Neymar to miss Haiti clash as Brazil update recovery plan

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has officially announced that Neymar will be absent for the Selecao’s second group-stage match of the 2026 World Cup. The 34-year-old forward will not travel with the squad to Philadelphia, where they are set to face Haiti this Friday.

Instead of joining the group, the star will remain at the team's base in New Jersey. This move allows him to focus on his physical conditioning using the specialized facilities at The Ridge hotel and the Columbia Park training centre.

This decision represents a shift in strategy from head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had initially planned for the player to stay embedded with the squad to maintain chemistry. However, medical staff opted for a stationary approach to ensure access to specific recovery equipment.

While Neymar has begun light work on the pitch, his workload remains strictly controlled. The coaching staff is prioritizing his availability for the knockout rounds of the tournament.

If you have a player like Neymar, the opponents become more tense and ask for help to mark him. So, with two players marking him, someone from our team will be alone. This can help a lot. Just being on the field, he can unbalance the opponent. Danilo

Brazil’s final group-stage game against Scotland on June 24 remains the next target, though his participation is still uncertain as the staff avoids rushing his return.