Neymar Doubtful for Brazil’s Final World Cup Warm-Ups Amid Injury Concerns

Brazil have been dealt a big injury worry over Neymar just weeks before the FIFA World Cup 2026 starts in North America. The Santos forward is dealing with a calf issue, which could keep him out of Brazil’s final warm-up matches.

On the first day of World Cup preparations, Brazil will also carry out an important medical check on the squad. When the team gathers at Granja Comary on May 27, doctors will closely assess Neymar’s fitness before the group travels to the United States.

Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that every player will be treated the same, meaning Neymar will go through the same strict checks as others with fitness concerns. The coaching staff wants a clear update on his condition before taking any final call on his place in the squad for the tournament opener.

Santos and the Brazil national team are giving different updates about how bad Neymar’s injury is. Santos says it is just a “mild edema” and even thinks he might be able to play against Deportivo Cuenca on May 26. But the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has been told that the calf issue could be more serious than that.

Meanwhile, independent sources have claimed that Neymar’s fitness issue is not as minor as Santos are suggesting. This means the Brazil star will need to undergo detailed tests to assess the injury, as Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to take a half-fit player into the tournament.

At the moment, Neymar’s chances of featuring in the upcoming friendlies look very slim. Brazil are set to play Panama on May 31 and Egypt on June 5, but reports say it is “unlikely” the 34-year-old will be risked in either match due to his recovery status.

For Carlo Ancelotti and his staff, the main focus is to have Neymar fully fit by June 13, when Brazil start their World Cup journey against Morocco. Instead of giving him game time in warm-up matches, the priority has now shifted to making sure he is ready for the tough demands of the group stage in North America.