CARLO ANCELOTTI CONFIRMS NEYMAR MUST BE "100% FIT" FOR BRAZIL RECALL
Neymar celebrates his 34th birthday with a 15-week deadline to prove his fitness to Carlo Ancelotti for the 2026 World Cup.
Neymar just turned 34 on Thursday. Wild, right? For a guy so often seen as the eternal teenager, that number sneaks up on you.
But for Neymar himself, there’s a number that feels even heavier: the World Cup is only 18 weeks away. That’s about 15 weeks for him to prove to coach Carlo Ancelotti that he belongs in Brazil’s squad. The clock’s ticking, and Neymar basically has to start from zero.
Winning the World Cup is the last big thing left on Neymar’s wish list. He’s had a long, colourful, and – yeah – sometimes messy career. For some, this is his shot at redemption.
Seems a bit rough to judge Brazil’s all-time top scorer like he’s missing something. The guy’s won both the Champions League and the Copa Libertadores. He’s given fans all kinds of jaw-dropping moments. Still, for a lot of people—and maybe in the back of his own mind—he hasn’t quite lived up to all the hype.
You have to remember the bar was set sky-high. Way back, more than 15 years ago, Neymar kicked off a career that people decided would be a failure unless he won both a Ballon d’Or and a World Cup. The Ballon d’Or? That ship’s probably sailed. The World Cup? He’s still holding on, hoping to put on a show in North America this summer. That dream has kept him going through endless hours of physio and brutal training since he wrecked his knee playing for Brazil last October.
And yet, nearly two and a half years later, there’s no solid proof he’s back to full strength. Going back to Santos last year just led to more frustration.
Some say he pushed himself too hard, too soon, chasing a national team comeback last March, and it cost him. One injury just led to another. He never really found any rhythm. Sure, he can still nail a free kick and pick out a killer pass. But can he shake a defender and turn a big match? If he can, he’s been saving it for 2026.
There was a glimmer of hope at the end of the 2025 league season. Neymar put off minor knee surgery to try to save Santos from relegation in their last three games. But the opponents? Two teams are already relegated, and one is playing the reserves. That’s a world away from the chaos of a World Cup.
Since then, it’s been all about shaking off surgery and getting back in shape. Now he’s in full training. The comeback’s getting close.
And, honestly, a shift in Brazil’s soccer calendar might be working in his favour.
Brazil’s always been tricky to organise, with its massive size and wild regional differences. For ages, soccer here was local—every one of the country’s 27 states had its own championship. But as the national league grew (it only really got going in 1971), these state competitions faded. Thirty years back, they took up half the year. Lately, they’re just a few months at the start, and the national league kicks off in early April.
If that was still the setup, Neymar would have it even tougher. Ancelotti, as smooth as ever, makes a point of paying attention to Brazilian soccer at home, but let’s be real—he probably doesn’t care much about the state championships. He’s said straight up that Neymar’s shot at the national team depends on what he does in the national league. Luckily, this year the league started way earlier than usual.
The big kickoff was January 28th. For now, the national league runs midweek, while weekends are for a shortened state tournament. So Neymar gets to prove himself in real games against real opponents right from the start.
People hoped Neymar might come back on Wednesday, just before his birthday, in a home match against São Paulo. Didn’t happen. They decided not to risk him and will wait until the weekend. The problem with these quick state championships is that if a club starts slow, it can end up dangerously close to regional relegation. Santos, winless in seven games, is in that exact spot. They’re hoping Neymar can bail them out against some weaker upstate teams.
The real fight is in the Brazilian league. Next Thursday, Santos heads south to face Athletico Paranaense in the third round. Neymar might skip this one. Athletico’s stadium has a synthetic pitch—Neymar’s been pretty vocal about disliking those and sees them as a risk for injuries. After that, there’s the post-Carnaval match at home against Vasco da Gama. That’s the same fixture where, last year, Neymar had to be carried off the field, devastated after a brutal 6-0 loss. Honestly, it’d be the perfect place for a statement comeback.
He doesn’t have time to ease back in. The clock’s ticking, and Ancelotti’s not making it easy. Neymar actually has to earn his spot in Brazil’s squad. The veteran Italian coach gets asked about Neymar all the time, and he’s been pretty blunt about what it’ll take. No more space for luxury players. If you can only manage 15 or 20 minutes, forget about it.
“Modern football isn’t just about talent,” Ancelotti said last year. “You need fitness and intensity, too. If Neymar deserves a spot—if he’s playing well and he’s better than the others—he’ll be at the World Cup. But only if he’s at 100%, not 80%.”
If Neymar does get back to his best, where would he actually play? Ancelotti breaks down his attack into three types. First, you’ve got wingers—Neymar’s not in that group.
“I think he has to play centrally,” Ancelotti said. “Not on the wing. In modern football, wingers have to help out defensively.”
Then there are the classic No. 9 centre-forwards—Richarlison, Igor Jesus, and Pedro from Flamengo. That’s not Neymar’s style, either.
So that leaves the false 9, or what Ancelotti sees as this mix between a No. 9 and a No. 10. Someone who drops deeper, links up play, and creates for others. Raphinha from Barcelona could slot in there. Ancelotti really rates Matheus Cunha—he’s used him the most since taking over. And Chelsea’s João Pedro is right in the mix, too.
The competition’s fierce—and it’s only getting tougher. Neymar might end up fighting for his place against Endrick, Real Madrid’s young striker who’s already lighting it up on loan at Lyon.
Endrick’s just 19. He’s got all the time in the world. Neymar? He’s 34. If there’s ever a moment for one last World Cup run, it’s now.
THE HIDDEN MATH BEHIND FIFA’S $33,000 WORLD CUP FINAL TICKET PRICE SURGE
Gianni Infantino defends $32,970 ticket prices at the Milken Institute, citing the US market as the world's most developed.
FIFA just tripled the price of its top tickets for the World Cup final, now charging $32,970 for the best seats at the July 19 match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. On Thursday, those front-row “category 1” seats popped up for sale, right as members of Congress started pushing FIFA for answers about high prices and demanding more transparency on how tickets are being priced.
Before, the highest category 1 ticket for the final topped out at $10,990. Now, the only way to snag that price is if you need a wheelchair or special-access seat; otherwise, you’re looking at the new, much steeper cost.
Prices don’t stop there. For the July 14 semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Texas, seats are $11,130, $4,330, $3,710, and $2,705. The next day’s semifinal in Atlanta? $10,635, $3,545, and $2,725. U.S. group stage matches aren’t cheap either; opening night in California runs $2,735, $1,940, or $1,120 a seat. The June 19 clash against Australia in Seattle sits at $2,715. And for the finale against Türkiye back in LA, tickets range from $2,970 down to $840.
Representatives Nellie Pou and Frank Pallone Jr, both Democrats from New Jersey, fired off a letter to FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino, calling FIFA’s use of “dynamic pricing” too secretive and criticising practices that make it tough for regular fans to get seats. Their letter didn’t mince words: “We’re deeply concerned about FIFA’s opaque pricing and shifting rules. Fans are getting frustrated and feel misled. We want to know how FIFA ensures everyone can actually afford to attend and what’s being done to address these concerns.”
Gianni Infantino hasn’t backed down. On Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, he defended his price tags. “We have to look at the market,” Infantino said. “This is the most developed entertainment market anywhere, so we charge market rates. Tickets here can legally be resold, so if you price them low, people just flip them for more. In fact, even with what some call high prices, tickets end up reselling for twice as much or more.”
He also pointed out, “You can’t go to a college game in the U.S., never mind a pro one, without spending at least $300 for a decent ticket.”
Sure, tickets for huge events like the Super Bowl or the College Football Championship can hit these levels, but scores of seats at U.S. college and pro sporting events, even the NBA playoffs, still go for under $300.
When it comes to resale, FIFA doesn’t set those prices. On its official ticket exchange, final match seats were listed Thursday from $8,970 all the way up to a wild $11,499,998.85, the latter for a spot four rows from the top in the upper deck. FIFA takes 15% of each sale from both buyer and seller. Last month, somebody listed a final ticket for $2,299,998.85.
Infantino joked about those prices: “If people list final tickets for $2 million, number one, that’s not the actual price. Number two, who’s paying that? If someone does, I’ll personally deliver them a hot dog and a Coke.”
Ticket prices aren’t the only pain point for fans. Getting to the game, especially at MetLife Stadium, has its own sticker shock. NJ Transit originally set a $150 round-trip fare from anywhere to the stadium, way up from the normal $13-ish round trip from Manhattan’s Penn Station. After plenty of backlash, they cut it down to $105, but that’s still steep.
Governor Mikie Sherrill, via her spokesperson Steve Sigmund, said she’s pushing for more corporate contributions to lower fares for fans. “The governor is grateful for the companies helping reduce costs and will keep working to make the World Cup a win for both fans and New Jersey.”
FIFA, for its part, warned that these high transit prices could dampen turnout in New Jersey, while other host cities, LA, Dallas, and Houston, aren’t hiking fares for the games.
MetLife Stadium, usually home to the Giants and Jets, will host eight World Cup matches, including the final. Group stage games for powerhouse teams like Brazil, France, Germany, and England all kick off starting June 13.
FIFA EXTENDS PRESTIANNI BAN WORLDWIDE; WINGER SET TO MISS WORLD CUP OPENERS
Gianluca Prestianni will miss games against Algeria and Austria if selected by Scaloni. Get the full disciplinary breakdown.
FIFA has extended Gianluca Prestianni’s suspension for homophobic conduct to apply globally, which could sideline him for Argentina’s first two matches at the 2026 World Cup. The winger from Benfica, initially punished after a well-publicised incident with Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, will now have his ban affect not just club matches but international competitive games as well.
The disciplinary move by FIFA follows a request from UEFA, and the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has confirmed the six-match ban will take effect worldwide. According to a FIFA spokesperson, the committee agreed to broaden the suspension’s scope, impacting all levels of competitive play.
This decision carries serious implications for both Benfica and Argentina. What was once a suspension limited to UEFA competitions now bars the 20-year-old from participating in any FIFA competitive events, including the upcoming World Cup in North America.
If Prestianni makes Lionel Scaloni’s final Argentina roster for 2026, he will be forced to sit out the opening group stage games against Algeria and Austria. Despite this setback, he remains eligible for friendlies; he was actually called up earlier this year for matches against Mauritania and Zambia following his November 2025 senior debut.
While the ban totals six matches, half of those come with a two-year probationary clause. After missing a Champions League match against Real Madrid under a provisional suspension, Prestianni still has two active games left to serve. Notably, domestic games with Benfica this season are unaffected, since the worldwide ban targets only competitive international fixtures.
The incident that triggered this whole saga happened on February 17 during a Champions League knockout match at Estadio da Luz. Vinicius Junior accused Prestianni of racial abuse, prompting referee Francois Letexier to pause the game for eight minutes and activate FIFA’s anti-discrimination protocol.
Prestianni has denied these accusations and issued a statement saying he never directed racist insults at Vinicius Junior, suggesting the player misunderstood what was said. He also condemned the threats he received from Real Madrid players in the aftermath.
Despite his denials, UEFA’s investigation concluded that Prestianni engaged in discriminatory, specifically homophobic, conduct, leading to his suspension.
Questions remain about the length of the ban, as UEFA’s rules generally mandate a minimum 10-match suspension for offences against human dignity based on factors like race or sexual orientation. UEFA has not explained why the disciplinary body settled on a shorter six-match penalty.
Looking ahead, Prestianni faces a challenging path to regain standing under scrutiny. Should he violate conduct rules again within the probationary period, the remaining three matches of his ban could be enforced immediately, potentially harming his prospects with both Benfica and the Argentina national team.
