How to watch Ecuador vs Brazil live: Stream link, TV channel, team news, prediction
MORE — Latest scores, table in South America World Cup qualifying
Carlo Ancelotti was appointed new Brazil boss last week and is set to make his international managerial debut after 30 years at the top of the club game. Dorival Junior was fired after the 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Lionel Messi-less Argentina back in March. With just one win from their last four qualifiers, Brazil (21 points) sit 4th with four games left to play. Captain Marquinhos is fresh off winning the UEFA Champions League with PSG over the weekend and believes his club side can be the model for the five-time world champions under Ancelotti. 'PSG was a demonstration [that every little detail counts], with all the players giving their all to become champions. It's no different here, despite the results. All it takes is for everything to fit within the philosophy and for the coach to be clear about what he wants.'
Ecuador (23 points), meanwhile, are on the verge of qualifying a World Cup berth for the fifth time (all since 2002). 35-year-old Enner Valencia, who has enjoyed prolific goal-scoring spells in Mexico, Turkey and now Brazil since leaving England in 2017, is leading the way once again with five goals so far in qualifying (2nd-most, behind Messi and Luis Diaz). The Internacional striker is currently dealing with a thigh injury ahead of Thursday's meeting in the capital of Guayaquil.
How to watch Ecuador vs Brazil live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7 pm ET Thursday (June 5)
Venue: Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo — Guayaquil, Ecuador
Ecuador team news, focus
OUT: Leonardo Campana (hamstring), Gonzalo Plata (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Enner Valencia (thigh)
Brazil team news, focus
OUT: Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring - MORE), Gabriel Jesus (torn ACL)
Ecuador vs Brazil prediction
There is little doubt that Brazil will score goals (is there ever?), but Ancelotti must fix the defensive issues between now and next summer, and it might be a little rocky early on. Ecuador 2-3 Brazil.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PSG vs Bayern Munich: Club World Cup prediction, kick-off time, team news, TV, live stream, h2h, odds
PSG and Bayern will lock horns in a heavyweight quarter-final clash to determine who will reach the last four of the Club World Cup. PSG come off the back of a 4-0 demolition of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the round of 16. Advertisement The French giants have now found the back of the net four times on two separate occasions at this year's tournament, having thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 in their opening game. Vincent Kompany's Bayern find themselves in the last eight after beating an impressive Flamengo side 4-2. Harry Kane netted a brace to help send the Bavarians through, and has three goals and one assist in four games in this Club World Cup campaign. Date, kick-off time and venue PSG vs Bayern is scheduled for a 5pm BST kick-off, Saturday, July 5, 2025. The match will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Where to watch PSG vs Bayern Live stream: Viewers can watch the action live online via the DAZN website, which is free with a registration. Coverage will begin from 4pm BST ahead of an 5pm kickoff. Advertisement DAZN is the global broadcaster of the new-look Club World Cup and will show all 63 matches of the competition. No subscription is required to watch the game, with the entire tournament available to their 'Freemium' members, which means you only need to sign up for a free DAZN account. Live blog: Follow all the action right here with Standard Sport's live blog! PSG vs Bayern team news When everyone is fit, PSG, probably have the most predictable starting XI in the competition, yet one position could be up for grabs in this quarter-final bout. After coming off the bench in PSG's 4-0 win last time out, Ousmane Dembele could be in contention to make a return to the starting line-up. Advertisement The most likely casualty of Dembele's inclusion would be Bradley Barcola, who played on the right-hand side against Inter Miami, while Desire Doue played more centrally. Elsewhere, Kingsley Coman is a doubt for the German giants after he hobbled off against Flamengo. This means Serge Gnabry, Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala will likely start behind Harry Kane. Leroy Sane has played his final game for the club before joining Galatasaray. PSG vs Bayern prediction It is difficult to look past a PSG victory in this clash of the European heavyweights. The European champions have the most settled team at the tournament, and despite the blip against Botafogo, have sailed seamlessly into the last eight. Advertisement Bayern will by no means concede defeat easily and can boast of an abundance of attacking riches themselves, but PSG's attacking firepower should prove too much for Kompany's side. PSG to win, 2-1 Head to head (h2h) history and results PSG and Bayern recently met in the Champions League, when Luis Enrique's side lost 1-0 in the league phase as Dembele was sent off. PSG wins: 6 Bayern wins: 8 Draws: 0 PSG vs Bayern match odds PSG to win: 11/10 Bayern to win: 17/10 Draw: 21/10 Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
What we're hearing on Lionel Messi's future: Inter Miami contract talks, links to Argentina and the 2026 World Cup
The world that surrounds Lionel Messi is one that is fraught with speculation — that's certainly nothing new for a superstar athlete of his caliber. Messi has been in the U.S. for two years with Inter Miami, thousands of miles away from his home country Argentina, where a media frenzy that tracked his every move became toxic up until 2022. After Messi led his nation to World Cup glory in Qatar that year, the reporting became much friendlier, but that hasn't stopped many in his homeland from guessing how his final years as a professional soccer player might unfold. Advertisement Within 24 hours of Miami's elimination from the Club World Cup, Messi's future with his MLS club became a talking point. Pundits in Argentina hypothesized that Messi would consider leaving MLS for a more competitive league. And according to at least one report, contract negotiations between Messi and Miami had stalled. It's true that Messi's Miami contract expires at the end of 2025 and that he hasn't signed a renewal yet. But he is still expected to extend his stay in MLS at least through 2026, as The Athletic reported in April, and a source close to the player, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, has reiterated that in recent days. In Messi's world, though, it doesn't take much to stir the pot. Even before the Club World Cup, and after Miami had conceded 15 goals in five matches in May, the Argentinian columnist and broadcaster Ariel Senosiain described Messi's club as 'a franchise that does not even remotely do justice to his unparalleled career.' Senosiain's theory was that Messi's competitive streak, which at times in 2025 has looked more like displeasure, is a result of 'the lack of excellence around him,' which in turn has affected his mentality within a less competitive environment. Senosiain pondered whether the Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni is growing concerned about Messi's situation inside a Miami dressing room that is 'cold' in comparison to the family-like setting of the current world champions. Other reporters in Argentina suggested that Newell's Old Boys, Messi's boyhood club, would be the player's preferred destination. But Newell's finished ninth in the latest Apertura tournament after finishing 25th in the final Primera División standings in 2024. That's hardly a more competitive environment, considering that Miami, despite the club's limitations from a squad-building perspective, has either won a trophy or competed among the best teams in MLS since Messi's arrival. Furthermore, the quality of Argentina's first division has lessened considerably over the past decade. Brazilian clubs are the powerhouses in South America, as evidenced during this Club World Cup. Palmeiras and Fluminense advanced to the quarterfinals, while Boca Juniors and River Plate, Argentina's biggest clubs, crashed out in the group phase. Argentine football, however, is among the most passionate and stress-filled competitions in world football. That alone can raise the level of play. But why would Messi, who played at the top level of the sport for nearly two decades, consider leaving the comforts he enjoys in South Florida for a mid-table club that hasn't won a trophy since 2013? It may pain Argentines and especially Newell's supporters to hear this, but for now, Messi's club loyalties are set in pink and black. And what about those pining for his return to Barcelona? A possible reunion with the Catalan club gained internet steam this week, too, but that scenario is even more unlikely. In Miami, Messi has surrounded himself with people he trusts. That includes his close friends and ex-Barça teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez. The head coach Javier Mascherano is a former Barcelona and Argentina teammate too. The Miami co-owners Jorge and Jose Mas and David Beckham are club executives and decision-makers who have Messi's trust — something that Barcelona president Joan Laporta does not. Advertisement 'Honestly, I have barely spoken to Laporta. Maybe once or twice at the most,' Messi told Mundo Deportivo in 2023, after he revealed to the Spanish outlet that he would sign with Inter Miami. To Senosiain's point, yes, Messi has clashed with MLS referees and opponents and has looked irritated with Miami's struggles in 2025. Even so, by not re-signing yet, it's more likely that Messi is playing the long game and seeking to establish even more leverage over his current employer rather than genuinely eyeing an exit. It's a basic negotiation tactic. On Tuesday, the source within Messi's inner circle told The Athletic that the Miami captain 'knows perfectly well what the goals, motivations, and also the challenges of coming to Miami are.' The same source, who is familiar with the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner's thoughts on his MLS stint, relayed that Messi understands Miami is 'a young club, that it's a new project, and Messi is there to contribute and to help.' If Messi is frustrated with MLS's lack of real progress since he arrived, it's clear that he's open to accepting it. One can assume that the most important reason for that is the well-being of his family. Messi has been seen at his sons Thiago and Ciro's Miami academy matches, beaming with pride alongside his wife Antonella. It certainly appears that Messi has settled nicely in Florida. He's gracious when local residents see him at a stoplight. He recently paused to sign a jersey for a starstruck fan outside Miami's training facility. In other words, life is good for the Messi family. His old club Paris Saint-Germain delivered a healthy dose of reality on the pitch with the 4-0 drubbing in Atlanta, but the fact that Miami was even in the second phase of the Club World Cup was arguably more surprising than Sunday's final score. Advertisement 'Well, the game was what was expected,' Messi said after the loss to PSG. 'They are a big team, (and) they are the champions of the last edition of the Champions League. It was the game we expected, we tried to do the best possible and we left a good image at the Club World Cup level.' In the inaugural match of the competition, Miami struggled against Egyptian champion Al Ahly. The game ended 0-0, and after tangling with opposing players both physically and verbally, Messi was clearly annoyed as he trudged off the field after the final whistle. A win over Porto changed everything for Miami, though. Messi's free-kick goal led to a shock result and the first time that an MLS side had defeated a European club in an official competition. Miami then nearly defeated Palmeiras, which would have sent the club to the top of Group A. But after Palmeiras stormed back from 2-0 down to force a draw, Messi stood at the center circle after the final whistle, ruing what could have been. Now Miami are left to shift their focus to the MLS regular season and a potential title run. It'll be quite the change to go from facing PSG to setting up a tactical plan to defeat CF Montréal. And still, Messi remains locked in contract negotiations with Inter Miami over a deal that would keep him in Miami colors through the 2026 World Cup and the opening of the new Miami Freedom Park stadium. The Athletic understands that both parties are aligned on a renewal, although it's unclear when Messi will put pen to paper. 'The stars are aligning for something great, for a beautiful future for the club and for Lionel. It's solely his decision,' Jorge Mas told FDP Radio in April. 'I expect that within 60-90 days, we'll have to determine all of this. My hope has always been — and everything we're doing — is to see Messi play at our new stadium in 2026. Hopefully, that happens.' Despite this week's rumor mill, there's an acceptance in Argentina that Messi has chosen a more tranquil life in the U.S. after two decades as the world's best player. After that 2022 World Cup win, Messi's retreat to Fort Lauderdale with his family was justified, and his place within the Argentina national team isn't jeopardized because he plays in MLS. Advertisement Scaloni has said on more than one occasion since 2022 that Messi will be part of the national team for as long as he wants to be. The manager is unbothered by the perception of MLS that some may still have in Argentina. Messi has scored six times for Argentina during the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, tied for second best behind Colombia's Luis Díaz, who has seven. Messi's impact in Miami, and perhaps even in MLS as a whole, should not be judged on how many goals he scores or whether he can repeat as MLS MVP. He'll have a future stake in the club, which means he'll influence both the sporting department and commercial interests of the club for years to come. On Sunday, Alba was asked if he believes that Messi will prepare for the 2026 World Cup by continuing to play his club football on U.S. soil. 'Yes, why not?' replied Alba, who recently extended in Miami through 2027. 'I can't see him playing anywhere else, honestly. But it'll be his decision. The decisions he has made have always been wise ones, and obviously I believe he can compete at the next World Cup.' Last week, as Messi turned 38, Newell's named a stand at their home stadium after him. It's a tremendous honor – but not one that will likely change Messi's club future. Anything can happen between now and December. But a return to previous stomping grounds seems like an implausible reality.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
With Jenni Hermoso left out, who will be Spain's star striker at Euro 2025?
'No door is closed to any player.' Those were the words of Spain's head coach Montse Tome at a news conference in May as she announced yet another squad without Jenni Hermoso. It was the fourth time in a row that Hermoso, Spain's all-time top scorer with 57 goals, was left out. She was La Roja's starting centre-forward as they lifted the 2023 World Cup but has not appeared in any squad for her national team since October. Advertisement 'I am clear about what I want from the team, what I want from the players when they are off the pitch: that camaraderie, that poise,' Tome said in November 2024, when she omitted Hermoso for the first time. 'We want to launch that line of work and that is where we are going to focus.' Back then, Hermoso was left out along with Irene Paredes and goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez. Curiously, that came after all three players were involved in the Netflix documentary It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football, in which they and fellow Spain team-mate Alexia Putellas spoke about what had happened behind the scenes at the Spanish football federation (RFEF) since 2022. That story has been well covered. In 2022, 15 of Spain's players sent an email to the RFEF declaring themselves unavailable for selection by their national team until things changed in terms of the federation's treatment of the women's game. They spent months not playing for Spain and only three returned to play in the 2023 World Cup, which Spain won. During the celebrations, RFEF president Luis Rubiales gave Hermoso an unconsented kiss, which resulted in a trial this February where Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault and fined more than €10,000 (£8,600; $11,800). Hermoso is in the twilight of her career at 35 years old and has just left Mexican side Tigres UANL, but it is easy to understand why reporters have asked Tome so much about her absence. She is a proven goalscorer who was key at the 2023 World Cup, scoring three times and winning the Silver Ball award for the second-best player of the tournament, only behind her team-mate Aitana Bonmati. Advertisement So, who will be this Spain team's star striker in her absence? For a start, the team's goals are evenly distributed among the team — and this is especially true of star midfielders Putellas and Bonmati (who was diagnosed with viral meningitis but discharged from hospital on Sunday). Putellas was Barcelona's second-highest scorer in the 2024-25 season with 22 goals, while Bonmati scored 15 in her lowest scoring campaign in the last four years. Their fellow Barca and Spain winger Salma Paralluelo scored 13 times despite taking a three-month break from the game to adjust her training regime to prevent injury (she started out combining football and athletics). However, in terms of individual names that stand out above the rest, it is hard to look beyond Claudia Pina after a sensational end to the season with Barcelona. The 23-year-old winger can create goals out of nothing. She finished the season as the Champions League's top scorer with 10 goals despite not being an undisputed starter, helping her side to the final (where they lost 1-0 against Arsenal). She scored 22 times across all competitions. Advertisement Six months ago, Pina was not even in Tome's plans. In fact, she was one of the players who was relegated to Spain's under-23s from the senior team after Tome took charge in September 2023. She had been one of 'Las 15' who did not return for the World Cup. Now, there is no question of her making the Euros squad. In Spain's Nations League game against England in June, she came on in the 58th minute with her side losing 1-0, scored two minutes later with her first touch and then the eventual winner in the 70th minute. Her second was a work of art, a fine shot from outside the area that nestled in the top corner. These Euros could not have come at a better time for Pina. She is full of energy, even when she is not in the starting line-up, and brings accuracy, audacity and talent. She could be set for a breakout tournament in Switzerland. Esther Gonzalez is the closest player to Hermoso in terms of her position. The Gotham FC centre-forward joined the NWSL side from Real Madrid after the World Cup win and has flourished since then, recently renewing her deal with the club until 2027. Advertisement She remains the second highest scorer in Madrid's brief history in the women's game, with 39 goals across three seasons with the club. Moving to the United States has made her physically stronger and more complete. After a spell out of the squad, she returned in March and has scored three goals in her last four games for Spain. She is a regular for the team at 32 years old and was one of their captains at the World Cup. Then there is Mariona Caldentey. The former Barca forward scored 16 goals in her debut season for Arsenal. At Barca, she tended to be underrated among a host of stars and was not a regular in the starting line-up, partly due to injuries she suffered. Caldentey has come into her own in the Women's Super League and was an important player in Arsenal's Champions League triumph against her old club in May. She can play up front and as an attacking midfielder. Advertisement In her last season at Barca, coach Jonatan Giraldez used her as a No 9, although she admits this is not her ideal position and she tended to play as a left-winger in Catalonia. Tome is using Caldentey as a right-winger, but wherever she plays, she has a knack for scoring goals. Coming into the tournament in Switzerland as one of the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or, we could see her play an even more prominent role. There are other options too, not least Alba Redondo and Paralluelo. Redondo was Real Madrid's top scorer in Liga F this season with 15 goals and the fourth highest in the league. Paralluelo, meanwhile, played a key role in the World Cup, scoring the goal against the Netherlands that sent Spain through to the semi-finals and another against Sweden in the semi-final. But she is a winger rather than an out-and-out striker like Hermoso. Advertisement What is clear, though, is that Spain will not be short of scoring options, even in Hermoso's absence. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Spain, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
