Overview
- As of Monday, June 8, reports indicate Argentina will likely be without defender Leonardo Balerdi after a serious training injury and Morocco will probably lose winger Abde Ezzalzouli following medical exams.
- Morocco’s preparations were hit during Sunday’s friendly with Norway when Noussair Mazraoui and Abde Ezzalzouli left injured, adding to existing doubts over Nayef Aguerd and Chemssidine Talbi and threatening the squad that reached the 2022 semi‑finals.
- Argentine media report Balerdi’s injury could sideline him for about a month, creating a central‑defence shortfall that may force Lionel Scaloni to name a replacement before FIFA’s medical deadline.
- Final friendlies produced mixed signals about form: Brazil beat Egypt 2‑1 while still managing fitness questions around Neymar, the United States showed resilience in a narrow loss to Germany, and France used home matches to finalise tactics before Didier Deschamps’s last tournament.
- Non‑sport risks and logistics are also complicating camps — a shooting near England’s Kansas City area, a reported 'snake zone' by Switzerland’s base and Iran’s move to Tijuana — all increasing pressure on teams to resolve security and travel arrangements before kickoff.