Why is Neymar not playing today? Brazil face Paraguay in 2026 World Cup qualifiers

On Tuesday night at Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil will host Paraguay for Matchday 16 of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a match that will be broadcast in the United States on Fubo (7-day free trial). Carlo Ancelotti’s team will be looking for a win that could secure their place in next summer’s tournament in North America. However, Neymar Jr. will not be on the field.

Ney was left out of Ancelotti’s squad for the June international break, as the coach prioritized selecting players who are fully fit, considering the decisive stage of the qualifiers and the importance of the upcoming matches.

That said, this decision doesn’t mean the Santos forward won’t be considered by Ancelotti in the future—quite the opposite, in fact. The coach publicly addressed the issue after announcing the call-up list. “I spoke with him this morning and he completely agreed. Brazil is counting on him. He came back to the country to get ready for the World Cup,” said Carlo a few days ago.

Since returning to Santos earlier this year, Neymar hasn’t been able to escape the physical issues that have plagued him in recent seasons. In fact, he has missed 10 of the 22 matches the club has played since then, across the Campeonato Paulista, Copa do Brasil, and the Brazilian league.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti

Other absences for Brazil

Neymar’s absence from the matches against Ecuador and Paraguay in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup stands out the most due to the key role the forward has played for Brazil over the past decade—especially given the team’s recent struggles to find consistent performances and results.

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But this isn’t a situation exclusive to Ney. Several other key players were also left out of the squad for this June international break for similar reasons. Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes is the clearest example, along with other stars like Endrick, Eder Militao, and Joelinton. All of them are expected to rejoin the squad in the near future.

Without Neymar, the pressure is on Vinicius

Neymar’s absence has turned Vinicius into the most important player on the Brazil national team. The Real Madrid winger is now the center of attention and carries the responsibility of leading the squad through this challenging period. So far, it hasn’t been an easy task for him, as he hasn’t delivered with Brazil the same level of performance he consistently shows with Real Madrid.

However, the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti has renewed confidence in Vini, who is now supported by a coach that knows him well and with whom he has reached the pinnacle of club soccer. This fresh start is highlighted by one key detail: since the last match against Ecuador, Vinicius has been wearing the number 10 jersey—traditionally worn by Neymar.