Brazilian football fans are facing an unexpected dilemma ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as star forward Neymar finds his place in the final squad increasingly uncertain. While the five-time world champions have included him in their preliminary squad for upcoming friendly matches against France and Croatia, his ongoing fitness issues cast a shadow over his participation in the tournament.
Brazil will play France on 26 March and Croatia on 1 April, Bangladesh Standard Time. Coach Carlo Ancelotti selected Neymar for both fixtures, as reported by Brazilian outlets O Globo and UOL. However, Neymar’s recent injury problems have complicated matters.
Santos, Neymar’s club in the Brazilian Serie A, will face Mirassol tomorrow morning, but Neymar has been ruled out due to a recurrence of a muscle injury. Ancelotti will attend the match at Mirassol Stadium to monitor his squad ahead of final World Cup preparations. The forward’s absence from this fixture has sparked speculation that he could miss out on Brazil’s final squad announcement ahead of the friendlies.
Following Santos’ decision to rest him, Neymar will next appear in Serie A against Corinthians. This gives him just one opportunity to play a competitive match before Ancelotti finalises the squad, and even in that match, the head coach will not be present in the stadium.
Neymar, 34, last played for Brazil in October 2023. He had previously made headlines on 27 February, scoring twice against Vasco da Gama for Santos, but has not appeared in competitive matches since. According to O Globo, Ancelotti intended to assess Neymar’s physical fitness in the Mirassol match to ensure his readiness for international duty. The fact that Neymar must sit out due to injury highlights that he is not yet fully fit. Ancelotti has consistently maintained that only fully fit players will be considered for the national team.
Recent training updates indicate Neymar has continued gym sessions but skipped field training with Santos last week. He did, however, participate in team tactical sessions on Sunday. During the Santos-Corinthians match, Brazil’s assistant coach Mino Fulco and goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel will observe his performance, while Ancelotti himself will watch other Serie A matches involving Botafogo and Flamengo.
The timeline leading up to the World Cup is as follows:
| Date | Opponent | Competition | Neymar’s Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Feb 2026 | Vasco da Gama | Serie A | Played full match | Scored 2 goals |
| 2 Mar 2026 | – | Training | Gym only | Missed field training |
| 3 Mar 2026 | – | Tactical session | Participated | Team drills with squad |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Mirassol | Serie A | Rested | Muscle injury, no match |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Corinthians | Serie A | Expected to play | Final chance before squad announcement |
After the friendlies against France and Croatia, Ancelotti will announce Brazil’s final squad in May. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Neymar’s fitness and performance in the limited matches leading up to the tournament will play a pivotal role in determining whether he secures his spot in Brazil’s final roster, leaving fans anxiously awaiting updates.