A World Cup star was left with little choice but to confront US police officers on the pitch during Ecuador’s 3-0 friendly win over Guatemala on Sunday night. Boasting one of the youngest squads heading into this year’s tournament, the South American nation are unbeaten in their last 19 matches.

During that run, they have held Morocco and the Netherlands to draws, while also beating reigning world champions Argentina as recently as last September. With just four days to go until the start of football’s flagship event, there is growing belief that Ecuador could emerge as one of the surprise packages in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

However, while their preparations on the pitch have largely been smooth sailing, an incident during their final warm-up match before next week’s Group E opener against Ivory Coast has reignited concerns over police conduct in the host nation.

World Cup Star Confronts US Police on Pitch During Friendly

Ecuador dominated their way through to a convincing win at the Ohio Stadium this weekend, with Jordy Caicedo, Nilson Angulo, and Pervis Estupinan getting in on the goals. However, post-match discussion has been more interested in a moment of madness that saw Premier League midfielder Moises Caicedo intervene with the police’s aggressiveness towards a pitch invader.

Late into the match, a Guatemala fan ran onto the pitch, which saw US police use excessive force to detain him, with several officers taking him down to the ground. Caicedo stepped in and tried to protect the fan, before complaining and arguing with the police over the violent way they handled the situation. Watch the incident below:

The Chelsea star’s actions have been widely praised on social media, while those inside the stadium on Sunday night appeared to boo the police’s heavy-handed involvement in videos that captured the moment. No statement of any kind has been released about the incident at the time of writing.

Safety Concerns Heading into 2026 World Cup

Sunday night’s events appeared to echo many of the fears matchgoing supporters had when they first learned of the USA’s hosting rights for the tournament. While ICE’s well-documented actions and Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies have drawn significant scrutiny, they have also shone a light on some of the concerns facing travelling supporters heading stateside.

Even setting those issues aside, the USA’s long-standing problem with mass shootings remains an obvious source of alarm. On the same day as Ecuador’s final warm-up match, a shooting near England’s intended training base in Kansas City left nine people injured, further highlighting the security concerns that have surrounded the tournament.

Footage of Brazil fans allegedly chanting about Donald Trump while the United States national anthem was played in Sao Paulo over the weekend has gone viral on social media.

Brazil’s women’s national team secured a 2-1 win over their US counterparts on Saturday thanks to early goals from Taina Maranhao and Beatriz Zaneratto Joao.

Sophia Wilson, who returned from maternity leave earlier this year, put USA 1-0 ahead in the second minute but Brazil, hosts of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, had turned things around by the 14th minute. No further goals were scored. The two sides will meet for a second friendly on Tuesday night.

“I think we did a better job [in the] second half,” US head coach Emma Hayes told reporters. “That is where we dominated, in the duels. I think we created enough chances [in the] second half to get an equaliser, but you still have to have the quality in the last part of the pitch. You have to make the right decisions at the right time.

“And the difference between two teams is Brazil took their chances and we didn’t take ours. And it’s exactly what I expected because both of us are top teams. We both played in the Olympic gold-medal final. It’s going to be very close between us. It was a fun game, but also at the top level it’s about details.”

Brazil Fans’ Anti-Trump Chant

However, rather than the goals or anything else related to events on the pitch, it’s footage of the national anthems that’s caused a stir on social media.

Per Total Pro Sports, it’s claimed Brazil fans chanted during the US national anthem: “Hey Trump, go f*** yourself.” Watch the viral footage below:

The viral tweet reads: “I didn’t see people commenting enough about the fans telling Trump to f*** off during the United States national anthem.”

Trump Administration Proposing Huge Trade Tariffs on Brazil

The derogatory chant about the controversial US President came days after the Trump administration proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Brazil, accusing the world’s 10th-biggest economy of engaging in trade practices that are “unreasonable” and that “burden or restrict US commerce”, per The Guardian.

Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said he received the decision “with indignation”.

“I spoke to President Trump for three hours, and that Marco Rubio guy, the head of the state department, he is anti-Latin American,” Lula added.

While it’s unclear whether the fans’ alleged anti-Trump chant was a direct response to the planned new tariffs on Brazilian imports, the controversial move will not have enhanced the US President’s popularity among the people of the South American nation.

Liverpool’s summer transfer business will be vital in giving Andoni Iraola the best chance possible of succeeding in the job over the next year and beyond.

The Reds splashed out in last summer’s transfer window, making several high-profile additions to the forward line, but without the results to show for it.

There have been plenty of questions surrounding the composition of the squad, not least as the marquee signings of last year rarely played a minute together on the pitch at the same time.

While work in the backline and midfield now needs to be the priority, and where most of the limited funds must go, there is one potential striker addition who could join Liverpool as a free transfer.

Liverpool Must Re-Sign Darwin Nunez

Recent reports from Mundo Deportivo have claimed that Darwin Nunez is open to a Liverpool return, while the striker’s future remains uncertain.

The Uruguay international left the club last year to join Al-Hilal, but was dropped from squad registration for the second half of the campaign after the club signed Karim Benzema.

That has led to suggestions that Nunez will leave with a mutual termination of his contract with the Saudi Pro League club, making him available as a free agent.

Newcastle, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid have been suggested as possible destinations, but the report adds that he would like a return to Liverpool.

It’s a move that makes total sense for the Reds, given the injury to Ekitike that will take a while to recover from, as well as the fitness of Alexander Isak that has come into question.

Nunez is familiar with the Premier League and Liverpool, meaning there would be little issue in settling in again, while the lack of a transfer fee for a player of his quality will always be viewed positively.

It’s a move that adds cover to a position that desperately needs it, while it doesn’t detract from the transfer budget available to invest in more pressing areas of the squad.

The switch would also make sense for the change in playing style that is expected over the coming months.

Nunez Is Perfect For Iraola

Nunez is a player who causes chaos, something that somewhat suited Jurgen Klopp’s football, but certainly didn’t work for Arne Slot in his time at Liverpool.

After showing glimpses of promise, but a lack of cutting edge, the forward left last summer, but a possible return makes sense from more than just a business perspective.

Liverpool are set to return to the pressing football that brought so much success before, a move to the chaotic football that has overwhelmed the Premier League in recent seasons.

While Nunez may not be a starter ahead of someone like Isak, he would bring the exact injection of energy that the team seems to be lacking.

Having an option who can make things happen is what Iraola would want, even if they are simply someone who can come off the bench for a cameo.

It’s unclear whether Liverpool will pursue such a deal, but it makes complete sense to do just that.