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Neymar Jr. has remained a major talking point since being included in Brazil’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti did not select Neymar in March due to injury concerns at the time, but he made it clear that the forward would return to the squad once fully fit, which eventually happened.​
However, questions have continued regarding the former FC Barcelona player's availability for Brazil’s opening match against Morocco.​
How Did Neymar Jr. Suffer His Injury?​
Neymar Jr. will not play when Brazil face Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with kick-off scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Friday that the 34-year-old is still recovering from a Grade 2 calf injury and has not yet resumed full training with the squad.​
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer will watch from the sidelines as the Seleção begin their World Cup campaign without him. It marks the third consecutive World Cup in which injury has caused Neymar to miss at least one match.​
Neymar suffered a Grade 2 tear in his right calf during a Santos Brasileirao Betano league match against Coritiba on May 17, only days after being named in Brazil’s World Cup squad.​
“Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible. The expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week,” Ancelotti said recently.​
The current expectation is that Neymar could be available for Brazil’s second group-stage match against Haiti on June 19 in Philadelphia, although no final decision has been made due to the nature of the injury.​
Throughout his World Cup career, Neymar has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 13 appearances. He helped Brazil finish fourth at the 2014 World Cup before the team suffered quarter-final eliminations in the following two editions.​
His most recent appearance for Brazil came in October 2023, when he sustained a serious ACL injury against Uruguay that kept him out for much of the following year. While the current calf injury is unrelated, concerns about his fitness heading into major tournaments continue to attract attention.​
Brazil enter the match against Morocco as favorites despite Neymar’s absence. However, Morocco represent a significant challenge after reaching the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar in 2022 and winning the Africa Cup of Nations last year.​
The match is also notable as the only group-stage fixture at the 2026 World Cup featuring two teams ranked inside FIFA’s top ten. Brazil are ranked sixth in the world, while Morocco occupy seventh place, making it one of the standout matches of the tournament’s opening round.​
Brazil hope Neymar will recover in time to make his first World Cup appearance under Ancelotti during the group stage. Whether that return comes against Haiti or Scotland remains uncertain.