After Neymar expressed his gratitude despite missing Brazil’s 2026 World Cup debut, The Brazilian Football Association confirmed that Neymar will remain in New Jersey instead of traveling with the squad to Philadelphia, focusing on rehabilitation at the team’s training facilities as he works toward full fitness.

“He will remain in New Jersey to make the most of the final stage of his recovery, making use of the excellent facilities at The Ridge hotel and the Columbia Park training center,” the federation said in a statement. Follow Brazil vs Haiti live with us for minute-by-minute updates!

Neymar continues recovery from calf injury

Neymar has been dealing with a Grade 2 calf muscle tear sustained on May 17 while playing club soccer for Santos, which has limited his availability for Brazil at the World Cup. Just like against Morocco, Neymar is nowhere to be seen in Brazil’s lineup against Haiti.

The 34-year-old was initially seen doing light on-field drills with the squad after previously working indoors with physiotherapists and fitness staff, as Brazil have taken a cautious approach to his recovery timeline.

As a result, Neymar also missed Brazil’s opening 1-1 draw against Morocco and remains under medical supervision as the team manages his return to competitive action.

Brazil managing Neymar’s return ahead of knockout stage

Brazil’s medical and coaching staff are prioritizing Neymar’s long-term fitness, aiming to have him available for the later stages of the tournament rather than rushing his return during the group phase.

According to reports, the focus remains on ensuring he reaches full match readiness for potential knockout-stage involvement, depending on how his recovery progresses in the coming days.

Brazil faces Haiti—the lowest-ranked CONCACAF team in the 2026 tournament—in a must-win game for Canarinha. After a frustrating 1-1 draw against Morocco in their opening match, the five-time World Cup champions desperately need to make a statement against the Grenadiers.

Unfortunately for A Seleção, Neymar remains unavailable for this fixture. Having already missed the opening match against Morocco, his recovery timeline continues to prolong his absence from the Brazilian national team.

Brazil’s confirmed lineup to face Haiti

Brazil is dealing with several high-profile absences for this tournament. One of the most notable is veteran center-back Thiago Silva, who missed out on the final 26-man roster. Furthermore, Real Madrid star defender Eder Militao was completely ruled out of the World Cup due to a recent injury.

Brazil’s confirmed lineup vs. Haiti: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta; Raphinha, Vinicius Jr., Matheus Cunha.

Haiti’s confirmed lineup vs. Brazil

Haiti boasts several talented foreign-born players in their 2026 World Cup squad, a formula that allowed the Concacaf nation to give Scotland serious problems in its tournament opener. Now, the Grenadiers will look to pull off another gritty performance against Brazil, even though Canarinha enters the match as the overwhelming favorite.

Haiti’s confirmed starting XI to face Brazil: Johnny Placide; Carlens Arcus, Ricardo Ade, Hannes Delcroix, Martin Experience,Jean-Kevin Duverne; Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Danley Jean Jacques; Ruben Providence, Frantzdy Pierrot, Josue Casimir.

“Thank you, my God… thank you for giving me the chance to experience this once again,” Neymar wrote on Instagram hours before kickoff at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Despite the injury preventing him from playing for Brazil against Morocco in East Rutherford on Matchday 1, Neymar is still thankful for the opportunity to play at another FIFA World Cup in his career.

Neymar’s unexpected 2026 World Cup call-up

Neymar’s gratitude makes sense, considering that his 2026 World Cup presence looked unlikely before a last-minute change of heart by Carlo Ancelotti. Despite dealing with physical setbacks over the last few months, Carletto ultimately opted to include Neymar on his roster, even though it meant leaving Joao Pedro out.

Neymar hasn’t played for Brazil since October 2023, when he sustained a serious knee injury that kept him on the sidelines for months — and pretty much affected his career since then.

Ancelotti constantly snubbed Neymar in his call-ups, which is why many feared that Ney wouldn’t make the World Cup squad either. The former Barcelona star made the cut though, and even with an injury affecting him at the start of the tournament, his potential return later in the group stage creates expectations in Brazil.

Neymar’s World Cup history

2026 marks the fourth World Cup appearance in Neymar’s career, as the winger had previously represented the Selecao in 2014, 2018, and 2022. His first appearance was cut short by a devastating back injury before Brazil suffered a blowout 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals.

2018 saw Ney help Brazil reach the quarterfinals, where they lost to Belgium. In 2022, the team once again failed to get past the quarterfinals as Croatia pulled off an upset on penalties.

Neymar arrives in the 2026 edition with eight goals and four assists in 13 World Cup games. Will he improve this stats and help Brazil reach the promised land this year? Only time will tell us.

Prior to the World Cup, Neymar suffered a grade-2 calf strain in his right leg. This has extended the time he has not played for Brazil, but manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident he will be ready for their next clash.

“Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible,” Ancelotti said on Friday about the forward’s progress. “The expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week.” Follow Brazil vs. Morocco live with us!

Neymar misses a key match against Morocco

Morocco’s improvement in the FIFA rankings should definitely alert Brazil. The Africans were semifinalists in Qatar 2022, making many believe their 2026 World Cup campaign could be even better.

Neymar was not expected to be a starter against Morocco, but rather a solid substitute if needed. However, he is widely expected to see action against Haiti in a game where Brazil will need to seek as many goals as possible to potentially decide the group leadership via a goal-difference tiebreaker.

Neymar is not the only big star missing from Brazil’s offense. Other big names such as Rodrygo, Joao Pedro, and Richarlison are also out of the World Cup, as they didn’t even make the roster cut on Ancelotti’s list.

Carlo Ancelotti is under a lot of pressure

Carlo Ancelotti is the first-ever non-Brazilian manager to coach the Canarinha. There is always pressure on the Seleção’s coach, but this factor definitely makes it even greater.

Also, of all the World Cup champions there have been, all the national teams have lifted the trophy under the guidance of a homegrown manager. If Italian mastermind Carlo Ancelotti can achieve this feat in this edition, he will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest coaches in soccer history.

Neymar’s last appearance with Brazil was on October 17, 2023. Back then, his side was defeated 2-0 by Uruguay in Montevideo, and that is, until now, his last game played with the five-time World Cup champions.

Amid several ongoing injuries and dipping performance, Brazil decided not to call Neymar up in recent years. However, since he had a solid season with Santos at an individual level, Ancelotti decided to call him up for the international tournament.

Why is Neymar not playing vs Morocco?

Neymar recently suffered a grade two calf strain in his right leg. It was initially set to sideline him for two to three weeks, casting many doubts over his availability for Brazil’s debut.

Ultimately, the forward did not recover in time for the game against Morocco. However, reports suggest that he will be ready to face Haiti in Brazil’s second game in Group C.

As of today, Neymar was not expected to even start against Morocco, but he was a solid substitute choice. The game against the Africans is set to be the Canarinha’s top test, potentially going face to face against them for the group’s leadership.

When is Brazil facing Morocco?

Brazil will face Morocco on June 13 at 6:00 PM ET. The game will be played at New York New Jersey Stadium, with highly sunny weather expected.

Fabrizio Romano, via his X account, shared a statement from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) regarding the progression of the number 10’s recovery. “Neymar underwent MRI on Monday and tests showed a good evolution in his treatment — within the expected parameters.”

The press release also added: “He will follow the recovery preparation process planned by the medical commission of the Brazilian National Team.” The Seleção will begin their World Cup campaign on June 13. Will Carlo Ancelotti have Neymar available for the tournament opener?

What injury is Neymar Jr. dealing with?

Neymar is racing against time to recover from a grade-two calf strain in his right leg. The 34-year-old sustained the injury on May 17, 2026, during Santos’ 3–0 defeat against Coritiba in the Brazilian domestic league.

An MRI scan later revealed a partial tear of the muscle fibers rather than just minor swelling, forcing him to miss Brazil‘s pre-tournament friendlies against Panama and Egypt.

Brazil’s participation in the 2026 World Cup

Brazil will play all three of their 2026 World Cup group stage matches in the United States as they headline Group C. The Seleção will make their tournament debut against Morocco on June 13 at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford.

For their second fixture, the five-time world champions will travel to the Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Stadium) to face Haiti on June 19. Finally, Brazil will wrap up the group stage with a highly anticipated clash against Scotland on June 24 at Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium) in Florida.

Brazil’s intriguing forward line

Neymar’s expected call-up adds to an intriguing attacking lineup for Brazil ahead of the World Cup:

• Endrick (Lyon)
• Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
• Igor Thiago (Brentford)
• Luiz Henrique (Zenit)
• Matheus Cunha (Manchester United)
• Raphinha (Barcelona)
• Rayan (Bournemouth)
• Vinícius Junior (Real Madrid)

In search of a sixth World Cup title

Brazil are hunting for that legendary sixth FIFA World Cup title, and the vibe around the squad is pure focus. They grabbed their first three championships during the golden Pele era in 1958, 1962, and 1970, absolutely dominating the globe with Jogo Bonito.

Romario, Bebeto and Taffarel brought home number four in 1994 after a dramatic shootout in the US, and Ronaldo alongside Rivaldo secured their last star back in 2002 with their masterclass in Japan and South Korea.

Neymar recently suffered a grade two strain in his right calf. Reports suggest he could miss the start of the tournament, though manager Carlo Ancelotti remains hopeful to have him ready for the June 13 debut against Morocco.

While Neymar is not slated to start for Brazil, he remains a dangerous weapon off the bench once fully fit, as the medical staff refuse to rush his recovery.

Neymar was a surprising call-up for Brazil

Prior to Ancelotti’s roster announcement, fans questioned whether the forward would make the cut. His eventual inclusion sparked debate, with critics suggesting it was more of a tribute than a form-based selection.

Though Neymar performed well individually for Santos during the 2025-26 season, his club narrowly escaped relegation by a single point, making his World Cup selection highly controversial.

He is expected to begin the tournament on the bench, but Ancelotti will likely utilize him as a primary tactical substitute if the five-time champions struggle offensively.

Brazil’s starting lineup to face Egypt

For this final tune-up, Ancelotti fielded a starting XI that many expect will mirror the lineup against Morocco, though Gabriel Magalhaes is ultimately projected to start over Ibanez alongside Marquinhos in the World Cup defense.

Brazil’s starting XI to face Egypt: Alisson; Wesley, Marquinhos, Ibanez, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta; Vini Jr., Raphinha, and Igor Thiago.

But as fans rush to complete their albums, a surprising pattern has emerged: several players who are officially heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup are nowhere to be found inside its pages, creating confusion among collectors.

Among the most talked-about omissions is Neymar, who was left out of the Brazil section despite being part of the national team squad for the tournament. His absence has been widely discussed because of his long-standing presence.

2026 World Cup players missing from the Panini album

Several confirmed 2026 World Cup players are missing from the official Panini album due to early production deadlines. Some of them are:

• Neymar – Brazil
• Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro Martínez, Thiago Almada, and Geronimo Rulli – Argentina

The omissions were identified after comparing the final FIFA 26-man squads with the published 980-sticker collection. The issue has become a discussed topic, as the 2026 edition reflects a snapshot of national team projections.

A clear example is Neymar, who was initially left out of the Brazil section due to uncertainty around his fitness and international status at the time of production, before later being included in Brazil’s final squad announcement window.

Why are 2026 World Cup players missing from the Panini album?

Players are missing from the World Cup album because the collection is produced months before official FIFA squad announcements, forcing Panini to rely on projections, statistical models and early call-up data rather than final rosters.

Sources explain that Panini finalizes international editions well ahead of time—often in early-year production windows—using availability, recent national team appearances and probability-based models to decide inclusion.

As a result, players who were injured at the time, not yet called up or later recalled by coaches can end up either excluded or inaccurately represented in the final sticker set. Panini often releases “update sets” after the event begins.

These supplemental stickers are designed specifically to correct late squad changes, but they arrive after the main album has already reached collectors worldwide, reinforcing the idea that the book is a snapshot frozen in time rather than a fully up-to-date squad guide.

Neymar suffered a grade two strain in his right calf during practice, and is expected to miss two to three weeks. Hence, he won’t be playing this game vs Panama and the next friendly against the Egypt.

The last time Neymar suit up for the ‘Canarinha‘ was in October 17, 2023. It was against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier. He suffered a severe knee injury in that match. It seems that Neymar can’t be healthy during his last experiences

Will Neymar be ready for the 2026 World Cup?

Neymar is racing against the clock, but he is expected to recover in time for the 2026 World Cup. However, it’s the debut that is in jeopardy. It’s likely that he will miss the first game against Morocco, which is the hardest game of the group for Brazil.

He might be back for June 19th’s game against Haiti, and then against Scotland on June 24th. Neymar was one of the last inclusions of Carlo Ancelotti for the 2026 World Cup roster. The Italian manager has also stated that he won’t replace Neymar.

Neymar’s numbers on the World Cup

Neymar has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 13 World Cup matches. He’s played in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups. Despite his great production, Neymar’s World Cup outings have been marked by injuries.

During the 2014 edition, Colombian Juan Camilo Zuñiga did a woeful tackle on Neymar’s back and he ended up missing the semifinals game. In 2022, he missed two group-stage games due to an ankle injury suffered in the first game.

The diagnosis leaves one massive question hanging over the squad: Will Brazil risk keeping Neymar on the tournament roster? Under FIFA regulations, World Cup teams have until 24 hours before their group stage opener to make injury replacements, according to ESPN Brazil. That 24-hour deadline is exactly how long team officials plan to wait on their talisman’s recovery.

While the CBF currently has no intention of cutting Neymar from the final 26-man squad, team doctors are on a strict watch. If his rehabilitation stalls, Brazil may be forced to pivot, replacing the forward with a player from the preliminary pool and sending Neymar home to continue his treatment.

As the clock ticks down, Brazilian fans are anxiously awaiting the next round of medical updates. While the CBF has yet to outline a formal contingency plan, this looming roster deadline could ultimately dictate the tournament fate of a nation desperate to end its 24-year World Cup title drought.

Who could replace Neymar in the roster?

If Neymar’s injury take a turn for the worse, Chelsea’s Joao Pedro appears to be the primary candidate to fill the void. Pedro, who lamented the World Cup snub, shined for Chelsea in 2025-26 and could find himself thrust into the 26-man picture due to these unforeseen medical circumstances.

Another notable name left off the original 26-man squad was teenage phenom Estevao, who also narrowly missed out on the prestigious roster. Navigating these difficult decisions highlights the luxury of riches at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal, though the manager simply couldn’t find room for everyone in his initial selection.

Neymar could miss 2026 World Cup debut

Beyond the speculation surrounding his roster spot, the projected recovery timeline almost certainly rules Neymar out of Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13. If the injury requires the full three weeks to heal, a more realistic target for his tournament debut would be the June 19 clash against Haiti.

The injury drama have cast a cloud of uncertainty over Brazil’s World Cup aspirations. Neymar was poised to be the undisputed focal point of the attack, and his potential absence leaves the squad searching for a true alpha to steady the ship on football’s biggest stage.

According to the update provided by Brazil‘s team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, Neymar has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The injury carries an estimated recovery timeline of two to three weeks, leaving manager Carlo Ancelotti without his talismanic forward for upcoming exhibition matches against Egypt and Panama.

If his rehabilitation goes perfectly, Neymar could potentially return in time for the World Cup opener against Morocco. However, if his recovery stretches to the later end of that window, he will sit out the debut and target Brazil’s second group-stage match against Haiti on June 19.

Neymar has been vocal about his emotional drive to bring the trophy back to Brazil in what is widely expected to be his international swansong. Now, with a dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over his fitness, the soccer world faces a tense waiting game to see when—or if—the Brazilian icon will take the pitch in North America.

Potential replacements for Neymar during his recovery

Ahead of the upcoming friendlies, Ancelotti must quickly pivot to find a replacement for the cornerstone of his attack. Fortunately for the Italian tactician, Brazil’s final roster boast an embarrassment of riches, giving him plenty of high-caliber options to experiment with.

As Neymar has evolved from a touchline winger into a central playmaker who operates closer to the box, Ancelotti could turn to Matheus Cunha or Endrick, both of whom are coming off stellar club campaigns. How the manager fills the void will ultimately dictate how he deploys his other world-class wing talent, including Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha.

Brazil’s projected lineup without Neymar

Friendlies against Panama on May 31 and Egypt on June 6 will serve as an audition for players vying to start the tournament opener against Morocco. With foundational pieces like Vinicius Jr. and Alisson Becker locked into the starting XI, here is a look at how Brazil are projected to line up without Neymar:

• Goalkeeper: Alisson
• Defenders: Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Douglas Santos
• Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta
• Forwards: Raphinha, Endrick, Vinicius Junior