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English referee Michael Oliver has been ruled out of his first match at the 2026 World Cup due to injury. He was replaced by French official Francois Letexier for the Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador group stage match. FIFA expects Oliver to be available for selection in the coming days.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Neymar will miss the team's World Cup opener against Morocco due to a calf injury. The 34-year-old forward is expected to resume training next week, casting doubt on his availability for the second group match against Haiti.
Christian Pulisic was substituted at halftime during his World Cup debut as a precautionary measure, with no injury or serious issue reported.
Japan captain Wataru Endo has been ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to a foot injury, just days before the team's opening match against the Netherlands. The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder failed to recover from surgery and has retired from international football.