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Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has moved to ease concerns about Neymar Jr's availability for the 2026 World Cup following the forward's injury setback earlier this week.
What was initially believed to be minor swelling has since been confirmed as a Grade 2 calf strain, with Neymar officially diagnosed on Thursday and expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks — a concern given Brazil's tournament opener is just a fortnight away. The muscular problem, likely compounded by a cautious approach ahead of the World Cup, has kept the experienced attacker out of his last three matches for hometown club Santos, including Tuesday's Copa Sudamericana group stage victory over Deportivo Cuenca.
While the 34-year-old did arrive at the Granja Comary training facility for Brazil's pre-tournament camp, he was absent from Wednesday's training session and is expected to sit out warm-up friendlies against Panama on Sunday and Egypt the following Saturday.
Ancelotti has previously omitted Neymar from squads due to injury, yet the Italian tactician made clear on Saturday that he intends to retain the forward in the Seleção's roster for this summer's global showpiece.
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Ancelotti most recently dropped Neymar from the March international window squad due to fitness issues, following the attacker's knee surgery in December that kept him out until February. "Neymar is not at 100% and therefore he is not on the list," Ancelotti said plainly at the time.
The situation has shifted considerably this time around, however. Ancelotti made the somewhat unexpected decision to include Neymar in his World Cup squad two weeks ago — the forward's first call-up since 2023 — and has consistently maintained that Neymar will be a key contributor this summer. Despite the renewed fitness worries, Ancelotti remains committed to keeping the former Barcelona man in his squad.
"We expect Neymar to be ready for the first World Cup match against Morocco; if he can't make it, we'll wait for the second game," Ancelotti said at Saturday's press conference. "We're not replacing anyone — the selected players are these 26, and these 26 will play in the World Cup."
Brazil kicks off their World Cup campaign at MetLife Stadium on June 13 against Group C opponents Morocco. The tournament favorites then head to Lincoln Financial Field on June 19 to take on Haiti, before wrapping up group stage action at Hard Rock Stadium on June 24 against Scotland.
Final squad submissions to FIFA are due by June 1, though teams are permitted to make injury-related replacements up to 24 hours before their opening World Cup fixture.