Neymar remains unavailable as he continues recovering from injury, but the possibility of seeing the Santos star in Brazil’s opening match against Morocco has not been completely ruled out. With the 2026 World Cup rapidly approaching, Carlo Ancelotti and Brazil are carefully monitoring one of the biggest storylines surrounding the tournament. Neymar remains unavailable as he continues recovering from injury, but the possibility of seeing the Santos star in Brazil’s opening match against Morocco has not been completely ruled out. Uncertainty has further complicated Brazil’s plans. While the national team has looked impressive during its recent warm-up matches, the focus continues to center on whether Neymar will be ready when the World Cup begins. Brazil’s preparations suffered a setback when Neymar arrived at the training camp already carrying an injury sustained while playing for Santos in the Brazilian Serie A. Initially diagnosed as an edema by his club, further examinations conducted by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) revealed a more serious problem. The tests confirmed a grade II calf muscle injury, leading medical staff to place the forward on a carefully managed recovery program. As a result, Neymar missed Brazil’s emphatic 6-2 victory over Panama and will also sit out the final pre-World Cup friendly against Egypt. Neymar Junior of Brazil. Instead of traveling with the squad to Cleveland, the veteran star remained at the team’s base in New Jersey, where he continues undergoing physiotherapy and individualized treatment under medical supervision. Despite the concerns surrounding Neymar’s fitness, Ancelotti has remained remarkably calm. The key factor that will determine Neymar’s availability Although Neymar’s chances of featuring against Morocco appeared slim only days ago, fresh reports suggest the situation is evolving positively. According to journalist Pedro Lopes of UOL, Neymar will undergo a new medical examination on Monday, June 8. The results of that assessment will play a crucial role in determining the next step of his recovery. Segundo round de treinamento da quinta-feira! 🔥🇧🇷#BateNoPeito 📸 Rafael Ribeiro/CBF📸 Sam Robles/CBF pic.twitter.com/dZLxm6VoIi— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) June 4, 2026 Should the examination produce encouraging results, the Selecao’s technical staff could allow Neymar to return to training with the rest of the squad, significantly improving his chances of being available for the World Cup opener. Internally, there is growing optimism that the recovery is progressing faster than initially expected. While no guarantees have been made, the possibility of Neymar appearing against Morocco remains alive. Brazil preparing for multiple scenarios Ancelotti and his coaching staff are understandably preparing for every possibility. World Cup regulations allow teams to replace injured outfield players until 24 hours before their opening match. However, Brazil has shown no signs of considering such a move, reflecting the confidence the coaching staff has in Neymar’s recovery timetable. Neymar Jr. of Brazil celebrates scoring his side’s first goal with his teammate Lucas Paqueta . If the forward were unable to participate immediately, Brazil would still possess considerable attacking depth. Players such as Endrick, Rayan, Lucas Paqueta, and Igor Thiago provide alternative options capable of carrying the attacking burden. Still, there is little doubt that Neymar’s presence would significantly strengthen Brazil’s ambitions.
Although Mauricio Pochettino appeared to have reached an agreement with AC Milan, Oliver Glasner is reportedly emerging as the frontrunner to become the new head coach. Following a six-hour meeting, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is said to have made the Austrian coach his top choice. Following the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri, AC Milan are preparing a rebuild of their sporting project in search of greater competitiveness. In recent weeks, Mauricio Pochettino appeared to be the favorite, reportedly reaching an agreement with the club. However, Oliver Glasner has reportedly overtaken him as the leading candidate. After a lengthy meeting with Zlatan Ibrahimović, the Austrian coach is moving ever closer to the Rossoneri. According to Alessandra Gozzini, via La Gazzetta dello Sport, Gerry Cardinale and Zlatan Ibrahimović met with Oliver Glasner in Germany for six hours. After this meeting, the Austrian coach has become the leading candidate, as his spells at Eintracht Frankfurt and Crystal Palace FC were notably successful. In addition, the style of play he implemented at those clubs aligns with the sporting project’s vision. While Bayer 04 Leverkusen had emerged as a strong contender for Glasner, they have already announced Carles Martínez Novell as their new head coach. As a result, the Rossoneri appear to have a clear path to reaching an agreement with Oliver. In addition, Oliver could take charge as soon as possible, something Mauricio Pochettino would not be able to do, as he must wait until the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup. If AC Milan fail to secure the arrival of Oliver Glasner soon, he could be tempted to remain in the Premier League. Following the reported departure of Marco Silva to SL Benfica, Fulham FC have reportedly identified the Austrian coach as their top priority, as per SportsBoom. Not only did he lead Crystal Palace FC to European competitions and trophies, but he also helped bring out the best version of several players, including Daniel Muñoz. Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace, celebrates with the UEFA Conference League Trophy. Ralf Rangnick’s arrival could be crucial in convincing Oliver Glasner As one of the most impressive managers in the Premier League, Oliver Glasner may not be in a hurry to accept a new challenge. Instead, he could look to take on a more ambitious project, which is why he has reportedly not immediately accepted the proposal from AC Milan. Rather, he has supposedly decided to listen to the proposal presented by Cardinale and Ibrahimović. With this in mind, Ralf Rangnick’s arrival could be key to convincing Glasner. Given the inconsistency of the sporting project, Glasner could have serious doubts about moving to Serie A. Therefore, Rangnick’s arrival would give the Rossoneri greater long-term direction, as he not only influences signings, but also the coaching staff and youth academy. With this duo, AC Milan could receive a major boost in competitiveness. However, if Ramon Planes is appointed as sporting director, the Austrian coach could have serious doubts.
