Brazil will take a cautious approach with their star forward Neymar, ruling him out of the national team's second World Cup fixture due to an ongoing calf injury. The Brazilian soccer confederation confirmed on Thursday that the 34-year-old Santos player will not travel to Philadelphia for Friday’s clash against Haiti. Instead, he will remain at the team hotel to focus entirely on his rehabilitation, as management prioritizes his long-term fitness over a premature return to competitive play.
"He will remain in New Jersey to make the most of the final stage of his recovery, making use of the excellent facilities at The Ridge hotel and the Columbia Park training centre," the CBF said in a statement.
Neymar to miss Brazil vs Hiati FIFA World Cup clash
This latest calf injury was sustained on May 17 during match against Coritiba, adding to a frustrating string of physical setbacks that have plagued the forward in recent years. Despite missing the upcoming match against Haiti, Neymar's recovery timeline appears to be moving in a positive direction as he inches closer to full match fitness.
Signaling a significant step forward, Neymar made his return to the training field on Wednesday for the first time since the injury. He began the session with an individual warm-up before joining his Brazilian teammates for a series of light drills. To ensure he didn't overexert himself, he spent the remainder of the session doing isolated work on the sidelines under the watchful eyes of the medical staff.
This week marked a notable shift in Neymar's recovery routine since arriving in the United States. Prior to stepping onto the pitch for isolated training, the former Barcelona star had been confined to indoor rehabilitation, working closely with physiotherapists and fitness instructors at Brazil's training headquarters to regain his strength.
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The five-time world champions are fully committed to avoiding any setbacks in Neymar’s recovery, viewing him as an indispensable asset to their title ambitions. Despite a near three-year absence from international duty, the forward remains Brazil's all-time leading men's goalscorer with 79 goals. The team is intentionally taking a long-term view, prioritizing his rehabilitation now so that his unmatched creativity and veteran experience are available during the high-stakes knockout stages of the tournament.
Brazil chasing first win in FIFA World Cup 2026
Following a draw against Morocco in their opening match, Brazil enters their second fixture with just one point on the board and a strong desire to secure their first victory of the 2026 World Cup. Even in Neymar's absence, the Seleção are heavy favorites to claim all three points against Group C opponents Haiti, who currently sit at the bottom of the standings after a opening-round defeat to Scotland.