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Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Neymar will miss the team’s opening fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Morocco.

The Selecao are scheduled to begin their campaign at the MetLife Stadium on June 13.

Neymar was included in Brazil’s final 26-man squad despite enduring a difficult period plagued by injuries.

The forward had not featured for the national team since 2023, but Ancelotti showed faith in the experienced attacker by selecting him for the tournament.

The 34-year-old appeared emotional while travelling with the squad to the United States alongside teammates including Joao Pedro and Richarlison.

However, after earning his place in the squad, Neymar suffered another injury setback, delaying his anticipated return to action.

Ancelotti had earlier indicated that Brazil would not call up a replacement for the injured star.

There had been optimism that Neymar was progressing well in his recovery and could be available for Brazil’s World Cup opener.

That hope has now been dashed, with confirmation that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward will not feature against Morocco.

Providing an update on the player’s condition, Ancelotti told reporters:

“He is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible. The expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week.”

Following their clash with Morocco, Brazil will continue their Group C campaign against Haiti and Scotland.

If Neymar’s recovery progresses as expected, he could still have an opportunity to feature later in the group stage and gain valuable minutes before the knockout rounds.

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