Neymar fit for ‘first or second’ World Cup match – Ancelotti

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Brazil’s Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti speaks during a press conference at the Granja Comary training center in Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 30, 2026. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP)

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Brazil star Neymar is on course to shake off a calf strain and could even be ready for their opening match of the World Cup, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday.

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After reports the 34-year-old forward could be out for three weeks, Ancelotti instead insisted Neymar was working well towards fitness for the June 13 match against Morocco in New Jersey.

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“We believe he’ll be back very soon and if he doesn’t make it for the opener, he’ll be there for the second game,” said Italian Ancelotti.

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Former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar, now at Brazilian club Santos, will miss Brazil’s two pre-World Cup friendlies against Panama and Egypt.

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Brazil play Panama Sunday at the Maracana stadium before setting up camp in New Jersey on Monday and playing a final warm-up against Egypt on June 6 in Cleveland.

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Neymar’s inclusion in Ancelotti’s 26-man squad for the World Cup was something of a surprise as he had not been picked for the national team in almost three years due to a mixture of injuries and poor form.

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However, Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances for the Selecao. This will be his fourth World Cup.

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AFP

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