Quotes

American Botafogo owner John Textor had an all-time TV rant on Wednesday after his side lost a dramatic game to Palmeiras in Brazil’s Série A 4-3.

Botafogo sit top of the table with 59 points and Palmeiras sit second-place hot on their heels. The top of the table matchup saw Textor’s side take a 3-0 lead after 36 minutes.

Soon-to-be Real Madrid star Endrick got one back for Palmeiras in the 49th minute, but it looked like Botafogo would hold on for a win.

Former United States women’s national team captain Carli Lloyd was a guest on the new CBS show “Kickin’ It” with Kate Abdo, Clint Dempsey, Mo Edu and Charlie Davies. During the episode Lloyd shared why she refused to kneel at the Olympics and conversations she had with Megan Rapinoe back in 2016.

The cast of the show also had a short moment to discuss their reactions to Lloyd’s answers after she had left.

Two of the big questions that Abdo asked Lloyd were why she refused to take a knee before the bronze medal game vs. Australia and the feelings between her and Rapinoe.

Neymar will undergo surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, Brazil's FA said, an injury that is expected to sideline the forward for several months.

The 31-year-old went down after tussling for the ball with Uruguay's Nicolas de la Cruz in the 44th minute of Brazil's 2-0 defeat on Tuesday, holding his left leg in pain and calling for medical attention as his teammates looked on anxiously.

 If the United States hope to make an impact at the 2026 World Cup they must play more top teams like Germany, who they face in a friendly on Saturday, head coach Gregg Berhalter has said.

The match in East Hartford, Connecticut against the four-time world champions will be a litmus test of sorts for the U.S. and Berhalter is making sure his players are not intimidated.

"Any opportunity we get to play teams like this we want to do it," he told reporters on Friday. "It's not about being afraid of the result, being afraid of competing, it's about embracing these moments.

On Saturday the United States men’s national team will be facing a high caliber European opponent with both squads having their A-teams for the first time since the 2022 World Cup. If you’re wondering how to watch USA vs Germany, then you’ve come to the right place.

Will Messi play vs Paraguay?

Argentina captain Lionel Messi is still a doubt for the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, coach Lionel Scaloni said on Wednesday.

Messi was included in the world champions' squad despite being sidelined by the muscle problem he sustained last month which has kept him out of action for his U.S. side Inter Miami.

Scaloni said the 36-year-old forward had been training well ahead of the match on Thursday.

Christian Pulisic says that games would be better for fans if VAR (video assistant referee) was no longer part of the game. The Pulisic VAR opinion came as a surprise to most fans who consider VAR a positive addition.

Pulisic shared this take on Tim Ream’s podcast “The American Dream.”

United States men’s national team star defensive midfielder Tyler Adams is set to be out for an extended period following an injury setback to his hamstring. The Tyler Adams injury update from Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was worst case scenario.

“I don’t know what to call it, a setback, but he is not feeling well,” Iraola said. “It is true that he is going to be out for some time, for sure. I think it’s the same area. I couldn’t tell you if it’s exactly the same point, but it’s true that it’s his hamstring.”