Advertisement
Brazil to face Morocco without Neymar in World Cup opener
30th May, 2026 08:37 AM
Brazil will be without star forward Neymar for its first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the veteran attacker suffered a calf injury, according to an announcement from the Brazilian Football Confederation.
Medical examinations conducted at the national team’s training base in Teresópolis confirm that the Santos striker sustained a grade-two strain in his calf muscle. Team doctors estimate that he will require between two and three weeks to recover, making him unavailable for Brazil’s opening Group C clash against Morocco on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Brazil’s team physician, Rodrigo Lasmar, recently explained that Neymar underwent a series of medical evaluations upon joining the squad, including an MRI scan that revealed a muscle strain rather than the swelling that had initially been suspected. The medical staff expects him to resume full activities after completing his recovery period.
The injury traces back to Santos’ 3-0 defeat against Coritiba on Sunday, May 17,2026, after which the club’s medical team initially diagnosed the issue as swelling in the calf.
Although he arrived at Brazil’s camp in Teresopolis, close to Rio de Janeiro, on Monday, May 25, 2026, Neymar did not join the rest of the squad in training involving the ball.
Tests
“The player was taken to a clinic in the city to undergo additional tests,” read a statement on the CBF’s official website on Thursday, May 28, 2026. “No further information will be released until the medical staff completes its evaluation.”
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, Neymar has netted 79 goals in 128 appearances for the national team. However, the 34-year-old has endured a difficult spell with injuries in recent years. His last appearance for Brazil came in October 2023, when he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury during a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay.
Since returning to his childhood club Santos in January last year, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has struggled to maintain fitness, recording 17 goals in 38 matches across all competitions.
Brazil will launch its World Cup campaign against Morocco in New Jersey before taking on Haiti in Philadelphia and Scotland in Miami as Group C action continues.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
