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20 CommentsUpdated 23 minutes agoCarlo Ancelotti's news conference was coming to an end when he addressed the elephant in the room in his typically subtle, elegant way."People sometimes say Brazil don't have a star right now. Maybe that's true," the Brazil manager said before the friendly against Panama in late May."We don't have a Pele, a Romario or a Ronaldo, but we can have a shared sense of responsibility, and that can be a very powerful thing."The expectation was for Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, by now, to have become the Selecao's leading figure.Yet, four years on from a penalty shoot-out exit against Croatia in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, doubts remain around the 25-year-old forward.Such is the situation that, following Brazil's 2-1 defeat by France in March, the debate in his homeland pivoted to whether Vinicius still deserved a place in the starting XI."Should Vinicius be dropped?" asked one of Brazil's most traditional football panel shows, ESPN's Linha de Passe.Even with the arrival of former Real Madrid serial winner Ancelotti, arguably the most impactful coach Vinicius has had in his club career, the question that has defined his national team story so far continues to follow him.Its gist is simply this: "Why can't Vinicius reproduce his Madrid form with the Selecao?"Vinicius is the Brazil player with the most goal involvements in this World Cup cycle, but his numbers are still modest – seven goals and six assists in 28 matches."Playing at the same level as he does for his club is complicated," Cleber Xavier, who worked as Brazil's assistant coach in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, told BBC Sport."Once you get to the national team, the reality is much harder than it looks from the outside. At your club, it's different training, a different way of playing, different team-mates, the day-to-day where things happen and develop."The clearest example is [Lionel] Messi with Argentina. He was always questioned about that and only managed to do it in 2022. But that's because Argentina managed to build a team. In Qatar, we faced Croatia and they were almost like a club side because they repeated so many players. That's how you give a player a proper structure."Vinicius has never shied away from the conversation."At our clubs, every three days there's a new opportunity," he told Caze TV in a recent interview."So if I play badly in two games out of 10, nobody is going to talk about it that much. With the national team, it's a long time between one match and the next. The pressure is always huge and people always expect me to perform at my best."If I go to the World Cup, score four or five goals and we become champions, the whole story changes. Then people will say I was preparing myself for the World Cup all along, even in the games where I didn't play well."Ancelotti confirms Neymar will miss Brazil openerA former international manager, speaking anonymously to BBC Sport, said it is his belief that the 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up suffers from "the anxiety of wanting to be the protagonist".Being the protagonist is of course the status Vinicius has been used to throughout his career.And that is partly reflected as he heads into his second World Cup. He has 14 commercial deals, more than any other Brazilian player.For all his success off the pitch, however, Vinicius has yet to inspire the same emotional connection Neymar still has with the country's football-loving public.It's a paradoxical situation: one superstar, past his peak but still loved; another, at the top of his game but still waiting for the same level of affection."I believe Vinicius is loved by Brazilian fans – just not at the same level as Neymar," argued Eduardo Musa, a marketing specialist and a former adviser to the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward."There are a few important differences between them. Neymar already has a very clear legacy with Brazil. He is the national team's all-time top scorer. Vinicius, meanwhile, still hasn't had the chance with Brazil to deliver what he delivers for Real Madrid."That's one point. The other, from a more technical perspective, is that Neymar stayed at Santos from 2011 to 2013 and had two wonderful years there. Brazilian fans watched him every week. Vinicius left earlier. He was playing at Flamengo, but he was not yet an undisputed starter and there were still doubts about his technical level simply because he had not had enough time to prove himself."A recent poll from Datafolha, one of Brazil's leading research institutes, showed the majority of fans - albeit a slender majority - still trust veteran Neymar, as 53% backed his inclusion in the World Cup squad."I think that remains very vivid in their minds, what Neymar did in Brazil before moving abroad," said Musa. "And there is also the personality factor, the charisma, those things matter a lot too."I'm someone who absolutely admires Vinicius. I think he is a fantastic player, truly fantastic. But Neymar has had more years at the top and, because of that, more time to build unforgettable moments."For some time, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has been working to give Vinicius a more central role within the Selecao.In March, after the serious injury that ruled Rodrygo out of the World Cup, Vinicius was handed the famous number 10 shirt and selected to appear at a news conference before the France match, something that had not happened for two years.The plan was clear: for Vinicius to become the face of Brazil.But with Neymar's surprising return, the number 10 has gone back to the 34-year-old Santos forward.Despite that, Neymar's litany of physical issues in recent times means expectations of him are not what they once were.Many eyes will be trained on Vinicius as he aims to shine in Brazil's quest for a sixth title and leave the doubts behind for good."He improved a lot when he started doing more individual work, improving his finishing, his collective game, his combinations and one-twos. It was through that work that he matured a lot, with plenty of goal contributions," explained Xavier, currently an assistant coach for the Venezuela national team."But for him to really maximise his individual qualities, which is what happened at Real Madrid, he depends on the collective structure around him. In 2022, we were still in a rebuilding process. Now maybe is the time."Vinicius says he is ready for the spotlight."I'm the one everyone talks about now because I've had five or six positive seasons at Real Madrid and have already spent years among the best players in the world," he said."That naturally brings more responsibility. And that's the responsibility I want, because I know I can do more, improve, keep evolving, and I know where I can reach because my ceiling is always very high."Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Scotland begin their first World Cup campaign in 28 years when they face Haiti in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time. Haiti only previously qualified for the World Cup in 1974 and have an almost entirely foreign-based squad this time.BBC Sport takes a look at five key Haiti players expected to face Steve Clarke's side.Club: Sunderland Age: 25 Position: Forward Caps: 4 Goals: 2The former France Under-21 international is a vital component of Haiti's counter-attacking gameplan and comes into this game in good form having scored four goals in his past nine games for club and country.Isidor switched allegiance from France to Haiti following encouragement from fans on social media and scored on his first start in a 1-1 draw with Iceland in March. His father and grandfather are both from the Caribbean nation."It's been 52 years since Haiti were at the last World Cup and the first goalscorer (Emmanuel Sanon) is a big, big legend there," says Isidor. "I hope to be the second one."The Wolves midfielder has made a big impact since being recruited by Haiti head coach Sebastien Migne last year.He started all six games in the final round of qualifying as Haiti won three and drew two of six matches on their way to reaching the World Cup for just a second time.Bellegarde joined Wolves from Strasbourg in 2023 and has made 83 Premier League appearances over the past three seasons.Club: Bastia Age: 38 Position: Goalkeeper Caps: 83The veteran goalkeeper and captain is the heartbeat of the Haiti team.He once played for Oldham Athletic in League One but the past five campaigns have been spent with Bastia in the French second tier.His participation in this tournament was briefly in doubt following knee surgery in March but he returned to play 45 minutes of the 4-0 warm-up win against New Zealand on 2 June.Club: Lugano Age: 27 Position: Defender Caps: 7 Goals: 0The former Burnley defender made his senior international debut with Belgium in 2020 before switching allegiance to Haiti last year.He formed a resilient partnership with Ricardo Ade in the heart of the Haiti defence during the latter part of the qualifying campaign, helping earn two wins that secured passage to this tournament.The Anderlecht academy graduate was signed by former Burnley boss Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor in 2023.Club: Esteghlal Age: 32 Position: Forward Caps: 83 Goals: 44Haiti's all-time record scorer has been following a personal fitness plan before the World Cup after war in Iran ended his club campaign with Esteghlal.He was forced to flee the county through Azerbaijan having seen bombs "land 100 metres away".The former Wolves, Coventry City and Oldham Athletic striker spent six months living in Scotland in the 2018-19 season having joined St Mirren on loan from Belgian side Sint-Truiden.He scored two goals in 12 appearances in all competitions before being sent off on his final appearance as St Mirren avoided relegation to the Championship by beating Dundee United on penalties in the second leg of the play-off final in May 2019.Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits.We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events.Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio.

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Footy Addicts helps amateur players find a game at short notice – and tackles the problem of lonelinessCries of “Boss! Boss! Boss!” emerge from the pitch during a hard-fought game of football in a London park. There aren’t a lot of names used in this game, because most players only met just before kick-off. They were brought together by an app that’s injecting life into grassroots football.Footy Addicts was invented to solve an infuriating problem for amateur players – the late dropout, which can lead to unbalanced teams and ruined games. The app brings together strangers who are desperate to play football, and who can step in after a cancellation to make up the numbers at short notice.Raul-Julian Grelet, 28, and Jacob Jae Ellis, 23, (RJ and JJ as they are known) met on the pitch today. Grelet organised their match through Footy Addicts, which is something he’s been doing since the start of the year. He says the platform has been a “marvel to this community”, and hosts matches to give people a chance to play and improve.“I do it because I know what it’s like to go into a game when you’re shy and you don’t want to play and you feel like you’re doing badly. These sessions are open for you to just come and have a kickabout – make some friends and get some exercise.”That’s exactly what the Footy Addicts CEO, Konstantinos Gkortsilas, intended. When he came to the UK in 2006 from Larissa, a city in central Greece, he wanted two things: to play football, and build a community. The trouble was that Sunday League football was too much of a time commitment, and required a big upfront payment to take part. At the same time Gkortsilas didn’t know enough people to organise his own games.So he started using meetup.com, a website which connects hobbyists, to find more players. As the community grew, he eventually launched Footy Addicts in 2013, an independent platform that gives individual footballers a group to play with. Since then it has exploded, with more than 323,000 registered players all over the UK.Gkortsilas saw the difference he made first-hand. “I was coming out of games, meeting people, chatting with them, and it gave me this feeling of accomplishment,” he says. “You’re giving a little bit to people’s lives, making them a bit happier. For me that was the biggest victory.”Two years ago, JJ Ellis had come back to London after finishing university, was working in hospitality, and wanted to get some exercise. “I don’t mind the gym but I don’t think it’s very nice or particularly human,” he says.He found Footy Addicts and started playing with them instead. At the matches, it didn’t feel as if he was fighting an uphill battle to fit in, as many people do when they’re new to a job, or a city, or a country.What began as a convenient means of making sure the game goes ahead has since led to blossoming friendships. Next year JJ is going to the wedding of someone he met through the platform.Loneliness, especially among young men, is a problem the Footy Addicts platform can help solve. But it also creates a space for women to play more football. Stephanie Benneli, 33, takes part in a longstanding game in Highbury. She grew up in Brazil playing football all throughout her youth, but when she came to London as an adult, the opportunities to play dried up.After an eight-year lull she discovered the service, which brought back her passion for the game. Now she plays football whenever she wants, and it makes a world of difference to her life.“If I’m struggling – when I’ve been through difficult moments, football is the only thing that really takes me out of my house,” says Benelli. “I don’t care if it’s drizzly, raining, if it’s snowing, I just go out and enjoy.”As Grelet’s match winds down in Barnard Park, the next team gathers on the sidelines, getting ready to take over. They are already introducing themselves, joking around, heckling the players on the pitch at times. The mood is jovial, as friendships form in real time.

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For 114 years, the iconic Fenway Park has hosted some of the greats of baseball.Set just a handful of blocks back from the Charles River, the likes of a fledgling Babe Ruth, the formidable Ted Williams and legendary pitcher Cy Young all made their mark at Fenway, an antique cathedral of sporting greatness.But in the outskirts of Boston on Saturday, it could be Steve Clarke who is about to hurl one almighty curveball that even Babe Ruth would struggle to read.So much of this week has been about the journey. Fans criss-crossing the globe to get here. Partying. Celebrating. Uniting as a nation.But there is a colossal decision to be made that will play a huge part in keeping that party in full swing.Scotland have three games but not three strikes. So much pressure is being heaped upon winning the opener with Haiti at Boston Stadium on Sunday (02:00 BST), and that requires getting the team right.It's widely accepted Clarke will go with a 4-4-2, which he has rarely used but worked so well in the 4-0 warm-up win over Bolivia last week. But that was a game where John McGinn sat on the bench.Factoring in Scott McTominay's stomach bug this week, could Clarke leave one of his leading men on the sidelines for the biggest game the nation has seen in almost three decades?The McTominay question is perhaps not as prominent as it appeared on Thursday.In early evening in Boston, word filtered back that the Scotland team had arrived off the bus at their hotel without Napoli's star man. He had been absent in training earlier and had travelled with a doctor separately as a precaution.But, after the midfielder re-emerged at training on Friday, head coach Clarke described him as "perfect" and "ready to go".Captain Andy Robertson jested his team-mate was just seeking attention, not that he'd be short of it. He is the football poster boy of Naples and his image painted on to the side of a building in the shadows of Hampden Park.There is a sense an even 60% McTominay would start this one, given the need for leadership and, more importantly, a result."We are delighted with Scott's abilities and what he can bring to the team," said Clarke, before diplomatically adding: "But we are going to need another 15 to bring the same if we want to have a positive tournament."Scotland return to centre stage at last in must-win World Cup openerHe was also left out completely for the win against Curacao at Hampden.McGinn not playing would seem incredible given his contribution in a Scotland jersey.Across his 86 caps he's got 20 goals - fifth on the all-time list - and 10 assists. Just as crucially, he is in the form of his life having just led Villa to the Europa League trophy.But there may be a reluctance to tinker too much with a midfield of McTominay, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie which purred so perfectly, particularly in the first half."It's amazing to think there could be a Scotland team without John McGinn in it," said former forward James McFadden."I would expect him to come in. I just hope it is unfortunately one of the midfielders that miss out and not one of the strikers."I'd really like to see the two strikers because I think they offer so much. Could we see a starting team in the first game without John McGinn?"I wouldn't put it past Steve Clarke, to be honest, but because he doesn't start the first game doesn't mean he's not going to be a massive player in the games after that."There is a valid point that McGinn perhaps has been rested given his 53-game season."I don't think we need to start John in the first game if I'm being honest," said former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton."I'm trying to think back to the Euros in terms of John and his output. I felt he was tired at that tournament."I felt it was a long season. I'm looking at the output over the last number of months in terms of the European campaign at Villa, the travel associated with that and the injury that he had at the point in the season."Do we really need to use him for the start?"The other option is for McGinn to be moved out wide, a position he has performed well in for his country, and sacrifice the pace and directness of either Christie or Gannon-Doak.While not blessed with speed, the Villa captain has proved to be an immense outball for Scotland which, coupled with his workrate, has made him such an asset.But against a Haiti team founded upon speed and power, could that work?"I like McGinn better off the right," said Kilmarnock manager and former Scotland winger Neil McCann."I like him coming on his left side and it opens up an overlap."I don't so much think he's better off the left than he is right, so therefore who's going to be better for an outball because I think we should have an outball."

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‘High-handed and extremely unfair,’ government saysOfficial note of protest sent calling for a reviewGhana’s government has described Canada’s decision to deny Thomas Partey a visa for his country’s World Cup game against Panama on Wednesday as “high-handed and extremely unfair”.Ghana’s foreign ministry said it understood the decision to be based on pending criminal proceedings in Britain. The 32-year-old Partey, a former Arsenal midfielder who plays for Villarreal, faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in Britain. He has denied the charges.Partey is with the rest of the Ghana squad in Boston and will be eligible to play in their subsequent Group L matches against England in that city and against Croatia in Philadelphia.Ghana’s foreign ministry said it had dispatched an official note of protest requesting that Canada review its decision. “The government of the Republic of Ghana expresses strong reservations following the high-handed and extremely unfair decision by Canada,” it said. “While respecting Canada’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, Ghana considers that reliance on unproven charges in the absence of a judicial determination raises fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality.”A spokesperson for Canada’s immigration, refugees and citizenship said on Friday that the country had been consistent that hosting major events does not change immigration laws. “Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies,” the spokesperson said.Partey’s case is the latest immigration-related controversy to flare at the World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico. The US refused entry this week to the Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been due to officiate at the tournament.Upon returning to Somalia, Artan described the visa decision as a matter of “fate” and urged fellow Somalis not to lose heart over it.

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Ghana's government has called for a review of what it describes as a "high-handed and extremely unfair" decision by Canada to ban midfielder Thomas Partey from entering the country.The former Arsenal player had his visa application refused and will miss Ghana's opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.Partey, 32, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.A statement, external from the Ghana government said it is "pursuing active diplomatic engagements" with Canadian officials and hopes to reverse the decision.It read: "The decision is understood to be based on pending criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom that have not resulted in any conviction."The government of Ghana reaffirms the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice."The government said it will "explore and pursue all available remedies to ensure full and fair consideration of all factual issues".On the Canadian government website, rules on visiting the country state: "If you have committed or been convicted of a crime, you may not be allowed into Canada."BBC Sport has approached the Ghana Football Association for comment.Partey remains at Ghana's training base in Boston.A US Customs and Border Protection official said: "The US is aware of the pending court case for Mr Partey."However, at this time he has not been convicted of a crime and was admitted to the United States after being issued a visa."Before the tournament Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz said he had no qualms over selecting Partey, who joined Arsenal in 2020.He moved to Villarreal in August after being released at the end of the 2024-25 season.Ghana play England at Boston Stadium, Foxborough, on 23 June and Croatia on 27 June - both games in which Partey could feature.Ghana could return to Canada in the last 32 if they finish as runners-up in Group L.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup

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Daniel Kretinsky is set to become West Ham’s biggest shareholder after agreeing a deal to buy an additional stake in the club from the Gold family.Kretinsky is set to increase his share to 43 per cent, exceeding the current 38.8 per cent owned by David Sullivan, who resigned as joint chairman last Saturday after being informed that historic allegations of misconduct were about to be published.Kretinsky and Vanessa Gold, who inherited her father David Gold's interest in the club when he died in 2023, said in a joint statement that the move will strengthen the Hammers' bid to make an immediate return to the Premier League.The statement read: "We have reached an agreement on the key terms of a share purchase transaction between the Gold family and 1890 Holdings [part of the broader group EP], which, subject to other shareholders' pre-emption rights and necessary approvals, would make 1890 Holdings the largest shareholder in West Ham with an approximately 43 per cent stake."As the largest shareholder, group EP will be able to provide the additional financing the club needs."We expect to finalise this transaction in the next couple of weeks. Once the agreement is complete, group EP and the Gold family have also agreed to vote jointly on key matters and to support the strategy targeting an immediate return to the Premier League."Sullivan denies the allegations made against him by BBC's Panorama and The Times newspaper, and has indicated that he intends to sue.Kretinsky and Gold say they are "deeply concerned" by the allegations, and reiterated the club's previous claim that they were only made aware of them a month ago when Sullivan himself notified the board.They also said they had only recently been informed that Sullivan has faced restrictions on his contact with the club's women's and youth teams since 2023 as part of an ongoing safeguarding investigation by the Football Association.The statement continued: "We were deeply concerned by the revelations made by The Times and Panorama this week and our thoughts go out to those women who have fought so hard to make their voices heard."Any abuse of power is abhorrent, and it takes great courage and determination to speak up against it."The full West Ham United Board was not notified about these allegations against Mr Sullivan until approximately a month ago, when he informed us that certain allegations against him may be published.

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England's team base in Kansas City is nothing like any we have seen before.The FA has always been the envy of every other nation at major tournaments, with the very best accommodation, facilities and vibe.The truth is, England had slim pickings this time round, because FIFA decided to give priority to those nations who are playing group matches in their chosen area. Remember, England's group games are in Dallas (500 miles away), Boston (1,300 miles) and New Jersey (1,200 miles).As soon as England decided they were going to stay in Kansas City - so as to limit any flight time to matches in the US to no more than 3.5 hours - they were always going to have to compromise when it came to the choice of hotels and training bases. And here, they got third dibs after Netherlands and world champions Argentina, both of whom have group games in Missouri.That is not to say England are lacking in luxury - far from it. Their boutique hotel is an immaculate five-star, stunningly American flat-board building set in idyllic gardens and parkland, with relaxing fountains and ample lavish, dark green grass. But those gardens are not exclusive, off-limits to the public.And the hotel itself is also very, very small. Just 54 luxury rooms to be precise, with very little in the way of secluded outside space.Surrounding the hotel, which occupies the centre of the park, is some of the most expensive real estate for miles. Think manicured lawns, immaculate gardens and armies of tradesmen and women dead-heading flowers and washing windows.World Cup 2026 fixture schedule - your day-by-day guideFor the next few weeks, the wealthy locals will live within a few hundred metres of some of the most famous footballers in the world.The FA has made the hotel its own, as it always does, with no stone unturned. A short 15-minute stroll around the entire perimeter reveals views of the basketball hoop looming above the fencing, the newly-planted trees to offer shade and some privacy for the seating areas that the players can relax in, and - for when they're not relaxing - the huge white tent swallowed by a forest of air-conditioning ducts, which contains all the gym equipment for the squad to work out in.As is always the case, the players' rooms will be a special surprise for each of them, personalised in terms of bedding, pillows and photos of loved ones back home.They also have all the Sky Sports channels in every bedroom. And you can bet there will be a steady stream of famous guests and celebrities booked to entertain the players inside the hotel in their downtime.In West Palm Beach last week, for example, Brooks Koepka played a round with England's golf-lovers, and at the Euros in Germany two summers ago, Ed Sheeran did an in-camp gig.The truth is this time, England have put travel logistics ahead of the perfect accommodation. If the heat and transport times are their biggest enemy to wining this World Cup, they've tried incredibly hard to minimise journey times and the resultant player fatigue.But, as a result, the FA has had to compromise in terms of hotel privacy and space.

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Chief football news reporterPublished6 minutes agoTwo of West Ham's major shareholders have spoken out against David Sullivan after striking a deal that will see Daniel Kretinsky become the club's biggest shareholder.Kretinsky and Vanessa Gold said they were "deeply concerned" after allegations of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour were levelled against Sullivan by a joint BBC Panorama and Times investigation.Kretinsky's stake in the club will rise from 27% to 43%, exceeding Sullivan's 38.8%."Our thoughts go out to those women who have fought so hard to make their voices heard," said Kretinsky and Gold in a statement."Any abuse of power is abhorrent, and it takes great courage and determination to speak up against it."Sullivan, 77, said he "categorically" denies the claims, which span the period when he made a fortune from pornography, newspapers and football.Kretinsky and Gold said the "full West Ham United Board was not notified about these allegations against Sullivan until approximately a month ago", but did not know the full details of the allegations until they were made public on Monday.Sullivan has been banned from having contact with the club's women's and youth teams for the last three years because of safeguarding concerns.Kretinsky and Gold said: "As communicated by West Ham, the Board representatives of shareholders other than David Sullivan were only made aware this week of the safeguarding measures that have been in place since 2023."West Ham are dealing with the fall-out from the investigation at the same time as they are attempting to make an immediate return to the Premier League after being relegated for the first time since 2012."As shareholders and directors of West Ham, our focus is now firmly on protecting the future of this football club," said Kretinsky and Gold."As such, we have reached agreement on the key terms of a share purchase transaction between the Gold family and 1890 Holdings, which, subject to other shareholders' pre-emption rights and necessary approvals, would make 1890 Holdings (part of the broader group EP) the largest shareholder in West Ham with an approximately 43% stake."As the largest shareholder, group EP will be able to provide the additional financing the club needs."Karren Brady stayed at West Ham despite knowing of Sullivan women's team ban