Canada two days from World Cup kickoff as Brazil withdraw

Two days out

You're 48 hours from hosting a World Cup. The tournament starts June 11, runs through July 19, and Canada is in it automatically as co-host alongside Mexico and the United States. That's the only certainty right now – no squad details, no form guide, no manager updates in the mix this evening. Just the reality that it's nearly here.

The field shifts

Brazil have pulled out of the tournament. The specifics aren't detailed in tonight's reports, but a World Cup without Brazil shifts the entire landscape – and as a host, every withdrawal or disruption in your group or your side of the bracket matters. Meanwhile, Iran have arrived in Mexico under heavy security, a reminder of how much weight these next weeks carry.

Market moves

Bayern Munich are chasing Ismael Saibari of PSV. No direct Canada angle, but it's the kind of move that reshuffles the deck in a tournament summer – players moving, futures being decided while the world watches.

Fan buzz

The World Cup is landing everywhere. One Arsenal supporter mapped out all 15 Gunners heading to the tournament – from Trossard's Belgium to the Brazilian duo Gabriel and Martinelli. A bar owner on Manhattan's Upper West Side is gearing up to show every single group-stage match, including the weird ones at midnight. The energy is already spilling over, and you're at the center of it. Full thread