Neymar is still waiting for his first appearance at the 2026 World Cup. The Brazilian came to the tournament with a health problem and is still not ready to play, which is why he will also be absent in the second match of the group phase. This is serious news for Canarinhos fans, because the team needs more offensive quality after the draw with Morocco.

Neymar will not play against Haiti

The Brazilian Football Federation has confirmed that Neymar will not travel with the national team to face Haiti. The match is scheduled for June 20 and will be Canarinhos’ second appearance at this year’s World Cup. The 34-year-old player will stay in New Jersey, where he will continue rehabilitation after a calf injury.

This means that Neymar’s break will last longer than fans initially expected. The player already missed the first match against Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Now it is clear that the Brazilian national team does not intend to risk his health in a match against a theoretically weaker opponent.

A calf injury delays the star’s return

Neymar’s problems started before the tournament. In May, he suffered a calf injury that excluded him from playing for Santos. Despite this, he was included in the squad for the World Cup, which from the very beginning raised questions about his real readiness to play.

The last few days have brought some improvement, as the Brazilian started showing up at training sessions with the team. However, this does not mean full match fitness. In the case of a player who has had long health problems, every step must be controlled, and rushing could result in another break.

When will Neymar return to play?

The most realistic date for Neymar’s return remains the match against Scotland, which will take place on June 25. For now, however, there is no certainty that the player will actually be ready by then. It all depends on the body’s reaction to subsequent training and the assessment of the medical staff.

For Neymar, it would be his first appearance for the national team since October 2023. Then Brazil lost to Uruguay 0-2, and the player later struggled with serious health problems, including a rupture of the cruciate ligament. For this reason, for a long time he was not taken into account even when selecting the match squad.

Brazil must cope without a leader

The absence of Neymar forces the Brazilian national team to rely on other players in attack. In the first match, Vinicius scored the only goal for Canarinhos. The Real Madrid winger is to be one of the main attacking figures also in the clash with Haiti.

A lot of responsibility will also fall on Raphinha, who should support Vinicius in creating actions and looking for an advantage on the sides of the pitch. Brazil have enough quality to cope without Neymar, but his absence is still felt. Especially when you need to break the opponent’s low defense.

The Canarinhos need a win

The draw with Morocco made the second group game more important. Brazil cannot afford to lose points again if they want to calmly control the situation in the group. The clash with Haiti will not only be an opportunity to improve our achievements, but also a test of effectiveness without the biggest star.

Neymar remains with the team, but for now he is more of a player in the rebuilding process than a viable option. Brazil must prove they can win without him. If rehabilitation goes according to plan, the 34-year-old may only get a chance at the end of the group stage.