OFFICIAL: Carlo Ancelotti reveals whether Neymar will play in Brazil’s opening World Cup match

Ahead of Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, one of the biggest questions surrounding the team was whether Neymar had recovered in time to take part in the match.

Details: Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar will not feature in the opening game. However, he stressed that the forward is working hard on his recovery and is expected to return in the near future.

Quote: "Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible. He is expected to make a full recovery and return to the squad next week," Carlo Ancelotti said.

Earlier reports had suggested that Neymar had yet to train with the national team and was expected to miss the entire group stage of the World Cup.

Brazil will begin their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 14. They have also been drawn in a group alongside Haiti and Scotland.

Reminder: Croatia are set to begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign soon, and there is a possibility that one of the nation’s greatest players could bring his career to an end.