Neymar Suffers New Injury Before 2026 World Cup and Could Miss Start of Tournament

Brazil national team forward Neymar has once again faced fitness problems shortly before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to sources, medical tests have confirmed a new injury for the player. His recovery is expected to take around two to three weeks. As a result, Neymar is likely to miss Brazil’s friendly matches before the World Cup and may also fail to recover in time for the team’s opening match of the tournament against Morocco.

The situation is particularly worrying for Brazil, as Neymar had earlier been unexpectedly included in the national team squad for the 2026 World Cup. His name was announced live by head coach Carlo Ancelotti. According to many predictions, the 34-year-old forward was not expected to make the final squad due to frequent injuries and inconsistent playing time in recent years.

Nevertheless, Ancelotti decided to trust Neymar’s experience and included him in the team. For the player, this could have been another chance to take part in a World Cup and help Brazil fight for the title.

At the moment, it remains unclear whether the coaching staff will make changes to the squad or whether Brazil will travel to the tournament with their injured captain. The final decision will likely depend on the progress of Neymar’s recovery in the coming days.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Brazil will begin the tournament with a match against Morocco.