13/06/2026

SPORTS SATURDAY | JUNE 13, 2026

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2026 WORLD CUP

SHORTS

Azzurri fans back Spain, Brazil Deprived of the chance to watch their country at a World Cup for the third suc cessive time, Italy’s football fans are eye ing Spain and Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil as teams to support in this year’s tourna ment which started on Friday. According to a survey carried out earlier this month by the polling organi sation SWG, 59% of the 800 Italians polled said they would watch the tourna ment, with 17% of that group backing Brazil and 16% plumping for Spain. Argentina were picked by 10% of the World Cup watchers, while France and England each summoned the support

Japan captain Endo out Japan captain Wataru Endo was ruled out of the World Cup with injury and announced his international retirement yesterday, two days before his team’s opener against the Netherlands. The Liverpool midfielder pulled out of the tournament after failing to recover from a foot injury, and was replaced in Japan’s squad by Borussia Monchengladbach’s Shuto Machino. The 33-year-old Endo said on social media that he was “frustrated” at not being able to play but backed his team to impress in Group F, where they face the Dutch, Tunisia and Sweden.

of 5%. Italy’s sport minister Andrea Abodi told public broadcaster RAI he would sup port Brazil and local icon Ancelotti, who is a multiple Champions League winner as player and coach, as well as the Turkiye and Uzbekistan teams led by Vincenzo Montella and Fabio Cannavaro. Italy, four-time world champions, failed to reach this year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico after losing in the qualification playoffs to Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Azzurri haven’t played a knockout match at a World Cup since last winning the tournament 20 years ago.

“There will definitely come a time in the future when Japan win the World Cup, so let’s believe in that and support the team,” he wrote on X . “Let’s bring the strength of Japan together so that that moment can hap pen at this tournament in North America.” He added: “I have decided to retire from the national team. From now on, I will be supporting Japan as just another fan. Of course I’m frustrated that I can’t play at this World Cup. “But more than that, I’m proud that I’ve been able to captain this team since the Qatar World Cup and help it grow into a group where it feels natural to say our target is to win the World Cup.”

Alisson unfazed Goalkeeper pooh-poohs doubts over Brazil heading into World Cup

Atlas Lions ready for challenge

again.

MOROCCO will once again have the chance to meas ure their growing stature against football royalty when they face five-time world champions Brazil in a highly anticipated World Cup Group C clash tomor row. While Brazil remain one of the tournament favour ites, Morocco arrive with increasing confidence and a reputation as one of the most difficult teams to break down in interna tional football. The Atlas Lions captured global attention during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when they became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals, defeating Spain and Portugal along the way. Four years later, they are no longer viewed as surprise contenders but as a team capable of chal lenging the world’s elite. New coach Mohamed Ouahbi belwieves Morocco should embrace the expectations that now accompany the team. “When you look at the image Morocco has around the world and the players we have, we can dream,” Ouahbi said ahead of the tournament. The Belgian-born coach, who guided Morocco to the U-20 World Cup title last year before taking over the senior side in March, has also made it clear that his team will not be intimi dated by the occasion. “We must win every match we can,” said Ouahbi, underlining the Led by captain Achraf Hakimi, Morocco continue to boast one of Africa’s most talented squads. The Paris Saint-Germain star has become the face of a generation that has elevated Moroccan foot ball to unprecedented heights. Morocco head into the World Cup as Africa’s high est-ranked side and are widely tipped to reach the knockout stages once ambition within the Moroccan camp.

The Atlas Lions, how ever, have been forced to overcome setbacks before the tournament. Injuries to defender Nayef Aguerd and winger Abde Ezzalzouli have dis rupted preparations, forc ing late changes to the squad. Real Betis forward Ezzalzouli picked up a knee injury in a friendly against Norway last week end. He has been replaced in Morocco’s squad by Amine Sbai of Angers, according to an updated Fifa squad list. Marseille centreback Aguerd, who has not played since March after undergoing surgery for a groin issue, makes way for Saudi-based Marwane Saadane. The Moroccan delega tion based in New Jersey declined to comment when contacted by AFP , but team captain Hakimi posted a message of sup port for the injured pair. “Football can be cruel sometimes. Thanks for what you’ve given the squad since the first day. “We’ll continue to fight for you. We love you,” Paris Saint-Germain star Hakimi wrote on social media. Yet Morocco have repeatedly shown an abil ity to thrive against foot ball’s biggest nations. They already possess a psychological advantage after securing a historic 2-1 victory over Brazil in a friendly in Tangier in 2023 – their first-ever win against the South American giants but the focus remains firmly on proving they belong among football’s elite. As Ouahbi declared before the tournament, the Atlas Lions have every reason to dream. Another positive result against Brazil would not only strengthen their chances of progressing from Group C but further cement their status as Africa’s standard-bearers on the global stage. – Agencies/AFP

Brazil’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker. – AFPPIC/REUTERSPIC

B RAZIL goalkeeper Alisson the team’s favour at the World Cup as they prepare to get their campaign in North America up and running. “It is a good thing that there are some doubts about the team, because that has been the case on other occasions in the past,” pointed out the Liverpool shot stopper, with a nod to Brazil teams at previous tournaments who were not considered favourites but went on to lift the trophy. Brazilians are impatiently waiting for the Selecao to become world champions again, 24 years after they last lifted the trophy. They did not go into the 2002 edition in Japan and South Korea as the leading contenders, and they are not seen as the top dogs for the 2026 World Cup in North America either. Most discussions around potential winners have centred around holders Argentina, European champions Spain and 2022 runners-up France, with Becker insisted yesterday that doubts about the record five time champions could work in

Both nations are hoping to get off to a strong start, with Brazil next facing out siders Haiti before concluding the open ing round against Scotland. Brazil won the last World Cup held in the United States in 1994, but perform ances at recent editions have been dis appointing – they have gone out in the quarterfinals in four of the last five tour naments, as well as losing 7-1 to Germany in the 2014 semis on home soil. This will be a third World Cup for Alisson, the 33-year-old who played every game for the team at Russia 2018 and all but one match in 2022. The 2018 campaign ended with defeat against Belgium in the last eight, before they were eliminated on penal ties by Croatia in Qatar. “On what happened in the past, I think in football you can’t afford to spend time wallowing,” he said, before hailing the arrival of Ancelotti. “Since Ancelotti came in, the atmos phere has been transformed. He has such a strong presence and doesn’t focus on controversial issues.” – AFP

England and Portugal often being men tioned too. “The current team has different char acteristics compared to past sides. That last period was very difficult for all the players, for various reasons,” added Alisson. “The most important thing is how we feel now, and we hope that translates into us getting a good result against Morocco.” Carlo Ancelotti’s side qualified in fifth place in the 10-team South American qualifying group after a messy campaign in which two coaches were fired before the Italian arrived a year ago. But they have won their last three friendly outings, including beating Panama 6-2 and Egypt 2-1 last week. They now face Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in their first game in Group C tomorrow (6am Malaysian time). The meeting of the sides who are sixth and seventh respectively in the current Fifa rankings is perhaps the standout match-up of the group stage at the sprawling, 48-team tournament.