Neymar Ruled Out of Brazil’s Second World Cup Match Against Haiti Due to Calf Injury

Brazil have suffered a major setback at the ongoing World Cup as star forward Neymar has been ruled out of their second group stage match against Haiti due to a lingering calf injury .

The Brazilian football confederation confirmed on Thursday that the 34 year old will not travel with the squad for Friday’s fixture in Philadelphia. Instead, he will remain in New Jersey to continue the final phase of his recovery process under medical supervision.

According to the statement, Neymar will continue rehabilitation at the team’s hotel facilities, focusing on recovery from a right calf injury sustained during his club duties with Santos last month.

The injury has restricted his involvement since joining the national camp. Although he briefly returned to the training ground earlier this week and took part in light conditioning work, he has not yet featured in full intensity sessions with the squad. His partial return had raised hopes of availability, but the medical team opted for caution.

Neymar’s recovery has been closely monitored after he underwent tests earlier this week to assess progress on the injury. The forward is aiming to feature in what would be his fourth World Cup appearance , adding importance to his rehabilitation timeline.

Brazil, under coach Carlo Ancelotti , opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco in their Group C opener. The team now faces added pressure to maintain momentum in Neymar’s absence.

The decision to include Neymar in the tournament squad had already triggered debate in Brazil, with questions raised over his match fitness . Despite the discussions, the coaching staff backed his selection, banking on his experience in key moments.

For now, Brazil will continue their World Cup campaign without one of their most influential attackers, as attention shifts to his recovery and potential return in the later stages of the tournament.