World Cup 2026: Ronaldo arrives in Florida, Neymar returns to Brazil

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo touched down in West Palm Beach on the evening of June 24, 2026, greeted by a crowd of fans and Portuguese officials before heading to the Four Seasons Resort, the team’s base for the tournament. He held a brief press conference at Miami‑International Airport, affirming his fitness for what could be his final World Cup and stressing Portugal’s aim to start the group stage strongly. Portugal’s opening match ended in a 1‑1 draw with Congo.

A day later, Brazilian star Neymar made an emotional return to his homeland, entering the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in the 75th minute of Brazil’s group‑stage game against Scotland. After 981 days without a Brazil shirt, he received a standing ovation and later celebrated the victory, which saw Brazil beat Scotland and top their group. Neymar spoke of his pride in playing for Brazil and thanked his family after the match.