Hot football news noon 20/6: Brazil sets historic milestone at World Cup

Hanoi undertakes a strong restructuring under Harry Kewell, releasing three Brazilian imports, as the 2026 World Cup features significant highlights such as Brazil's all-time milestone, Raphinha's setback, and increasing self-belief in the US squad; additionally, the European transfer scene is buzzing with speculation over Mason Greenwood, Michael Olise, and numerous other talents.

Hanoi cleanses its squad

Hanoi has officially begun its squad rebuilding process after the 2025/26 season by letting go of three Brazilian foreign players: Daniel Passira, Adriel Silva, and Luiz Fernando. Among them, Daniel Passira stands out as the most notable, having been expected to become the capital club's leading striker after winning the Bolivian top-flight golden boot. Meanwhile, Adriel Silva failed to secure a regular defensive spot, and Luiz Fernando disappointed due to his inability to adapt to the team's playing style.

This simultaneous departure of three foreign players indicates Hanoi is preparing for a major overhaul under coach Harry Kewell. The Hang Day Stadium side is expected to bring in higher-quality signings to strengthen the squad and compete for titles in the 2026/27 season.

Raphinha leaves Brazil and Barca on edge

The joy of Brazil's victory over Haiti at the 2026 World Cup was overshadowed when Raphinha unexpectedly suffered an injury and had to leave the pitch in the first half. The Barcelona star looked deeply disappointed as he was substituted, raising concerns about his physical condition.

According to Brazilian media, Raphinha may have aggravated a hamstring injury in his right leg, a problem that previously sidelined him for nearly six weeks in March and caused him to miss several important Barcelona matches. The severity of the injury is still unclear, but if upcoming tests yield unfavorable results, the 2026 World Cup could end early for the 29-year-old forward. This would be a significant blow for both Brazil and Barcelona ahead of the new season.

Zlatan fuels the US team's fire

The US national team has become a remarkable phenomenon at the 2026 World Cup, securing a spot in the round of 32 early after consecutive wins against Paraguay and Australia. Notably, Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic caused a stir by stating that the US team can definitely win the World Cup with a succinct reply: "Yes."

Under coach Mauricio Pochettino, the host nation has displayed impressive form with confident and effective play. Despite missing Christian Pulisic in the match against Australia, the US still won 2-0 thanks to goals from Cameron Burgess (own goal) and Alex Freeman. However, Pochettino remains cautious, emphasizing that the team must maintain the highest fighting spirit if they want to turn their dream of winning the World Cup on home soil into reality.

Brazil enters World Cup history books

Brazil's national team has just set a memorable milestone at the 2026 World Cup by officially surpassing Germany to become the highest-scoring team in tournament history. The 3-0 victory over Haiti not only brought Selecao closer to advancing but also raised their total World Cup goals to 241. This achievement allows Brazil to claim the top spot alone after nearly a century of World Cup existence. The record was built by generations of legends, from Pele, Romario, and Ronaldo de Lima to Neymar and current stars.

Not only the most decorated team with five titles, Brazil also reaffirms its status as the symbol of attacking football. With the 2026 World Cup still ongoing, Carlo Ancelotti's squad has every opportunity to further extend this historic record.

Greenwood's path back to the Premier League brightens

The European transfer market is heating up with a series of notable deals. Mason Greenwood is reportedly close to a Premier League return, drawing interest from Arsenal and Tottenham. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich wants to quickly extend Michael Olise's contract to prevent major clubs from approaching the French star.

In other developments, Barcelona is closely monitoring Tottenham center-back Micky van de Ven, while Juventus may abandon plans to sign goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez due to high costs and instead shift focus to Guglielmo Vicario. At Old Trafford, Manchester United also plans to retain Luke Shaw with a new contract, though the English defender may have to accept a lower salary than his current one.