Brazil Sweat Over Neymar's Fitness as World Cup Return Delayed by Injury
By Jeff Unaegbu
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
Brazil's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered another setback after forward Neymar failed to recover in time for the team's opening Group C fixture against Morocco.
Although the 34-year-old has not featured for the national team since 2023, head coach Carlo Ancelotti maintained his confidence in the experienced attacker by including him in the World Cup squad.
Neymar was visibly emotional as he boarded the flight to the United States alongside teammates Joao Pedro and Richarlison. However, shortly after joining the squad, he sustained another injury, delaying his long-awaited return to competitive action.
Despite the setback, Ancelotti previously insisted that Brazil would not call up a replacement, expressing optimism over Neymar's rehabilitation ahead of the tournament.
The Brazilian Football Confederation has now confirmed that the former captain will miss the team's opening match against Morocco.
Providing an update on the player's condition, Ancelotti told reporters:
"He is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible. The expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week."
Brazil will continue their Group C campaign against Haiti and Scotland after the Morocco encounter. Should Neymar complete his recovery as expected, the forward could still play a significant role in the remaining group-stage matches and strengthen Brazil's quest for World Cup glory.
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