Neymar's Participation in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage in Doubt
Neymar's Injury Update Ahead of World Cup
File image of Brazilian footballer Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior(Photo: @TouchlineX/X)
New Jersey, June 13: Brazil will kick off their FIFA World Cup campaign against Morocco without star player Neymar, as coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed that the forward might miss the entire group stage due to a calf injury.
In a statement before the match against the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, Ancelotti noted that while Neymar is making progress, he is not yet fit to play.
"He is putting in a lot of effort to recover quickly. We are optimistic he can resume full training next week," Ancelotti shared.
Brazil's group stage also includes matches against Haiti on June 19 and Scotland on June 24, but the coach did not confirm Neymar's availability for these games either.
The 34-year-old striker missed training again on Friday and has not participated in any matches since being called up by Ancelotti. Neymar was also absent from Brazil's warm-up games against Panama and Egypt as he continues his rehabilitation.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his fitness, Ancelotti explained his decision to include Neymar in the World Cup squad, stating, "He serves as a great role model for the younger players in our team." The Italian coach, the first non-Brazilian to manage the five-time champions, emphasized that Neymar's experience is crucial for a team aiming for a record sixth World Cup title.
Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior expressed his support for Neymar, saying, "He motivates me. I wish him a swift recovery and can't wait to see him back on the field."
On the other hand, Morocco's preparations remain unaffected by Neymar's absence. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi mentioned that his team has trained for both scenarios. "We are ready for a match with or without Neymar. Our approach remains unchanged," the 49-year-old stated.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi expressed disappointment at the possibility of missing out on facing one of football's legends, saying, "I want to compete against the best, and Neymar is certainly among them."
While Ancelotti hopes to have Neymar available later in the tournament, Brazil will have to navigate their opening matches without one of their key players.