JAKARTA – Brazil’s national team coach Carlo Ancelotti said he has no plans to replace Neymar in the squad for the 2026 World Cup and dismissed questions about whether he would have picked the forward if he had known how bad his calf injury was.
Neymar has been sidelined with a right calf problem since May 17, 2026 and has not played for Brazil since suffering an ACL tear in October 2023, but he has been called up by Ancelotti for the Brazil squad.
Santos diagnosed Neymar with edema which caused swelling in his calf, but is confident the player will be fit before Brazil’s first match at the 2026 World Cup.
Further tests when he joined Brazil revealed that he had a grade 2 muscle injury and would be out for another two to three weeks.
Despite the complicated situation, Ancelotti replied jokingly when asked if he would call Neymar if he knew the injury was a second-degree injury and not a swelling.
“If my grandfather had wheels, he would be a car. Since I decided on the lineup, Neymar has been in the 26 players,” said the Italian coach.
Ancelotti said the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) took over Neymar’s medical treatment after the player was already selected in the squad.
He reiterated that he hopes Neymar remains part of Brazil’s plans at the 2026 World Cup and said the striker could still be available in the group stage despite a big chance of missing the opening match against Morocco on June 13, 2026.
“We think he might be fit for the first game of the 2026 World Cup. If he is not fit for the first game, he will be fit for the second game. So, we have no doubts about that.”
“I won’t make any changes. The 26 players selected are the ones who will play in the 2026 World Cup,” said Ancelotti.
The Italian coach also said that he had spoken to Neymar about his role in the team. He said that the striker was working hard to recover his fitness.
After opening the 2026 World Cup campaign against Morocco, Brazil will face Haiti on June 18, 2026 and Scotland on June 23, 2026.
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