Football & World Cup build-up: Brazil crushed Panama 6-2 at the Maracanã in a World Cup warm-up, with Vinícius Jr striking early and Casemiro, Rayan, Paquetá, Igor Thiago (pen), and Danilo adding to the rout as Neymar sat out with a calf injury. Regional sports culture: Haiti’s “Grenadiers” are switching their World Cup loyalties after qualifying for the first time since 1974, with fans now rallying around their own team ahead of a June 19 opener vs Brazil. Mexico World Cup squad: Mexico named goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in Javier Aguirre’s squad for his sixth World Cup, alongside captain Edson Álvarez and striker Raúl Jiménez, while 17-year-old Gilberto Mora is set to be among the youngest in El Tri’s history. Nicaragua human rights: Indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera died in state custody after nearly three years of detention, with authorities citing a bacterial infection linked to COVID-19, while rights groups dispute the government’s account. Colombia politics: Hard-right Abelardo de la Espriella and progressive Ivan Cepeda will face off in Colombia’s June runoff after leading Sunday’s presidential vote. U.S.-Cuba tensions: The U.S. pledged $100M in humanitarian aid for Cuba but only via faith-based and nonprofit groups, not the Cuban government, deepening the dispute over sanctions and distribution.