January 31, 2025

After several days of rumors, Neymar Jr. announced on social media his return to Santos, signing a contract until June 30 as he aims to regain his form ahead of the 2026 World Cup.   At 32 years old, the forward stated that only the club where he was developed can provide the support he needs. His comeback follows the termination of his contract with Al-Hilal, where he played only seven matches and scored one goal before suffering a severe injury.   The Brazilian team responded to the announcement with a welcome message on social media. Neymar left the club nearly 12 years ago to join Barcelona. Now, he hopes to relaunch his career in the Brazilian football scene that saw him grow.   You may also be interested in: The Europa League league phase is history   Cover image: X (@neymarjr)

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues, and the Estadio Azteca is undergoing a major transformation to meet FIFA‘s requirements. As part of the renovation, two iconic areas of the venue will be disabled, marking a significant change in the layout of the Coloso de Santa Úrsula. THE AZTECA’S TRANSFORMATION TOWARD 2026 🔄🏗️ On January 27, the calendar marked 500 days before the start of the World Cup, an event where Mexico will play a key role as a host nation. To ensure that the Estadio Azteca meets international standards, modernization work has progressed with the removal of traditional spaces and the creation of new exclusive areas. Since the last tournament, Club América stopped playing at the stadium to allow for these structural changes. Among the improvements, the construction of new dressing rooms is planned, along with the relocation of certain access areas and the adaptation of spaces for hospitality, a premium service for international attendees. 🏟️✨ WHICH AREAS WILL DISAPPEAR FROM THE ESTADIO AZTECA? 🚧⛔ According to information from Milenio, the areas that will be removed are: 🔹 VIP Area: Located in sections near the pitch, this section will disappear to make way for new spaces dedicated to hospitality fans. 🔹 Coca-Cola Lounge: This exclusive area will also be removed as part of the restructuring. Additionally, a crucial change will occur in the dressing room location. Until now, they have been located at the south end, but with FIFA’s new requirements, they will be relocated to the center of the stadium, aligning with the infrastructure of the world’s most modern venues. 🌍⚽ PROGRESS AND PROJECT DELIVERY DATE 🏗️📅 The modifications are already noticeable: ✅ Removal of the grass for future renewal. ✅ Elimination of old benches and areas within the stadium. ✅ Start of space adjustments for new service areas. The goal is for the work to be completed by the end of 2025 or early 2026, ensuring that the Estadio Azteca is ready for the World Cup, which will kick off in June 2026. 🏆 With these changes, the iconic Mexican stadium is being modernized to remain a global football landmark. Although it bids farewell to two legendary areas, it is preparing to welcome thousands of fans for the biggest football celebration. What will the new Azteca look like? We will find out in the coming months. 🌎🏆🎉 THE AZTECA AND ITS MONUMENTAL HISTORY This restructuring represents an investment in the greatness of Mexican football, but also a sacrifice of what many considered part of the stadium’s essence. It is essential that, in modernizing, we do not lose the connection to what makes this stadium unique: its passion, its people, and its history. However, the stadium’s future is more important than the memory of what is being left behind. FIFA demands standards that ensure a world-class event, and the Azteca, with its monumental history, cannot afford to fall behind. ⚒️ As always, the Azteca has a tradition of surprising us, and we hope that this renovation will provide an even more imposing venue—one that never forgets its roots. 🙌✨

The Europa League playoffs are set, with Lazio, Athletic Club, Manchester United, and Tottenham securing direct passage to the Round of 16. Among the standout clashes, Porto vs. Roma promises to be a thrilling battle as teams fight for a spot in the next stage. After eight matchdays, the UEFA Europa League phase has concluded, and the competition is now moving into its playoff stage, where the eight directly qualified teams await their opponents. Direct Qualifiers The teams that earned direct qualification to the Round of 16 are Lazio, who topped the overall standings, followed by Athletic Club, Manchester United, Tottenham, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos, and Rangers. Europa League Playoff Matchups Among the 16 teams that landed in the playoff spots, the most anticipated matchup is Porto vs. Roma. The winner of this high-stakes battle will move on to face either Lazio or Athletic Club in the next round. Ferencváros and Viktoria Plzen will also compete in the playoffs, with the winner set to face either the first or second-ranked team from the overall standings. In other key fixtures, Anderlecht, featuring Mexican star “Chino” Huerta, will take on Fenerbahçe, now managed by José Mourinho. Meanwhile, Twente will go up against Bodø/Glimt. The winners of these two matchups will face either Olympiacos or Rangers in the Round of 16. Additionally, Union Saint-Gilloise will face Ajax, and PAOK will battle FCSB, with the victors advancing to meet either Eintracht Frankfurt or Lyon. Finally, AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray are set for an evenly matched showdown, while Midtjylland will face Real Sociedad in a game that could lead to an exciting clash against either Manchester United or Tottenham—arguably one of the most intriguing paths toward the Europa League final in Bilbao. You may be interested in: The Road to the Champions League Round of 16 Is Set Playoff Schedule The first-leg matches will take place on February 13, 2025, while the return legs will be played on February 20, 2025.

The Champions League playoffs are now defined, with the standout clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid. Teams will battle for a spot in the Round of 16, where they will face those who qualified directly. Following the conclusion of the UEFA Champions League league phase, the 16 teams that will compete in the playoffs for a spot in the Round of 16 have been confirmed. This morning, during Central Mexico time, the official draw took place, setting up the matchups in a two-legged format to determine which eight teams will advance to face the eight clubs that secured direct qualification. Exciting Matchups in the Playoffs The highlight of this new Champions League format comes early, as two European giants will collide. Manchester City and Real Madrid—both Champions League winners and among the best teams in recent years—will face off in a thrilling tie. One will move on to play either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, while the other will be eliminated. Paris Saint-Germain will take on a familiar opponent, Brest, in an all-French clash. The Parisian side appears to be the favorite, but Brest has already proven its ability to compete at this level, securing a draw against Leverkusen and a victory over PSV in the league phase. The winner of this matchup will face either Liverpool or Barcelona. A highly competitive matchup awaits as Atalanta seeks to return to the Round of 16, but they must first overcome Club Brugge, another club eager to make it deep into the tournament. The winner of this tie will meet either LOSC Lille or Aston Villa in the next round. Juventus and PSV will battle in what promises to be another exciting encounter between two historic clubs that are expected to be Champions League contenders. The victor will face either Arsenal or Inter Milan in the Round of 16. Another closely contested fixture will be Monaco vs. Benfica. Both teams finished in the middle of the league phase standings but showed glimpses of competing for top positions, making this one of the most intriguing matchups. The winner will go on to play either Liverpool or Barcelona. Borussia Dortmund will take on Sporting CP, aiming to replicate their deep run in last season’s tournament. However, Sporting will look to spring an upset and move on to face either LOSC Lille or Aston Villa. One of the more lopsided matchups on paper is Bayern Munich vs. Celtic. The German powerhouse enters as the heavy favorite against the Scottish side, but football is full of surprises, and Celtic will try to defy the odds for a chance to face either Bayer Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid. Lastly, Feyenoord will meet AC Milan in a tie that holds special significance for Mexican striker Santiago Giménez. Rumors suggest that Milan is interested in signing him, making this an intriguing duel. The winner will advance to face either Inter Milan or Arsenal. The first-leg matches of these playoffs will be played on February 11 and 12, 2025, while the second-leg fixtures will take place on February 18 and 19, 2025.