Neymar to miss Brazil friendlies, World Cup debut at risk

Neymar is set to miss Brazil's World Cup warm-up matches, with his participation in the tournament opener now in jeopardy. This confirmation came on Thursday from Rodrigo Lasmar, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) doctor, via a statement released at Granja Comary in Teresópolis.

The Santos forward is expected to face a two to three-week layoff, ruling him out of the friendly matches against Panama at the Maracanã this Sunday, and Egypt on June 6th in Cleveland, United States.

The player's medical condition is the primary concern for the Brazilian national team as their training camp begins. The diagnosis revealed by the CBF after examinations in Teresópolis contradicts the initial information provided by Santos. Rodrigo Zogaib, the São Paulo club's doctor, had reported it as merely an edema, assuring that Neymar would be fit to train on May 27th, which did not materialize.

Rodrigo Lasmar clarified that the injury is more than just a simple edema. The CBF, already suspecting a more serious issue, subjected the player to more in-depth examinations at a clinic in Teresópolis, which was even closed to accommodate the athlete.

With an anticipated two to three-week recovery period, Neymar is not expected to be fit to play until between June 11th and 18th. In the most optimistic scenario, the player would be available on June 11th, just two days before Brazil's World Cup debut against Morocco on June 13th. The second group stage match is against Haiti on June 19th.

It's worth noting that, according to the 2026 World Cup regulations, the final squad list must be submitted by June 1st. After this date, substitutions are only permitted in cases of serious injury or illness, duly justified to FIFA, up to 24 hours before the team's first match in the tournament.