That. Just. Happened. The U.S. men’s national team demolished Paraguay 4-1 to begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup—the first time ever the USMNT scored four goals in a World Cup game—and it could’ve (should’ve?) been more. Coming into the game, most had no qualms with the lineup. Maurico Pochettino looked to get the same dynamism […]
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Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has delivered an encouraging injury update regarding Neymar, offering fans hope just days before their 2026 World Cup debut against Morocco. With the 2026 World Cup rapidly approaching, Neymar is currently on a specialized training program to recover from a Grade II calf muscle strain. Amid mounting concerns over the superstar’s availability, manager Carlo Ancelotti offered a highly reassuring fitness update during his latest press appearance. “I think Neymar’s situation is very clear. He is doing excellent individual work. Tomorrow (Saturday) he will undergo an MRI, and if everything goes well, he will rejoin the main group next week,” Ancelotti confirmed during his press conference. While the rest of the Brazilian squad travels to Cleveland on Friday to face Egypt in their final pre-tournament friendly on Saturday, Neymar will not be making the trip. Instead, he will remain at the team’s base camp in New Jersey to continue his focused rehabilitation process. The former Barcelona forward was named on the bench during Brazil‘s emphatic 6–2 victory over Panama in their emotional Maracana send-off match. However, he did not see any minutes on the pitch, as the medical staff is entirely prioritizing his long-term availability for the World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti atualiza a situação de Neymar e espera retorno aos treinos com o grupo na próxima semana.📸 Rafael Ribeiro/CBF#futebol #selecaobrasileira #ge2026 #ancelotti #neymar pic.twitter.com/vGdLMXN4KB— ge (@geglobo) June 5, 2026 While the national team brass desperately wants Neymar on the pitch for their June 13 opener against Morocco, Ancelotti recently reiterated that they will not rush his recovery. The Italian tactician emphasized that if Neymar is not 100% ready for the opening match, the staff will simply focus on getting him in peak condition for their second Group C fixture against Haiti on Friday, June 19. Ancelotti to rest some players in final friendly Carlo Ancelotti opted not to reveal his full starting lineup for Saturday’s warm-up match against Egypt, but he guaranteed that he would be resting Gabriel Magalhaes. The manager noted that the center-back showed signs of heavy fatigue following his grueling shifts for Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final. Flamengo’s Leo Pereira is expected to step into the heart of the defense to replace Gabriel. Additionally, tactical tweaks during recent training sessions suggest further squad rotation, with Bournemouth’s Rayan filling in for Lucas Paqueta in midfield and Douglas Santos slotting into the left-back position in place of Alex Sandro.
With Brazil facing Egypt on Saturday, Neymar will miss the trip for the friendly to continue his recovery ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Neymar is currently locked into a rehabilitation program that has kept him separated from the main group during Brazil‘s training sessions. To maximize his chances of being fully fit for the Selecao‘s looming 2026 World Cup opener, the Santos superstar has been completely omitted from the traveling squad for their upcoming friendly against Egypt, remaining behind at the team’s base camp. Brazil is scheduled to square off against Egypt on Saturday, June 6, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, marking their final exhibition match before launching their World Cup campaign against Morocco. However, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed in an official statement released on Thursday that Neymar will not board the plane with his teammates. Instead, the veteran attacker will remain at the team’s primary headquarters in New Jersey to focus on his recovery. Nursing a Grade 2 calf strain that he suffered during domestic play back on May 17, the medical staff’s blueprint mandates that Neymar undergo intensive, specialized physical therapy to accelerate the healing process rather than endure the fatigue of travel. While the injury previously kept him out of action, Neymar still took his place on the substitutes’ bench to support his teammates during Brazil’s prior friendly at the Maracana, where several opposing players even snapped photos with the former Barcelona star. This time around, the federation has opted against a similar arrangement, choosing to keep the 34-year-old entirely isolated from the matchday environment. Neymar Jr. of Brasil speaks to teammates Vinicius Junior and Bruno Guimaraes. What lies ahead for Neymar? Despite growing external anxiety surrounding his overall durability, head coach Carlo Ancelotti has repeatedly reassured the public that Neymar’s place on the final 26-man roster remains completely secure. While Neymar faces stiff internal competition from elite wingers Vinicius Junior and Raphinha for a spot in the starting XI, his inclusion in the tournament squad is a certainty, even if his initial workload is somewhat restricted. The five-time world champions will officially kick off their tournament run on June 13 against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Given that he has yet to participate in standard team drills, expectations are increasingly mounting that the legendary playmaker will be forced to sit out the highly anticipated Group C curtain-raiser. Nevertheless, the CBF medical department plans to monitor Neymar’s physical progression on a daily basis over the next week, with an additional MRI scan scheduled for June 12, exactly 24 hours prior to the Morocco clash. The definitive data from that final imaging session will ultimately allow the coaching staff and team doctors to make a late game-time decision on his availability.
