Neymar Likely To Miss Brazil's World Cup Group Stage

Brazil are increasingly preparing for the prospect of navigating the entire FIFA World Cup group stage without Neymar as the team's medical staff continue to take a cautious approach to the forward's recovery from a calf injury.

The Brazil star has yet to feature at the tournament and is now considered unlikely to play in the upcoming Group C clash against Haiti. There is also growing uncertainty over his availability for the final group-stage fixture against Scotland, with the focus now shifting to ensuring he is fully fit for the knockout rounds.

Neymar suffered a grade-two calf injury while playing for Santos on May 17 and has been working through an intensive rehabilitation programme ever since. Although progress has been made, the 32-year-old remains short of full match fitness and has not yet returned to full training with the rest of the squad.

According to an ESPN report cited by Goal.com, the Brazilian Football Confederation's medical team is understood to be following a carefully structured recovery plan designed to avoid any setbacks.

Neymar has increased his workload in the gym and could soon begin more extensive individual sessions on the training pitch, but he will only rejoin full team training once he is completely pain-free.

The concern is not only the injury itself but also the lack of competitive football. Neymar has been absent from match action for more than a month, and Brazil's coaching staff are keen to ensure he is physically ready before exposing him to the demands of World Cup football.

As a result, Brazil may choose to preserve their all-time leading goalscorer for the latter stages of the competition. Such a strategy would likely rule him out of matches against both Haiti and Scotland, leaving any potential return dependent on Brazil successfully progressing to the knockout phase.

That plan, however, could still be adjusted depending on events in Group C. Any unexpected slip in results may force a reassessment of Neymar's timeline as Brazil look to secure qualification.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti has stressed that while he wants Neymar available, he is not prepared to compromise the player's long-term fitness.

"Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible," Ancelotti said.

"When we called up Neymar, we did it not just because of his technical quality, which is undeniable. But also because of his experience, he could represent an example for the younger players on the team."

Brazil's medical department has also left open the possibility of further imaging tests in the coming days. Additional scans could provide a clearer picture of the healing process and help determine whether Neymar can safely accelerate his return.

The uncertainty surrounding the forward comes at a significant moment for Brazil. The five-time world champions opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco, rescued by a brilliant Vinicius Junior equaliser after a difficult first-half display.

That result has increased scrutiny on a team seeking to end a 24-year wait for a sixth World Cup title. Ancelotti, the first foreign manager to lead Brazil at a World Cup, remains confident in the squad's ability to improve as the tournament progresses.

For now, though, Brazil must continue without one of the most influential players in their history. Neymar, who has not played for the national team since 2023, remains fully focused on recovery, with the hope that his World Cup journey will begin when the stakes are at their highest.