Eye-opening food and drinks prices have emerged at Lumen Field, Seattle – which is hosting 2026 World Cup matches
Caean Couto via Reuters
Ancelotti made two changes at half-time, replacing right-back Ibanez with Danilo, and hooking Casemiro for Fabinho.
Casemiro, who has departed Manchester United despite an impressive final campaign with the Red Devils, has been heavily criticised for his unconvincing performance by Brazilian football fans and the media alike.
Goal handed the 34-year-old a 4/10 rating, commenting: “Had a real nightmare in midfield. Never kept up with the pace of the game, booked before half time, and hooked at the break.”
The reaction has been even more brutal on social media. One Brazilian fan account with 84,000 followers on X (Twitter) posted: “Casemiro: slow, immobile, not press resistant, can’t turn, can’t pass, no technical ability. It’s been a good 15 years but it’s time to go.”
One eye-opening clip shows Casemiro half-heartedly running back to his own half after losing possession:
Another tweet with a photo of Casemiro alongside the caption “This guy can’t be a starter for the Brazilian national team in a World Cup” has gone viral. And another Brazil supporter tweeted:
“Casemiro doesn’t have the conditions to play in this World Cup. It’s embarrassing.”
Many Brazil fans on social media are calling for former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho, 32, to start over Casemiro in the Selecao’s next Group C match against minnows Haiti on June 19.
Fabinho, no spring chicken himself, has been playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad since 2023.
Sometimes, even the greatest football players can have fragile egos. No matter what they’ve achieved in their careers, many just don’t seem able to rise above certain criticism.
Cristiano Ronaldo appears to be one of those characters. After all, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has won many honours, such as Champions League, Premier League, La Liga and European Championship titles, and yet he often comes across as a rather frustrated figure.
Perhaps that is because, throughout his career, he has been compared to Lionel Messi. The prevailing consensus in the footballing community is that Ronaldo is a legendary player, but the Argentine is even better, perhaps the best of all time – as highlighted by his record eight Ballon d’Or triumphs.
Tracking the leading contenders to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in 2026.
Gary Lineker Prefers Messi Over Ronaldo
According to iconic England striker Gary Lineker – who played 12 games for the Three Lions at two World Cups (scoring 10 goals in total) and winning the Golden Boot at Mexico 1986 – Ronaldo is so insecure about his rivalry with Messi, that he no longer talks to the pundit due to some past comments made about the pair.
He began: “I always feel bad because people have a go at me, saying ‘you don’t like Ronaldo. It’s not that I don’t like Ronaldo, I think he’s an absolutely incredible footballer, but there’s no argument about who is the better footballer. Anyone who understands the game will see that.”
He then praised the former Manchester United forward, noting, “But I’ve got so much admiration for Cristiano. He is so driven, so successful and scored so many goals.
“In many eras he would be the best player of his time. But the fact he is put in the same breath and lots of people make the comparison is a huge compliment to him and of what he has achieved.”
Because he hasn’t got the ability that Messi has. No one has. But it’s not an insult to Ronaldo to say that.”
He then explained how his past comments in favour of Messi cost him his relationship with Ronaldo, saying:
“Ronaldo fans [get annoyed with me]. And Ronaldo gets annoyed. He doesn’t speak to me anymore.
“We used to get on alright. And then suddenly I was interviewed, or something, and I was asked, ‘Who’s the better player?’ I said Messi. “Then I got told, ‘Oh, he doesn’t like you anymore’.”
Ronaldo Slammed ‘Rat’ Lineker in 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2024
It’s not the first time there have been issues between the Portuguese star and Lineker, either. Indeed, in Euro 2024, Ronaldo failed to score a goal at the tournament, but lashed out at the punditry from within the UK.
“What am I going to do? Am I going to cry and then finish my career because two rats criticised me? The world loves me! The fans love me! This is my motivation. Nobody is going to take my shine away because two guys from television that nobody knows have criticised me.”
There will no doubt be plenty of focus on Ronaldo this summer as he looks to finally win the World Cup with Portugal. It will certainly be interesting to see what Lineker makes of the 41-year-old’s performances.
Switzerland and Qatar served up one of the most dramatic openers of the 2026 World Cup, with a 94th-minute header from Boualem Khoukhi snatching a point for the 2022 hosts in San Francisco.
But long before that late equaliser, Group B’s curtain-raiser had already generated its share of chaos, centred on a penalty incident in the 17th minute that left broadcasters, pundits and former officials demanding answers.
Some of these will stay in the minds of fans forever.
Remo Freuler latched onto a headed ball inside the penalty area and attempted to deftly lift it over the advancing Qatar goalkeeper, Mahmud Abunada. The challenge that followed was heavy enough to keep both players on the ground. Honduran referee Hector Said Martinez had made his call immediately: Penalty to Switzerland. Breel Embolo stepped up and converted without any fuss.
FIFA Slammed Over Switzerland vs Qatar Decision
Carlos Barria via Reuters
Replays appeared to show Freuler in an offside position as he received the ball, and VAR duly initiated a review. What followed frustrated everyone watching. No offside lines or semi-automated graphics were shown. The review concluded, the penalty stood, and viewers at home and inside the stadium were left entirely in the dark.
Watch the incident below:
Gary Neville didn’t hold back: “They’ve got the evidence of the automated decision — why are they not showing us?” he said, comparing FIFA’s approach to a “dictatorship.” Ian Wright was equally damning, calling the lack of transparency “scandalous.”
ITV commentator Lee Dixon, who had been convinced VAR would intervene, said: “There must be something wrong with my monitor.”
A statement has been released by the kit manufacturer after FIFA banned the kit design on the eve of the tournament
Former FIFA Referees Offer Contrasting Views
Darren Yamashita (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Former referee and PGMOL boss Keith Hackett went further than most. Responding on X to former Norway international Jan Aage Fjørtoft, who’d questioned why VAR was reviewing a penalty rather than the apparent offside. Hackett was blunt: “This goal should have been ruled out for offside. Technology fail.”
ITV’s referee analyst Christina Unkel offered a different perspective. She explained that under FIFA’s protocol, semi-automated offside graphics are only shown when a review results in an overturn, which is why the lines and the graphics never appeared. She also defended the technology itself, insisting it operates at a precision far beyond what the human eye could ever detect:
“The technology that’s been implemented in this World Cup is at a higher level so it’s going to be even sharper and crisper.”
He is currently in Boston but will not be able to travel to Canada for his team’s opening game.
Qatar ultimately had the last laugh, with Khoukhi’s late header denying Switzerland all three points. But the questions raised around the penalty are unlikely to disappear quietly.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Tommy Fury defeated Eddie Hall in their bizarre exhibition contest in the main event of a Misfits Boxing card at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday night.
Billed as ‘The Beauty vs The Beast’, there was a massive 108lbs weight difference between the two participants, with former World’s Strongest Man Hall enjoying a massive weight advantage.
The fight was signed over six two-minute rounds, in a marked departure from the three-minute rounds typically seen in boxing.
Hall made an impressive start in the first, constantly pressuring his smaller opponent and finding success with a big right hand towards the end of the session.
‘The Beast’ continued his good work in the second, using his imposing frame to prevent Fury from getting into his rhythm. His exertions in the first four minutes looked to have taken their toll on Hall in the third, as he was noticeably feeling the pace. Tommy was able to use Hall’s tiredness to land a few stiff shots and find his way into the fight.
Fury again used his movement well in the third, although Hall still found his way through with a few blows. Ultimately, though, the extra weight Hall was carrying was reflected in his cardio.
Although he swang heavily up until the final bell, Hall couldn’t find the blow he needed to end the fight, with Fury taking the win on the judges’ cards.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
