Neymar left out of Brazil’s FIFA World Cup warm-up squad as the Seleção prepares for critical pre-tournament matches in the United States. The 34-year-old forward will miss Brazil’s friendlies against France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando, raising questions about his readiness for the World Cup set to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The decision stems from Neymar’s recent absence from a Santos FC fixture due to muscle fatigue. Brazil’s head coach Ancelotti had planned to observe Neymar in person during that match before finalizing the squad. Speaking after naming the team, Ancelotti emphasized that fitness remains the priority. “Neymar can be at the World Cup if he is 100 percent,” he said. “I did not call him up because he is not fully ready. Neymar needs to be training and playing consistently.”
Neymar responded publicly during a Kings League event in Sao Paulo, expressing disappointment but maintaining focus. “I am sad and disappointed about being left out,” he said. “But I continue to train every day, session after session, match after match. The dream continues, and we will achieve our goal.”
Brazil’s squad for the warm-up matches balances experience with emerging talent. Goalkeepers include Alisson of Liverpool, Ederson of Fenerbahce, and Bento of Al-Nassr. The defensive lineup features Marquinhos of Paris St Germain, Gabriel Magalhaes from Arsenal, and a mix of domestic league players. In midfield, Casemiro returns with Chelsea’s Andrey Santos and others, while the attack highlights young stars like Endrick of Olympique Lyonnais alongside established players Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid and Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal.
The exclusion of Neymar underscores the ongoing challenge Brazil faces in blending top talent with physical readiness ahead of the World Cup. While the warm-up matches offer an opportunity to test combinations and strategies, Brazil’s squad decisions reveal the careful balancing act of managing player health against the pressures of a global tournament.
As the countdown to the World Cup continues, all eyes will remain on Neymar’s recovery and the team’s performance in Boston and Orlando. The Seleção enters these final preparations with depth across positions but without their most famous attacker, testing the squad’s resilience and adaptability on the road to the 2026 tournament.
