said: “Some players suffered because it was quite hot and humid and the game was very intense. That would be no surprise. I think he had cramps in both legs in the end because it was intense. We saw the numbers already. They really put a shift in.

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“The players said it was quite humid and difficult to digest it so I think John was just like everyone else … Everyone was very tired in the dressing-room, which I like because then know that you did something. And we need this.

“Overcoming the tough moments. Stick together, then you get punished. But you have a reaction, twice. And yeah, it was a difficult moment to concede for 2-2 but again we came, we got the third lead and then finally we could finish the game because we created a lot.”

Declan Rice finished the game with a sore back but is expected to be fit to face Ghana while Harry Kane also had a strapping on one leg but insisted afterwards he felt in good shape.

Whether those pair are joined in the starting lineup in Boston by Stones again, or whether Guehi gets the nod, remains to be seen.

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With Tuchel’s penchant for keeping his cards close to his chest and not telling his players his starting lineup until the morning of a match, both must simply wait and see.

Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’

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Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.

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