Rio de Janeiro, May 28: Brazil have suffered a major injury concern ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after star forward Neymar was ruled out of the team’s upcoming warm-up friendlies with a calf injury.
The 34-year-old attacker is expected to miss matches against Panama and Egypt after sustaining a grade two calf injury during Santos’ 3-0 defeat to Coritiba on May 17. Reports suggest Neymar could be sidelined for up to three weeks, casting doubt over his availability for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13 at the New York New Jersey Stadium.Despite concerns over his fitness, Neymar had recently been included in Brazil’s World Cup squad by head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who expressed confidence in the veteran’s recovery during the squad announcement.Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar later confirmed the injury setback, while midfielder Casemiro stressed the importance of allowing Neymar sufficient time to recover. (AP)
