Carlo Ancelotti Names Neymar to Brazil's World Cup Squad Despite Calf Tear
As preparations reach a fever pitch for the historic 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup—set to kick off on June 11, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—all 48 participating nations officially locked in their 26-man rosters (totaling 1,248 players) on June 2, 2026.
The biggest storyline of the roster announcements belongs to Brazil and their newly appointed head coach, Carlo Ancelotti. Ancelotti chose to include 34-year-old superstar and Brazil's all-time leading international goalscorer, Neymar, in the final 26-man squad despite a major injury scare.
On May 28, 2026, Neymar suffered a grade 2 calf injury, with MRI results revealing a partial tear that requires an estimated two to three weeks of recovery time. While Neymar has been ruled out of pre-tournament friendlies against Panama and Egypt, and remains highly doubtful for Brazil's Group C opener against Morocco on June 13 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Ancelotti opted to keep him on the roster rather than select a replacement. Ancelotti intends to utilize Neymar as a veteran spark off the bench once he regains fitness, joining a star-studded Brazilian attack that features Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Endrick, and Gabriel Martinelli.