Neymar touched down at Newark Liberty International Airport on June 2 alongside his Brazil teammates, marking one of the most anticipated arrivals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle. The 26-player squad, led by coach Carlo Ancelotti, landed in New Jersey to begin their final preparations for a tournament Brazil hasn’t won in over two decades.

Here’s the thing about Neymar’s inclusion: it’s not a foregone conclusion that he’ll actually play right away. Lingering calf concerns mean the forward will miss Brazil’s group-stage opener against Morocco on June 13 in East Rutherford. But being on the roster at all, after what he’s been through, is the story.

The long road back

Neymar’s path to this World Cup has been anything but smooth. An ACL injury in October 2023 required surgery and sidelined him from major international competition for an extended stretch.

Brazil’s medical staff will monitor his condition closely through the group stage, with the hope that Neymar can feature in later matches. The squad faces Haiti on June 19 in Philadelphia and Scotland on June 24 in Miami, giving him potential windows to return to competitive action before the knockout rounds.

A squad built on continuity

Ancelotti’s roster reflects a deliberate strategy of experience over experimentation. Fifteen players from Brazil’s 2022 Qatar World Cup campaign made the cut for this tournament.

Brazil last lifted the World Cup trophy in 2002, a 24-year drought that sits uncomfortably for a nation that considers itself football royalty. Five titles remain the all-time record.

The squad’s arrival followed an extensive training camp in Teresopolis, Brazil’s traditional base for national team preparation in the mountains north of Rio de Janeiro.

What the group stage looks like

Brazil’s opening match against Morocco on June 13 presents an immediate challenge. Morocco reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African nation to advance that far in the tournament’s history. Playing them without Neymar adds a layer of difficulty to what was already a competitive fixture.

The group wraps up against Scotland on June 24 in Miami.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, represents the first edition of the expanded 48-team format. Brazil’s group-stage venues span New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Miami.