Neymar will be on bench for Brazil’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener vs Morocco tonight – Report
(Courtesy : Getty)
Neymar has been ruled out with injury for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco.
Brazil will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Morocco at MetLife Stadium tonight. While head coach Carlo Ancelotti has named a strong roster for Selecao, one player who has been ruled out of the matchday squad is talismanic forward Neymar. However, he will reportedly be on the bench for the five-time champions.
According to reports from ESPN Brasil, the Santos attacker is part of the Brazilian delegation. travelling to East Rutherford and will be present on the bench at MetLife Stadium along with the other players and staff. However, as he is not a part of the matchday squad, he will be wearing sneakers.
The report further said that this process was followed during Brazil’s warm-up friendly against Panama at the Maracana on June 1. Neymar was present on the bench and watched the warm-up even though he was not fit to play. The same process will reportedly be followed until the veteran attacker is fit to play in the ongoing World Cup.
Also Read: BREAKING: Ancelotti confirms date for Neymar’s return to team training during FIFA World Cup 2026
Neymar set to return to full training
The 34-year-old forward, who is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals, has been ruled out of the opener with a Grade 2 right calf muscle strain. Ancelotti said that he will return to full training next week and may take part in the team’s next match against Haiti. ESPN reported that while his Brazil team-mates trained for the Morocco clash, Neymar underwent physiotherapy with the medical department.
With the Brazilian number 10 ruled out of the Morocco match, Ancelotti may turn to young Endrick in that role or play Raphinha in a central position. Lucas Paqueta is another backup option to perform that duty.
When is Brazil vs Morocco FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
The Group C clash will be played on June 13, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In India, the match will kick off at 3:30 AM IST on June 14.
Where to watch Brazil vs Morocco match?
Fans in India can watch the game live on Zee5 app and website (subscription required) and Unite8 Sports Network.
Will Neymar play for Brazil vs Morocco?
No, he is ruled out with an injury. Reports say he will be on the bench in sneakers, present with the squad but not in the matchday lineup.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.